Headphones come in all shapes and sizes, and earbuds have become the most common of all. They’re small, portable, practical, and versatile.
Out of the general demand for earbuds came the demand for ones that double as earplugs because sometimes you want to listen to music without having to deal with the noise of the outside world.
Such devices can help you get better sleep, work, or exercise. So, here is a list of the best earbuds that look like earplugs, and how to choose them.
Contents
List of the Best Earbuds That Look Like Earplugs:
- URIZONS Earbuds – Best Overall
- EarFun Free Earbuds – Best With Charging Case
- Plugfones Liberate 2.0 Wireless Earbuds – Best for Ear Protection
- Plugfones Basic Earplug-Earbud Hybrid – Best Wired
Comparison Table:
| Image | Product | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Best Overall
 |
URIZONS Earbuds
|
9.4
|
Check On Amazon |
|
Best With Charging Case
 |
EarFun Free Earbuds
|
9.3
|
Check On Amazon |
|
Best for Ear Protection
 |
Plugfones Liberate 2.0 Wireless Earbuds
|
9.1
|
Check On Amazon |
|
Best Wired Option
 |
Plugfones Basic Earplug-Earbud Hybrid
|
9
|
Check On Amazon |
The 4 Best Earbuds That Look Like Earplugs in 2021:
There are many options on the market, and there will be even more in the future, which can make looking for new earplug headphones a bit too stressful. Well, I’ve tailored a list that matches what you’re looking for.
1. URIZONS Earbuds – Best Overall
Some earbuds have one or two good things about them, and that’s it, especially when they’re cheap. However, the URIZONS Thread-Wrapped Bluetooth Earbuds prove that there’s a lot that you can get out of earplug headphones without paying an arm and a leg.
Let’s start with the design because it will definitely catch your eye and make this pair perfect for a workout.
The cable has a hand-woven knitted tribal decoration that comes in two color options. Besides being decorative, this braiding makes the cable durable, anti-dirty, anti-freeze, and tangle-free. The whole design of the neckband is comfortable and ergonomic. Thanks to the built-in magnets, you can attach the earpieces to each other like a necklace to secure them in place.
In addition, this pair of earbuds is waterproof and sweatproof with an IPX7 rating, which means that you can wear them during your most intense exercises, jogging, running, riding, or more. Plus, these wireless earbuds have a range of 30 feet in the open space and 10 if there are any obstacles.
Also, the battery life is insane, with up to 18 hours of music playing and 520 of standby time. Plus, they only take 2.5 hours to charge. So, you can rely on these earbuds during your long errands and workouts without having to charge them every few hours like other affordable earbuds.
As a pair of earplug headphones, they have excellent noise cancellation properties that let you enjoy your music and calls unbothered by your surroundings. In addition, they have 3 buttons for basic controls, which is helpful in a pair of earbuds under 50.
Of course, we have to discuss how they sound. While they won’t sound like a 500-dollar pair, they’re still impressive, thanks to their dual-driver four speakers that produce deep bass and crystal clear highs.
One disadvantage to this pair is that it takes a while to connect them to your device for the first time.
- Extremely affordable
- Different color options
- Great battery life
- Stylish cable
- Sweatproof and waterproof
- Built-in magnets to secure earbuds
- High-fidelity stereo sound quality
- Connecting them the first time takes time
2. EarFun Free Bluetooth 5.0 Earbuds – Best With Charging Case
Sometimes cable charging isn’t enough. Sometimes you want to travel with your earplug headphones to give you your well-deserved sleep on a trip, so they need to last longer than a day. This is where the budget-friendly EarFun Free Bluetooth 5.0 Earbuds come in.
Starting with how these earbuds look, they have a sleek matte finish that is fingerprint-proof, so you can show off these affordable gems to your friends without them guessing how much they cost.
In addition, their ergonomic and lightweight design makes them pretty comfortable to wear; you can even choose from three sizes of ear tips. Their secure fit enables you to use them even when you’re running, and they still won’t fall off or slip. Also, these earbuds come in two color options, black and white, which cater to everyone’s tastes.
Like the URIZONS Thread-Wrapped Bluetooth Earbuds, these earbuds are sweatproof and waterproof with an IPX7 rating. This rating is exactly what you need when you want to be physically active without having to worry about your earbuds being affected by your sweat.
Furthermore, this pair has an impressive Bluetooth 5.0 range with up to 49 feet. The battery life is worth it, with 6 hours if you charge the pair with the USB-C, and an extra 24 if you charge with the wireless case. Imagine what you can do with 30 hours worth of playtime.
As with all the earbuds on our list, these wireless earbuds that look like earplugs have noise cancellation so that you can focus on your music alone.
