It’s easier than ever to find top-tier wireless audio at a bargain price and our best cheap Bluetooth speakers deliver on their promise of quality performance at ultra-low prices. In fact, in this roundup we’ve stumbled on a veritable bonanza of bargain Bluetooth speaker gems all for under $100 — and some that have been further discounted to just $50 — to really give the best Bluetooth speakers (overall) a run for their money.
Many of these budget models even offer water protection and are protected to the same level as more upmarket offerings we’ve seen from the likes of the Sonos Roam and UE Megaboom 3, meaning the speaker can accompany you outside or in the bathroom, for example, without you needing to worry about splashes and water proofing. Check ratings carefully and don’t forget to check out our best outdoor speakers and best waterproof speakers to buy right now.
Several models offer extended battery life and some can be paired with a second speaker to create stereo sound. In the list of the best Bluetooth speakers, we ranked models based on performance and value, helping you find the best cheap Bluetooth for you.
Alternatively, if you’re after a small speaker for the home then you may be interested to take a look at our guide to the best smart speakers, ranked and tested.
What are the best cheap Bluetooth speakers?
Taking the No.1 spot for the best cheap Bluetooth speaker is the Anker Soundcore 3. For just over $50, this model delivers pretty remarkable sound (and so much so that it blew our audio editor away). It comes in a durable, compact package, and the 24-hour battery means you can play it all day long. It can even survive being dunked in 3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes and as such is also one of the best waterproof speakers we’ve seen.
Moving down to second place, the UE Wonderboom 2 delivers a big sound for its compact size and has respectable battery life. You can expect music to sound vibrant and has better bass output than it has any right to for its size. It’s water-resistant to the same level as the Soundcore 3, and we love its portability and the numerous color options.
Wearable speakers are now a thing and the Clip 2 gets third place. Ideal for bikers and outdoor adventurists who want to keep themselves entertained when trekking outdoors, this sequel is a notable improvement over the original, boasting a better design, sound quality, and battery life. The color options (black, blue, red, teal, and gray) look great as well.
Scroll down to get the full breakdown of the best cheap Bluetooth speakers.
Best cheap Bluetooth speakers you can buy today
The Anker Soundcore 3 is an amazing little Bluetooth speaker for outdoor sounds. For just over $50, this tiny powerhouse delivers loud, well-balanced sound within an IPX7-rated design that can survive water, dust, while the robust rubberised outer case takes care of protection from every day knocks. The speaker lasts up to a whopping 24 hours, thanks to Anker’s best-in-class battery technology, and the Soundcore 3’s dual tweeter drivers and central mid/bass woofer allied to a passive bass driver and Anker’s BassUp technology, ensure you’ll get powerful sound in any setting.
The Soundcore’s compact, 6.75 x 2.25 x 2.25-inch design makes this speaker perfect for tossing into your bag for a quick road trip, and SharePlay allows multiple Soundcore speakers to be synced for an even bigger sound. It’s also available in blue, red and silver colors for a little extra ($56) cost in addition to the standard slick black we tested.
Read our full Anker Soundcore 3 review.
If you want the best Bluetooth sound on the cheap, then the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 will meet most of your needs. It can usually be found at a discounted price and has remarkably good bass for such a small speaker.
You can find smaller and lighter speakers, such as the Tribit StormBox Micro further down our list, but they won’t sound as good. If you are willing to go bigger, the UE Boom 3 produces better sound — though it also costs more. The Wonderboom hits a sweet spot in price, size and sound quality for portable Bluetooth speakers.
Read our full UE Wonderboom 2 review.
It’s been on the market for six years and remains one of the best bargains in the category. The JBL Clip 2 packs strong audio performance, highlighted by impressive treble, midrange, and bass, into a compact and sturdy design designed with portability in mind. The attachable carabiner installed at the top makes the speaker simple to carry around by easily clipping onto any item: backpack, bike handle, carry-on bag…you name it. The waterproof exterior (IPX7) is another major hallmark that offers peace of mind when tossing the speaker into the pool or cycling with it through the park during a surprise rainstorm.
