The best cheap gaming headsets prove you don't have to break the bank for a quality audio experience. They can help immerse you in a game just as well as any premium-priced equivalent. We know because we test dozens of gaming headsets every year.
We test headsets across a variety of genres; whether it's first-person shooters to gauge how well a headset detects directional sounds to narrative-driven games to hear how a unit handles dialogue. This is also how we test costlier units, so you know we're not giving these cheaper alternatives a pass because they cost less.
Our current favorite cheap gaming headset recommendation is the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3. These amazing over-ear headsets sound great and more immersive than any other option out there thanks to their 50mm Nanoclear drivers. If you want the best value gaming headset on a budget, you can often the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 for less than $50.
Scroll down to see our top choices for the best budget gaming headsets.
The quick list
Thanks to its 50mm Nanoclear drivers, the Stealth Gen 3 is the best-sounding, most immersive budget gaming headset. It’s comfy to wear for long periods, has great battery life and its AI noise reduction mic works well.
Our favorite cheap gaming headset on the market completely outshines its price point. It sounds great, it’s comfortable to wear for extended periods and it’s oh so simple to operate.
At $79, the Stealth 500 is aggressively priced, offering great value. This headset can withstand long gaming sessions thanks to comfortable earcups. It's also great its wireless.
Unless you have an Easter Island-sized head, you’re gonna love this slightly snug headset. We dig its slick design and its crisp and clear micophone, making it idel for video game streamers.
Under $100, offering value and excellent sound, the Pulse 3D wireless headset is great if you want to use the PS5's proprietary 3D audio tech during games that support it.
The best cheap gaming headsets you can buy
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The best overall cheap gaming headset
The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 is an impressive budget-friendly gaming headset that delivers premium features without breaking the bank. It's my current pick as the best cheap gaming headset you can currently buy. Priced at $99, this headset offers exceptional value with its memory foam earcups that enhance comfort for extended gaming sessions, and its versatile design with adjustable and swiveling earcups.
One of the standout features of the Stealth 600 Gen 3 is its immersive audio. Equipped with 50mm Nanoclear drivers, it provides a rich and detailed soundstage that enhances gameplay across various genres. The headset also features a SuperHuman Hearing mode that boosts crucial in-game sounds like footsteps and gunshots, giving players a competitive edge in FPS games. The AI-powered noise reduction mic ensures clear communication, while the impressive battery life of up to 80 hours means you can game for days on a single charge.
Despite its downsides, such as a cluttered control scheme and some distortion at high volumes, the Stealth 600 Gen 3 stands out as a choice for gamers seeking quality and affordability.
Read the full Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 review.
The best value cheap gaming headset
HyperX needed to up its audio game following the release of the original Cloud Stinger, which was a pretty underwhelming headset. Thankfully, the sequel is a whole lot better than its predecessor, with the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 currently proudly sitting atop my picks of the best gaming headsets you can wrap your ears around.
One of the biggest plus points the Cloud Stinger 2 has going for it is the comfort it brings to the table… or more accurately, your earlobe. Those plush leatherette earcups and a highly adjustable headband mean you can quickly get a fit you like with HyperX’s gaming cans. The fact said cups or so large and substantially padded makes them comfortable to game on for hours upon hours at a time.
The biggest quality the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 has going for it? Just how damn good it sounds for a peripheral you can now regularly buy brand new for just $40. Thanks to its powerful 50mm drivers, this headset is capable of delivering sound that is not only nuanced, but also pleasingly punchy.
I’ve a blast putting these puppies through the likes of Cyberpunk 2077 and Cyberpunk 2077, and pretty remarkable just how good the Doomslayer’s sequel and V’s epic, oh so sleazy Night City adventures costs on a gaming headset that costs considerably less than most new PS5 or Xbox Series X games.
It’s obviously not faultless (the way the mic constantly pokes out looks pretty damn silly). As for the materials that have been used to construct this piece of audio equipment, they hardly scream “premium”. Yet when you have a $40 headset that sounds this good for the price point and is so comfortable to boot, I can’t look past the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 as being my current favorite cheap gaming headset. The fact it can also support surround sound on PC via DTS software is also awesome.
Read the full HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 review.
The best wireless cheap gaming headset
If you’re looking for a great gaming headset but don’t want to pay over the odds, I promise you’ll love the Turtle Beach Stealth 500. Even though it’s “entry-level”, it still packs a punch, trust me. Choose either the Xbox or PlayStation model, and effortlessly switch between every gaming system you own with the Bluetooth and 2.4GHz dongle.
Weighing just 8.28 ounces, this is a very light headset and you can wear it for hours on end without feeling weighed down. When it comes to sound quality, the Stealth 500 provides you with an immersive gaming experience thanks to spatial audio, which I’m becoming increasingly obsessed with.
Swarm II is the Stealth 500’s companion app, and I find it’s both intuitive and straightforward to use. You can use it to choose from four game presets, update the headset’s firmware, and toggle Superhuman Hearing. Superhuman Hearing is a great setting for first-person shooters and RPGs as you can enhance either footsteps or gunshots.
Its leatherette earcups, although mighty comfortable, are prone to getting hot and making your ears sweat (I really hate having sweaty lobes). But this isn’t a problem isolated to the Stealth 500, as any leather-like material will heat up over time.