They have an all-in-one button that helps you switch songs, adjust the volume, or respond to calls. You can also use voice controls for a truly hands-free experience. Plus, you can switch between twin mode or mono mode to use both or one earbud placing the one you don’t want to use in the charging case.
The sound quality is superior to most earbuds at that budget-friendly price point, thanks to the dual graphene drivers. The bass is deep, and the treble is clear enough without being overpowering.
Of course, there are some qualities that we dislike about this pair, including how the music sounds clear and amazing, the microphone quality in calls is terrible. So, if your main priority is getting earbuds for phone calls, skip these because no one will hear you properly. Also, they’re not durable, and one of them ends up not working anymore after a while.
- Affordable
- Different color options
- Superior sound quality
- Sweatproof and waterproof with a secure fit
- Charging case adds extra 24 hours to battery life
- Different modes
- One-touch and voice controls
- Poor quality mic
- Not durable
3. Plugfones Liberate 2.0 Wireless Earbuds – Best for Ear Protection
All of the items on our list have noise cancellation, which is the whole point of earbuds looking like earplugs in the first place. However, not all noise-canceling headphones can handle being work earphones in the noisiest places. The Plugfones Liberate 2.0 Wireless Earbuds are up to the task.
Their design is eye-catching because they’re the most earplug-looking earbuds on the list so far. In fact, they have a unique patent-pending design.
They have triple-flange ear tips that bring a dedicated level of noise cancellation. Plus, they come with interchangeable and replaceable ComforTwist foam and silicone earplugs. You can choose between the sleek black and gray color option and the blue and yellow one that’s in your face.
In addition, these wireless earbuds that look like earplugs the most are sweat-resistant, which means that they’re prepared for you to get active and sweaty while wearing them. What about music quality? The speakers are tuned for an immersive and crystal clear sound.
Thanks to the NeverOut battery, these earbuds can last you 12 whole hours of playtime on a single charge. Also, you can get 2 hours of playtime by charging them for 5 minutes. So, you can definitely rely on them throughout your whole shift and more.
These SoundSeal earplugs block all the unwanted noise. In fact, they’re so good at protecting your ears from noisy work environments that they’re ANSI certified for having Noise Reduction Ratings (NRR) of 27 and 29 dB. They’re also OSHA compliant, which means that you can work as safe and sound as Stan Lee in the Amazing Spider-man.
What about the controls? These earbuds have QuickDraw easy-access controls with ruggedized buttons and voice controls to make your experience as hassle-free as possible.
Unlike the EarFun earbuds, these earbuds have excellent call quality, thanks to the intelligent IsoTalk microphone that isolates and cancels environmental noise so that the person on the other end of the call can only hear you.
With many advantages comes a disadvantage or two. As you can see, these earbuds are the most expensive on our list; their unique design and excellent isolation abilities made them stand out in terms of price, as well.
- Different color options
- OSHA compliant and ANSI certified
- Interchangeable foam and silicone plugs
- IsoTalk mic
- Sweat-resistant
- Most expensive on the list
4. Plugfones Basic Earplug-Earbud Hybrid – Best Wired Option
Some people can’t live without wireless earbuds because we’re finally in the 2020s. However, other people may find themselves still relying on wired earbuds, especially ones that act as earplugs like the Plugfones Basic Earplug-Earbud Hybrid.
Like the Plugfones Liberate 2.0 Wireless Earbuds, these earbuds look more like earplugs than headphones if it weren’t for the wires. The orange foam ear tips are more comfortable than other types, which makes prolonged periods of listening much more enjoyable.
If you work out while listening to music, you will love the fact that these earbuds are sweat-resistant, which means that they won’t be affected by your sweat and won’t slip.
Thanks to the SoundSeal earplugs, you won’t hear unwanted noise, while the embedded speaker will help you focus on the sounds that you want. In addition, they’re tested and compliant with ANSI S3.19-1974 noise reduction standards (of 26 dB), and meet NIOSH criteria because they’re earplugs first and headphones second.
The sound quality is nice for a wired pair of earbuds under 15. However, it was expected that at this price point, these earbuds wouldn’t last as long as the others on the list.
- Most affordable on the list
- Sweat-resistant
- Comfortable foam ear tips
- ANSI and NIOSH compliant
- Not durable
How to Pick Earbuds
While you can go to an online shop and order the first thing that you find, it is always better to assess what you’re looking for to make the right purchase. So, here is what you need to know before you buy earplug headphones.
Noise Cancellation
The whole point of wearing earbuds that look like earplugs is to replicate their noise cancellation properties.
Maybe you’re working in a noisy environment, and you need to block all the external noise, or maybe you need to listen to your lullabies while you fall asleep. What if you want to study, but your little brother won’t turn down the volume on his iPad?
