As much as I love the high-end options I recommend in my best gaming headsets guide, you don't necessarily need to spend upwards of $200 to get solid audio. They often come with state of the art features and a ton of versatility along with top-notch sound quality, but if you simply need something that sounds great and is comfortable, you don't have to make too many compromises. At the same time, if you don't do your research, you could end up pretty disappointed even if you didn't ball out on a cheap headset. I have first-hand experience with a ton of these things, so whether you're on PC, PS5, Xbox, or Switch, all of my recommendations will suit multiple platforms.
For this particular guide, I've sorted the categories by general price range. Many headsets fluctuate in cost, often hovering below their initial retail price, and having monitored the sale price of several products, oftentimes those discounts remain active for extended periods of time or throughout the product's lifecycle. Such is the case with something like the HyperX Cloud III – the wired version retails for $100, but has been around $80 for a long while now; and that's a bargain for what you get in return. It's been my top pick among sub-$100 gaming headsets, due in part to the value it offers at that discounted price. However, if your budget is a bit tighter, you can go with the simple Corsair HS65. Or if you need something wireless, Turtle Beach has you covered with the Stealth 500. And if you're looking for the best bang for your buck, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 makes an incredible case for itself.
TL; DR – These Are the Best Budget Gaming Headsets:
While all my picks are outlined above, below I have in-depth breakdowns of what makes each budget gaming headset special. From the specs sheet to my first-hand accounts, I'm here to make sure you know what you're getting into when you decide to take the plunge on any of these. Small details like how they fit, what materials they use, their sound profile, to their customization options, these are the kinds of features that can make or break your purchase – so, I got your back with my top budget gaming headset picks!
If you're looking at upgrading other peripherals, check out my roundups of the best gaming mice and best gaming keyboards.
Contributions by Danielle Abraham, Georgie Peru, Michelle Rae Uy and Adam Mathew.
1. Razer BlackShark V3 X
Best Gaming Headset at $100
Despite Razer's reputation of having over-the-top products, its refreshes have bucked the trend in recent years. The latest versions of the BlackShark headsets are a testament to that, which is Razer's competitive-focused lineup that emphasizes positional audio and ease-of-use, leaving out some of the more extraneous features in the process. I recently reviewed the high-end model in the BlackShark V3 Pro and it offers an incredible experience that's worth considering even at its hefty $250 retail price. However, you can get a relatively close experience with the entry-level version in the BlackShark V3 X.
It's a full-on wireless headset with Razer's ultra-low latency HyperSpeed tech, and while it uses the previous versions of its TriForce 50mm audio drivers, they still pump out solid sound quality. Especially for those who want accurate audio imaging for competitive games, the BlackShark V3 X is a great value. It might not have the most sophisticated or robust sound profile, but with decent spatial audio and customization options in the Synapse software, you can fine-tune things to get the most out of its potential. It sports a similar build quality as the higher-tier models, and since it's not quite as feature-packed, the V3 X sits lighter at 270g – that makes it one of the lightest headsets I'm recommending here. It's a comfortable headset as is, and this makes it even easier to wear for long sessions. The microphone quality does quite stack up to the HyperX Cloud III (which is pretty high bar to begin with), but you get clear communications for in-game scenarios, and with Bluetooth on the side, you get a fairly versatile headset for the money.
2. HyperX Cloud III
Best Gaming Headset Under $100
No matter which version of the HyperX Cloud headset you go with, you'll get a quality product. If you’re running on a budget and want something that punches above its weight, I always recommend the HyperX Cloud III, which can often be found below its $100 base price. Its sound and mic quality and great comfort gives the impression of a true high-end headset – HyperX really nailed it with this iteration. Plus, it’s built like a brick house so it’s not going to fall apart through years of use.
Out of the box, the Cloud III impressed me with its build and durability – its aluminum frame can be flexed and contorted in any which direction without ever feeling like it’s going to break. Stretching the headset out to fit on your head is super easy and you can toss them on your desk without worrying about damaging them. It's built for comfort as well with dense foam earpads wrapped in a leatherette (just be aware it tends to get a bit sweaty), although its clamp force may be a bit much for some.
At the end of the day, it’s all about sound quality and the Cloud III handles various frequencies wonderfully. In my Cloud III headset review, I felt comfortable tracking enemy footsteps while playing a ton of Valorant and enjoyed the balanced audio in Final Fantasy XIV, which this more budget-friendly headset handled gracefully. On top of that, its microphone quality is up there with some of the best gaming headsets above its price tier, so you don't need to spend extra on a decent mic. Whether you go with the wired or wireless version, you're getting a fantastic headset – and although the wired model goes for cheaper, both can be found under $100.
3. Turtle Beach Stealth 500
Best Gaming Headset Under $80
Turtle Beach has historically been on top of gaming headsets when it comes to covering its bases with various models for every price tier for whatever preferred platform. Even if I go down the pricing hierarchy, there are still impressive headsets like the Stealth 500 that offer a premium experience. Although it’s quite bulky in its physical design, I find the Stealth 500 to be easy to wield thanks to its super flexible headband and durability, which alongside the plushy earpads, also translates to solid comfort that’s easy to wear for hours.
