On a Budget? 5 Gaming Headsets You Can Get for Under $25

These days, if you want to get the full gaming experience, you’re going to need a headset. While it’s possible to use a separated combo of headphones and microphone – which may actually be preferable in some cases, which we’ll explore later – the convenience of a two-in-one headset is hard to pass up.

But top-notch gaming headsets will put a dent in your wallet. If you need utmost quality and have a few hundred dollars to spend, consider browsing through what Sennheiser, SteelSeries, and Razer can offer. On the other hand, if you’re willing to forego some quality in order to save money, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

Let’s say your budget is capped at $25. What’s available in that range? The pickings won’t be amazing, but you may be surprised by how much that can buy.

Logitech H390 ClearChat Headset ($25)

Logitech is one of the most reliable brands when it comes to affordable computer peripherals. It’s not uncommon to hear about Logitech’s mice, keyboards, and headsets lasting for five to ten years without any issues. I can personally attest to it as well.

So it’s mind-blowing that their products are sold at such low price points. This ClearChat headset is only $25, yet it comes with a noise-cancelling microphone with inline controls for volume and muting. The design is sleek, the headphone pads are comfortable, and the reviews are stellar.

It connects using a USB port only.

Creative Fatal1ty Gaming Headset ($23)

Johnathan Wendel, more commonly known as Fatal1ty, is popularly considered to be the world’s first professional gamer. Over the course of his career, he’s accumulated over $450,000 in prizes across multiple competitions for several first-person shooter games.

One of his more notable accomplishments is his partnership with Creative Labs, which is when he produced this gaming headset. The padded on-ear cups won’t hurt, the adjustable noise-cancelling microphone can be detached, and the lightweight headband allows for long sessions without discomfort.

It connects using standard audio and headphone jacks only.

Turtle Beach Ear Force M5 Headset ($20)

Turtle Beach is a great company for mid-grade computer accessories and their headsets are no exception. In fact, headsets have become something of a specialty for them over the past few years, culminating in dozens of headsets for gamers on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

This Ear Force M5 headset is marketed for mobile gaming since it uses an inline microphone rather than a boom one that sticks out (as seen on most other gaming headsets). The inline microphone is passable for casual gaming, however, and the overall headset design is lightweight and comfortable.

It connects using standard audio and headphone jacks only.

Plantronics Audio 355 Headset ($15)

Plantronics is a specialist for audio communication products. The Audio line is meant for general purpose use while the GameCom line is meant for a higher quality experience. They also have several other lines, all ranging in price from pennies to upwards of a thousand dollars.

The Audio 355 might not be the prettiest headset around, but it’s hard to beat for the price. While it can be a bit stiff at times and the pads will wear out faster than desired, it doesn’t weigh much and produces above-average sound quality. The microphone can be zoomed in and out or rotated up and down for maximum convenience.

It connects using standard audio and headphone jacks only.

SADES Wolfang Gaming Headset ($15)

SADES is an American company that only produces affordable gaming headsets – at least for now. Despite being a relative newcomer to the market, they already have ten different models on offer and all of them are available for less than $100.

The Wolfang headset looks like a gaming headset, which is unusual for products in this price range; its design is clean and simple, though maybe a bit too simple for some. As for sound quality and comfort, it’s about as average as they come. Don’t expect much in terms of reliability either. For the price, though, you may find it worth buying.

It connects using standard audio and headphone jacks only.

Final Thoughts

If you already have a set of headphones that you like, there is one more option that you should consider: supplementing it with a clip-on microphone instead of replacing it with a headset. The AntLion ModMic ($50) is fantastic but pricey while the Zalman ZM-Mic1 ($10) is cheap and balanced.

Looking for an alternative? These Bluetooth headsets might work for you instead.

Which headset is your favorite? Are there any other budget gaming headsets out there that I missed? Share with us in the comments below!