Active noise cancellation helps you focus on and enjoy your music, as opposed to being distracted by your surroundings.
Controls
Controls are an essential aspect of your next pair of headphones. Since they determine whether you’ll be able to use the earbuds or not, you should think about them before making your purchase.
Earbuds that have their own multi-functional buttons make things easier because you won’t have to use your phone to turn the volume up or down.
Even better, there are earbuds with built-in voice controls, which means that you won’t even need to use your hands. If you’re someone who takes a lot of calls throughout the day, this feature is a must-have.
Connection
We can rogue about whether wired or wireless headphones are better all night. The truth is, it depends on what you value the most.
Wireless
Some people need to move around a lot while using their earbuds, and they don’t want to deal with wires getting tangled with other objects. Maybe a desk job worker doesn’t mind the wires, but a fitness trainer probably would.
Battery Life
If you’re a for a pair of wireless earbuds, you have to consider the battery life.
On average, manufacturers claim that their earbuds can last from 7 to 12 hours on a single charge. However, it depends on your usage. One day a pair can last you 12 hours, and the next day they can last for only 6. Talking and listening to music consume different amounts of power; so, always keep that in mind.
Wired
On the other hand, many people see that wired earbuds provide better sound quality with no interference at a more affordable price. As the older method of connection, wired headphones have proven to be more reliable over time.
Sound Quality
Poor sound quality isn’t just a nuisance to audiophiles alone; it is an inconvenience to everyone.
If you’re wearing these earbuds while working out, sleeping, working, studying, or any other activity, a fluctuating volume or scratchy sound can be distracting and irritating. In many ways, earbuds with poor sound quality are cheaper ones that can be harmful to your hearing, as well.
So, look for headphones that are known for clear and detailed sounds so that you can enjoy your listening experience.
Ear Tips
Ear tips can make all the difference in your listening experience, and you can’t buy a new pair of earbuds without considering them.
Silicone
Silicone ear tips are the most popular, which makes sense, as they don’t cause allergic reactions like some rubber ear tips. Also, they’re very easy to clean, which means that they tend to last. Plus, they tend to be affordable, which adds to their popularity.
However, the wrong pair can be uncomfortable after long use and may get slippery with sweat.
Single-flange
Single-flange silicone ear tips are the most commonly used ones on the market. They are very easy to maintain, thanks to the simplicity of the design. They offer the least amount of sound isolation, so keep that in mind.
Double-flange
Double-flange silicone ear tips look as if you stacked two singles on top of each other. They go deeper into the ear canal than the singles ones, which leads to more comfort and better isolation.
Triple-flange
Triple-flange silicone ear trips go the deepest into the ear canal, thus offering the highest level of isolation and cancellation, so they’re pretty popular among earplug headphone lovers.
However, they’re not the easiest to clean. Also, some people find them uncomfortable because of how deep they enter the ear canals, while others don’t mind them. So, see how they feel for you.
Foam
Then, we have foam ear tips. Their popularity stems from the fact that they expand with the warmth of the ears and create a sonic seal that isolates sound better than any other type. In addition, foam ear tips are superior in terms of comfort.
On the other hand, they’re more expensive and less durable, as they tend to collect debris and ear wax. Foam ear tips only come in a single-flange design because foam isn’t as flexible as silicone.
Don’t forget to see this video about all things Ear tips , Silicone and foam.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, we’ve done some research not only about the best earbuds that look like earplugs, we’ve tried to help with how you can pick the right pair for yourself. Here are our top nominees.
Our top pick is the URIZONS Thread-Wrapped Bluetooth Earbuds. These extremely affordable earbuds are stylish and colorful, and the tribal-style thread adds to their durability and resistance against the elements. In addition, they’re sweatproof and waterproof. Plus, they last for 18 hours of playtime on a single charge. Also, they have control buttons and a high-quality sound.
Next in line, we have the EarFun Free Bluetooth 5.0 Earbuds. These affordable earbuds have a sleek matte finish that looks expensive. Of course, they’re sweatproof and waterproof. Don’t forget that they have a wireless range of up to 49 feet and a battery life of up to 30 hours when charged wireless. You can control them using a button or voice commands. Their sound quality is excellent.
Finally, there are the Plugfones Liberate 2.0 Wireless Earbuds. They look a lot like earplugs with their unique patent-pending design. Also, they come with interchangeable and replaceable foam and silicone ear tips. The physically active will appreciate its sweat resistance. Plus, the NeverOut battery gives 12 hours of playtime. Their hearing protection abilities are OSHA compliant, and ANSI certified. The quality of IsoTalk is insane.