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.
Best Gaming Headset at $100
Best Gaming Headset Under $100
Best Gaming Headset Under $80
Best Gaming Headset Under $70
Best Gaming Headset Under $50
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.
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