It can even connect with two other Clip 2 speakers for surround sound, depending on where you place all three. You’ll likely need to invest in more than one if you want stronger audio presence because the speaker doesn’t get very loud. This being an older model also means no app support, but that isn’t necessarily a big hindrance.
Read our full JBL Clip 2 review.
The adorably tiny JBL Go 3 very nearly does it all. It’s highly portable, even more so than the Go 2 thanks to the new rope loop, and is water- and dust-proof to the IP67 standard. That’s on par with the class-leading UE Megaboom 3. It’s also good-looking, with six color options to choose from, and its Bluetooth 5.1 is solid and dependable.
5 hours doesn’t sound like much, battery-wise, but in testing we got closer to 10 hours when sticking to middling volumes. Sound quality is good rather than great, with thick bass but less of an ear for detail than the Soundcore 2, but on the whole this is an outstanding bargain.
Read our full JBL Go 3 review.
The StormBox Micro pushes $50, but it’s worth it. This is a much more compact speaker than its cousin, the XSound Go, and it’s both fully waterproof (in depths up to 1 meter) and protected against dust and dirt.
Unlike a lot of very small speakers, it also sounds great, producing clear vocals and some surprisingly strong bass. For something tiny enough to clip onto a satchel or bike handlebars, that’s very good indeed. The only drawbacks are the lack of an app 9though you can pair with two devices at once) and a relatively low battery life, which sees the StormBox Micro run dry after 8 hours.
Read our full Tribot StormBox Micro review.
If you plan to use your wireless speaker mainly on your desk, check out the Doss SoundBox. It delivers good bass and full vocals at a very reasonable price. But it’s 1.2 pounds, so the 6.6 x 2.9 x 2.7-inch unit isn’t really a great fit for the outdoors, even with its impressive 12 hours of battery life and water resistance. It comes in black, white, blue, pink and red to better match your personal style, and has a touch-sensitive dial on top for controlling volume.
The sound doesn’t project well, so it really works best when you’re sitting near it. The sound also gets too sharp and harsh if you crank the volume — another reason it’s best for personal listening. It includes a microphone if you want to use it as a speakerphone.
The first-gen JBL Clip was revered for packing such powerful sound into a compact design, though it lacked a major feature that the Clip Plus introduced: water-resistant protection. More than half a decade since its original launch and this ultraportable speaker remains a popular item to take on bike rides and hikes. You’ll get crisp treble and deep bass coming out of the 40mm driver, while the speakerphone comes in handy to hear people on the other end of a call. The integrated carabiner is also super-convenient for hooking onto your backpack or belt loop.
Being an older model, the Clip Plus won’t match the battery life that its newer siblings deliver. Not being fully waterproof means you can’t take it in the shower or pool either, but that doesn’t mean outdoor adventurists can’t have fun with it.
Read our full JBL Clip/Clip+ review.
How to choose the best cheap Bluetooth speakers for you
The best cheap Bluetooth speaker is a balance between price, sound quality, size and features. While none of these speakers cost very much, you will see a wide variability in sound quality among the ones that have an MRSP of more $50 than the the ones priced lower. If you can afford to spend a few more dollars, you will be rewarded with better vocals and bass, and generally, better battery life.
If you know you’ll want to take the speaker with you on hikes and to the pool, opt for one that is light, offers waterproofing and ideally gets loud enough to be heard over environmental noise. You should also pay attention to the wireless range — some of these will stay connected 100 feet from your audio source, while others are only good at 33 feet. While most of these cheap Bluetooth speakers include a microphone for use as a speakerphone, the quality may not be any better than what your phone can produce.
How we test the best cheap Bluetooth speakers
We tested these speakers using songs from a variety of music genres, including rock, hip-hop and acoustic. We listen for vocal clarity, sharpness of treble and richness of bass. We try the on-device controls for ease of use. To test battery life, we listened to each for several hours and checked how much charge was left. We benchmark volume using an app that measures decibels.
Once we complete our testing, we rate Bluetooth speakers based on our five-point system (1 = worst, 5 = best). If a product is truly exemplary, it’s awarded an Editor’s Choice.
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