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If you're shopping for a budget-friendlyspeaker, it can feel like you have to make many sacrifices in terms of performance. However, speakers have increasingly improved their features while keeping prices fairly low. Although they tend to have a simple design and small size, many affordable speakers can still deliver clear vocals. Some speakers even have companion apps that offer additional controls and features, built-in voice assistants, and Bluetooth connectivity for more portability.
We've tested over 130 speakers, and below are our recommendations for the best budget speakers. See also our picks for the best Bluetooth speakers under $50and the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers.
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Best Budget Bluetooth Speaker
Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 5
Music
6.8
Videos/Movies
6.2
Podcasts
7.9
Voice Assistant
3.2
Outdoors
7.9
Battery Powered
YesSpeakerphone
NoVoice Assistant
NoBluetooth
YesWi-Fi
NoSee all our test results
The best budget Bluetooth speaker we've tested is the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3. With a portable design and great sound quality, this speaker is a stand-out choice for those shopping with their eyes on their wallet. Thanks to its IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, it can withstand exposure to the elements and even float in water. The over 22 hours of playtime is more than enough for longer days on the go, too. It's also currently on sale, so it can be picked up for a fair bit less than its retail price of $100.
This speaker comes in several different colors, all of which are made of recycled plastic. Choose one that fits your style, then pair it to your audio source over Bluetooth for a clear and even sound. Voices and lead instruments are especially detailed in the mix, and the speaker's unique Outdoor mode is a great way to add a crisper sound when you're listening in larger and more open spaces, like a backyard. Unfortunately, you won't find any other customization tools, but you can always check out the similarly priced Anker Soundcore Flare 2 if this is important to you. The Anker's battery life of over eight hours is much less than the Ultimate Ears.
Our article on the best Bluetooth speakers under $100 is also worth a look if you're interested in similarly priced speakers.
See our review
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Best Cheap Bluetooth Speaker
Anker Soundcore 3 0
Music
6.1
Videos/Movies
5.4
Podcasts
6.5
Voice Assistant
3.3
Outdoors
6.9
Battery Powered
YesSpeakerphone
YesVoice Assistant
YesBluetooth
YesWi-Fi
NoSee all our test results
If you're looking for an even more affordable option, check out the Anker Soundcore 3. While its battery life isn't as long-lasting as that of the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3, it still offers a pretty good sound for the price. It stands out compared to similarly priced speakers thanks to its wide array of sound customization tools. In the Soundcore app, you find a graphic EQ and several EQ presets to help you switch up its sound to your liking. It's a unique feature for its price point, making it a solid pick for music lovers shopping on a budget.
With a small and portable design, this speaker is a great choice for listening to music wherever you go. Large controls on top of the speaker make it easy to adjust its settings. It's also rated IPX7 for water resistance, protecting it against some outdoor activities. With over 13 hours of battery life, you can keep the party going late into the night. Plus, you can connect it to your smartphone to use voice assistants through the phone, which is a cool touch.
See our review
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Best Small Cheap Bluetooth Speaker
Sony SRS-XB100 4
Music
6.2
Videos/Movies
5.7
Podcasts
7.2
Voice Assistant
4.9
Battery Powered
YesSpeakerphone
YesVoice Assistant
YesBluetooth
YesWi-Fi
NoSee all our test results
Do you love to listen to your favorite tunes on the go? Want a speaker that only takes up a little room in your backpack? Check out the Sony SRS-XB100. This Bluetooth speaker is even smaller and more compact than the Anker Soundcore 3 and is lightweight enough to carry around in one hand. Available in many different colors, this speaker even comes with a built-in strap to connect it to your bag on your next hike or camping trip. Since it's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, it can withstand light exposure to the elements.
Despite its small size, this speaker still packs a punch regarding sound quality. It's suitable for listening to many music genres, with a clean and clear sound right out of the box. The extra boom in the bass is fun for fans of genres like EDM and hip-hop. Since it lasts over 20 hours off a single charge, you can rock out all day without worrying about a recharge. It has no tools to switch up its sound, which is disappointing compared to similarly priced models like the Anker. Still, this is worth a look if you want a simple speaker to take with you wherever you go.
You can also check out our recommendations for the best small Bluetooth speakers if you want to look at similarly sized options.
See our review
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Best Loud Cheap Bluetooth Speaker
DOSS SoundBox Plus 0
Music
5.6
Videos/Movies
5.2
Podcasts
6.9
Voice Assistant
5.0
Outdoors
6.3
Battery Powered
YesSpeakerphone
YesVoice Assistant
YesBluetooth
YesWi-Fi
NoSee all our test results
If you love to blast your favorite tunes at the loudest volume possible, you'll want to check out the DOSS SoundBox Plus. This budget-friendly pick gets loud, so you can easily fill your room with sound. As you crank up the volume, the speaker's audio reproduction remains clean and pure, too, so you don't notice any pumping or compression artifacts distorting the sound. Available in several color variants, this speaker's boombox-like design includes RGB lights around each driver, and you can customize their colors and patterns to match your mood.
This speaker is a good choice for music and podcasts, with a clear and accurate reproduction of voices and other instruments right out of the box. You'll notice less rumble in the bass range than with more premium models, but it does a decent job for the price. It lasts for over 10 hours off a single charge, too. There's even an IPX4 rating for water resistance to protect the speaker if you bring it outdoors. There aren't any tools on hand to customize its sound like with the Anker Soundcore 3—but if you want a plug-and-play device, it's a solid pick.
See our review
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Best Cheap Smart Bluetooth Speaker
Amazon Echo Pop 0
Music
5.9
Videos/Movies
5.3
Podcasts
6.1
Voice Assistant
8.6
Outdoors
4.9
Battery Powered
NoSpeakerphone
YesVoice Assistant
YesBluetooth
YesWi-Fi
YesSee all our test results
Smart speakers are a great choice for anyone who loves voice assistant control. Prompt the device, and you can easily check the weather outside or get a sense of the traffic before you hit the road. If a hands-free experience is what you're looking for, the Amazon Echo Pop is the best we've tested at this price. Its performance with built-in Alexa rivals even more premium speakers from this manufacturer. Talk to Alexa from far away or in a crowded room; the device easily understands your commands. You can even mute the microphone for more private moments, which is a nice touch.
This speaker's sleek design is meant to blend in with your home decor. It's quite small, too, so it only takes up a little space on your shelf or countertop. That said, given its small size, it doesn't get as loud as more premium speakers on the market. It can't reproduce as much low bass as some of the other picks on our list, like the Anker Soundcore 3. Voices and other instruments reproduce with clarity, though, so it's still a suitable choice for most types of music, but it certainly won't shake the floor with EDM or hip-hop tracks. Still, it's a great way to enter the smart speaker space without breaking the bank.
See our review
Recent Updates
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May 21, 2024: We've checked all our picks to ensure they're still accurate and in stock and have mentioned a price drop for the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3. Otherwise, we've made no changes to our picks.
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Mar 22, 2024: We've validated our picks for accuracy and product availability, but our recommendations haven't changed.
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Feb 20, 2024: We haven't tested any new speakers since our last update, and our picks remain the best for their categories. Still, we've updated the pick flow in the article to follow in line with their price points.
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Jan 31, 2024: All picks remain the best in this price range. No changes.
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Dec 07, 2023: Reviewed our product picks for accuracy. Some text edits for clarity.
All Reviews
Our recommendations aboveare what we think are currently the best cheap speakersfor most people. We factor in the price (a cheaper speakerwins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no speakersthat are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you'd like to do the work of choosing yourself, here's the list of all our speakerreviews under $100. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no speakeris perfect for every use, mostare goodenough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