The Stealth 500’s control scheme is also confusing, as all the buttons are pooled together on one earcup so you might end up hitting the wrong buttons — which definitely never happened to me, no sir. In our testing, I encountered some connectivity issues, too. For instance, there was a strange static noise when music was paused over Bluetooth. Additionally, the headset kept disconnecting from the dongle plugged into the PS5.
In the grand scheme of things, these seem like minor complaints simply because you get a lot for $79. I think the Stealth 500 is great value for money, it boasts a lightweight build, excellent comfort levels, superb and immersive sound quality, and a handy tuck-away mic. Connectivity and design issues aside, the Stealth 500 will act as the perfect companion for your next long gaming session.
Read the full Turtle Beach 500 review.
The best streaming cheap gaming headset
As I’ve already written what feels like a head-spinning amount above, you don't need to spend a lot to get impressive audio from a gaming headset, and the Astro A10 is proof of that. For less than $50 you get a headset that borrows some design flourished from its more expensive sibling, with a decent amount of sturdiness to match its style.
More to the point is that that sound is superb for how affordable the headset is. The Astro A10 has a punchy low-end response, yet also handles treble with a concise crispness. Add in a lightweight frame and memory foam earcups and you've got a great cheap gaming headset. Just be aware that the fit might be a little snug for some. Mercifully, I’ve got a reasonably small(ish) skull.
It’s also an excellent choice for streamers on limited funds, as its microphone is both crisp and clear, and, more importantly, reliable. I discovered very few drops in signal while trying to communicate with teammates during my gaming sessions on the Astro A10.
Though the Astri A10 isn’t exactly replete with fancy additional features, there’s one factor of this Astro’s design I appreciate a lot. Whoever decided to stick on a volume slider to this headset’s 6.5-foot cable (that is detachable) deserves a raise. It’s a really handy feature for those times when you discover the wire lying on your chest when you’ve playing games on the couch in extra slovenly style. Its presence lets you simply reach down with minimal effort and adjust the A10’s audio levels with almost zero movement. And definitely no neck cranks.
If you’re a streamer pining for a good set of cans that won’t dent your bank balance, I highly recommend the Astro A10. This fantastic value gaming headset is almost absurdly cheap. I also appreciate how durable the design of this budget peripheral is, and I dig the decent mic. Even if those earcups occasionally squeeze my cranium a little too snugly.
Read the full Astro A10 review.
The best 3D audio cheap gaming headset
At $99, the Sony Pulse 3D Wireless headset isn't the cheapest gaming headset around I’ve seen, but it costs a good deal less than the newer Sony Pulse Elite ($149). The original Pulse not only works with the PS5 but also with PCs, adding a degree of versatility into the headset (something I love as both a dedicated PlayStation and PC player). Add in compatibility with Sony's Tempest 3D Audio engine, and you've got a rather impressive gaming headset for under $100.
Not only does the headset look rather good with a black and white color scheme matching that of the PS5, it also delivers some strong audio. You'll hear all the bangs, pop, creaks, screams, and more in all manner of games, with the 3D audio letting you pinpoint where enemies are by sound alone.
The best PS5 games really take the Pulse 3D to another level. And I can think of no better example of the Pulse 3D handling spatial sound and making it a key appeal of a game more than in riveting roguelike shooter Returnal. The level of audio immersion is astounding as you hear the constant pitter-patter of lashing alien rain on the shoulders of your crashed explorer as she tries her best not to be blasted to bits by beasties.
I’ve enjoyed listening to music and movies on Sony’s headset, too. It's also pretty comfortable, with decent cushioning and a sturdy headband that works for long gaming sessions. There's no active noise cancellation and some of the controls on the earcups aren't the most intuitive. But I’d still happily say the Pulse 3D is an essential PS5 accessory, even years after its first release.
Read the full Sony PlayStation Pulse 3D Wireless Headset review.
How we test the best cheap gaming headsets
In order to determine what the best cheap gaming headsets are, we use every model we review with a variety of games and genres. We generally test headsets with shooters to get a sense of directional sound for competitive games, as well as RPGs and action/adventure titles to evaluate more immersive, cinematic audio.
We also test all gaming headsets with a variety of music to see how well they double as everyday headphones. Additionally, we evaluate the quality of each headset's microphone via sound recordings and real-world play sessions.
How to choose the best cheap gaming headsets
There are a handful of key factors to consider when looking for the best cheap gaming headset for your playstyle. Here are some things to know before you buy.
Compatibility: Most of the best cheap gaming headsets connect via 3.5mm jacks, meaning they will work with just about any platform including PS4, Xbox One, Switch and PC. Some headsets only connect via USB for PC and PS4, though, so keep an eye out for that.
Don't expect wireless: You're almost never going to get a wireless gaming headset for less than $60, so be ready to deal with cables. If you want to splurge for a wireless set, check out our overall best gaming headsets recommendations.
Consider your comfort: Most cheap gaming headsets have either faux leather or soft fabric earcups. The former is very comfortable and does a good job sealing sound in, but can get hot over time. Fabric cups are usually very lightweight and are better to wear for long stretches, but you won't always get the most immersive sound.