More importantly, the sound quality you get from the Stealth 500 is nothing to scoff at. While it may struggle in higher frequencies, which tend to sound a bit crunchy, its strong bass and clear mids make games sound full without coming across as artificial. With the Swarm software’s Signature Sound profile, you’ll be set without having to fiddle with too many settings. Its positional audio was great as well, which I sussed out while playing competitive rounds of Counter-Strike 2, so you don’t really need to shell out the big bucks to get that kind of advantage. (However, be wary of the "Superhuman Hearing" option that Turtle Beach likes to tout, it's not worth the tradeoff in sound quality.)
Even at this price point, you get Bluetooth capabilities and can swap between devices with the press of a button. While the mic is serviceable for in-game communication and its sound profile can be customized in the software as well. It’s no surprise that there are compromises that need to be made in budget-level headsets, but it gets the essentials right, which earned it an 8 in my Stealth 500 review.
4. Corsair HS65 Surround
Best Gaming Headset Under $70
If you're willing to go wired, Corsair delivers a fantastic headset under $70 with the HS65 Surround – and if you don't mind getting a refurbished one, it's $25 through Corsair's own Revival Series program. This is a simple plug-and-play headset that connects to your devices via analog 3.5mm input, but it's also capable of 7.1 virtual surround sound through its USB adapter which gives you an immersive sound experience. While virtual surround isn't the best for competitive gaming, the HS65 still holds up well with superb directional audio using its neutral sound profile and packs enough punch for impressive sound quality at this price.
It might be a few years old at this point, but our Corsair HS65 review from 2022 still holds true when it comes to its core competencies in sound and comfort. And that audio is delivered through two 50mm drivers housed in soft memory foam earcups – though some may find that the headset itself can clamp a bit tight.. A mix of quality plastic and an aluminum framework make up the rest of this somewhat minimalist-style headset that looks sleek and stylish. There isn't much in terms of onboard controls, just a volume dial on the left earcup and a flip-to-mute feature on the non-detachable mic. If you need to make other sound adjustments, you can do it using the iCue app (although Corsair's software hasn't been the best), which will help you get a little more out of this budget-level headset. While Corsair has had newer headsets hit the scene in recent years, the HS65 Surround remains one of the top options for those who can't ball out.
5. SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1
Best Gaming Headset Under $50
The super-trimmed younger sibling of the Arctis Nova Pro isn't too bad itself – SteelSeries applied many of the same principles that make its top-of-the-line gaming headset special to its latest budget-level option. While I haven't been able to review the Arctis Nova 1 quite yet, it has made a solid first impression. It has the signature sleek and slim design as the rest of the Arctis Nova series, tucking the retractable mic to sit flush with the left earcup and using the suspension band for easy comfort and fit atop your head.
Budget Gaming Headset FAQ
Are gaming headsets good for listening to music?
The short answer to this question is no, but there’s far more to it than that. When comparing similarly priced headphones and gaming headsets, the sound on the headphones is usually clear, well-balanced, and warm, while headsets lean more bass-heavy and can get muddied, especially cheaper ones. That’s often due to the extra technology and features loaded into headsets affecting cost, whether it be mics, added controls, or more connectivity—it makes headsets bulkier too.
It’s also important to note that most gaming headsets focus on a wide soundstage and surround sound to immerse you in the action and provide in-game audio cues, but stereo sound is better suited to music. With all that said, high-end gaming headsets, like the Audeze Maxwell, offer a decent music listening experience thanks to better drivers, a wide frequency range, the ability to adjust equalizer settings, and support of high-res sound. Still, in most cases, you’ll be better off with wireless headphones or even earbuds when vibing to your favorite tracks.
Do expensive gaming headsets really make a difference?
Up to a point. As with any gaming peripheral, if you're willing and able to spend a bit more cash, you get access to better quality audio drivers and other features. Things like wireless connections, 3D audio and surround sound are all typically found in more expensive gaming headsets. But while these features are nice to have, they're by no means essential. If you just need a gaming headset to hear the game you're playing and chat with your friends, any $50 gaming headset will get the job done.
Are budget gaming headsets good for live game streaming?
Not really. The microphones on gaming headsets tend to be a hit or miss, and unfortunately, many budget options fall into the latter category. These mics will work fine when you’re communicating with teammates, especially options with boom mics that go just below your mouth to avoid picking up unwanted noises. But if you’re streaming to a larger audience, grabbing a stand-alone streaming microphone can make a world of difference with its wide frequency response, high sample rate, bit-depth, and extensive software. The last thing you want to do if you’re getting into game streaming is turn off viewers because of terrible sound.
When do gaming headsets go on sale?
If you're hoping to pick up a cheap gaming headset for even less than normal, there are a few good times to buy headphones at a discount every year. The first option is Amazon Prime Day, which takes place in July every year and usually results in price cuts on many of the budget gaming headset brands like Logitech and Turtle Beach. After that, your best bet is Black Friday and Cyber Monday season, which is the overall best time to buy just about any type of tech, gaming headsets included.
