I’ve been testing the best workout headphones for almost a decade, and know that the difference between a good and a great set is how well they stay in place during fast-paced, high-intensity or sweaty workouts.
If you’re after a resilient pair that’ll work with Android and iPhone, I can confidently say that the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are the best workout headphones for most people. They’re comfortable, last a long time, and have the same tech as Apple’s non-exercise-focused AirPods Pro.
The best workout headphones you can buy today
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Best workout headphones overall
For almost five years, I recommended the Jabra Elite Active range to most people. But that was before Apple redesigned the Beats Powerbeats Pro in early 2025 into what are effectively AirPods for workouts, with active noise cancellation (ANC), an effective transparency mode, and proper support for iPhone and Android devices.
The winged design of the older Powerbeats Pro has been replaced with over-ear hooks, which are a lot more stable. I’d sometimes need to fiddle a bit to get them on, but once locked into place, they didn’t budge. And because the hook keeps some of the weight out of your ear, they were comfortable to wear for hours at a time.
Though the downside of this design is that the case is pretty big, and much larger than you’d comfortably fit into a legging or pocket; fine for throwing in a gym bag, less ideal for carrying about, unlike the miniscule Beats Solo Buds case. But this one tops the battery up to 45 hours, while the Solo Buds case is just for storage.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 come with Apple’s H2 chip, just like the AirPods Pro 3, so expect similar speedy performance, although I didn’t find the noise cancellation or transparency mode were quite up to the flagship buds’ standard. Though I did jump with delight at the use of physical buttons on each bud.
These headphones powered me through weights workouts, meditation sessions and long outdoor walks with no issues. I put them in and they did exactly what I wanted; good audio with no fuss. I don’t run, but my coworker Nick Harris-Fry does, and found the Powerbeats Pro 2 a good companion for runs too.
The company leaned heavily into the buds’ heart rate monitor at launch. It’s neat, but you’ll probably never use it. There’s a small optical sensor built into the buds which is used to track your heart rate during workouts, but if this is something you care about, you likely have a smartwatch or Garmin watch that can do this better.
Best budget workout headphones
If you’re after a good set of workout earbuds that you can chuck in your bag without worrying about them too much, the JLab Go Air Pop are a great option. The buds cost just $25, but can last up to 8 hours, are IPX4-rated, and come in five colors.
But unlike many other cheap workout headphones, these ones actually sound good, so you won’t get distracted by muffled audio or low volume songs. We were impressed how comfortable they were to wear over long periods too.
At this price, it’s hard to demand perfection, but if you’re hoping the Go Air Pop could pull double duty as workout earbuds and for joining virtual meetings, we found that the call quality wasn’t good enough to use them reliably for that.
However, if you’re after a spare set of buds you can grab in emergencies or as a gym set that won’t break the bank if you need to replace them after a dumbbell accidentally lands on one, the Go Air Sport are definitely the best affordable workout earbuds.
Best workout headphones for running
The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 are the follow up to our former favorite running headphones, the OpenRun Pro. These bone conduction headphones sound great, despite the fact they use vibrations on your cheeks to transmit audio.
While out running with the OpenRun Pro 2 (or most Shokz headphones for that matter), we found that the fit was comfortable and secure, so you won’t need to continually fiddle with them and can focus on your training.
The downside to the headband-style design is that you can’t adjust the fit. However, there’s a smaller edition (OpenRun Pro 2 Mini) that has a shorter band for improved fit. But we were impressed with the comfort during runs, bike rides, and yoga sessions.
You don’t get a charging case, but we found that the battery would last around 12 hours between top-ups, which should see you through most workouts. That said, if you like to dial up the volume to max, expect closer to 10 hours of power.
I’m not a runner, but my multi-marathoner coworker Nick Harris-Fry summed up his feelings on the headphones, concluding: “They’re my preferred running headphones at the moment because of the excellent fit, open design and good sound. If you just want running headphones with an open design, it’s the OpenRun Pro 2.”
They can survive sweaty workouts and light rain, but if you plan to train in the wet or want a more multi-functional set that’ll cope with a dip in the pool, the OpenSwim Pro are a good alternative, and they have onboard MP3 storage.
Best workout headphones for iPhone
The AirPods Pro 3 are the newest Apple’s flagship headphone range, and more stuffed with features than ever. There’s live translation, voice isolation on calls and head gestures to control your phone. All of that’s great, but it’s the fitness features that really stand out.
Like the Powerbeats Pro 2, the AirPods Pro 3 now have built-in heart rate sensors. Unlike the Beats set at launch, you can actually use the sensors with a load of different apps, including (importantly) Apple Fitness.
The new integration with Apple Fitness adds Workout Buddy, an AI-powered ‘coach which sends you motivational messages and performance stats, like an audio-only version of what you’d find on the Apple Watch 11.
I’m generally skeptical about features like this, but our resident marathon runner Nick Harris-Fry actually seemed impressed with the heart rate accuracy, which informs a lot of the performance metrics on Workout Buddy and Apple Fitness.
Then there’s the fit. Despite being popular workout earbuds, I’ve always found that AirPods need quite a lot of fiddling to keep them in place. But that’s not the case with the redesigned tip here, which Fitness Editor Jane McGuire said performed brilliantly on runs.
Despite being one of the first mainstream brands to launch water resistant phones, the AirPods Pro 2 were surprisingly vulnerable, with just an IPX4 rating, essentially for splashes. The Pro 3 upgrade to a much more hardy IP57 for dust and water resistance, so you can finally use them in the elements.
Like the AirPods Pro 2 before, the Pro 3 are still disappointing on the battery front; 8 hours per bud, up to 24 hours with the case (while you got 30 out of the case on the Pro 2). It’s not terrible, but the sub-$50 JLab Go Air Pop also reach 8 hours.
The main reason I don’t rate these higher in the list of best workout headphones is mostly due to the design — these aren’t made for sports and they’re not as secure fitting as you’d need for all high-intensity workouts. But for general use with your iPhone, including yoga, HIIT sessions, and casual runs, they’re a great choice.
Best workout headphones for Android
As Google continues to develop the Pixel-branded ecosystem of devices to rival Apple’s iPhone and AirPods, it’s no surprise that the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are the best workout headphones for Android, even if they are targeted squarely at owners of the brand’s range of Pixel phones.
The key upgrade from the first-generation Pixel Buds Pro is the addition of Google Gemini, the brand’s generative AI model. As it’s still fairly new, it doesn’t replace the older virtual Google Assistant, although in theory it can. But in practice, we found that it doesn’t always offer the most accurate answers.
Features like voice assistants and hands-free controls are useful, but not essential when you’re working out. Instead, it’s more important that they stay in place as you exercise. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 have a new wing on each bud to help them lock into your ears.
This would be great, but it doesn’t quite reach the inner-top part of your ear, so we still found a bit of adjustment was needed to keep them in position for optimal noice cancelation. Google also claims to have improved the ANC, but it’s hard to really tell the difference here between the Pixel Buds Pro 2 and the original.
However, it’s still effective, blocking out most noises bar some higher frequency sounds like crying babies and emergency service sirens. The sound quality matches the Pixel Buds Pro, although you may want to tweak the EQ to your preferences, as the default setting is a bit heavy on the lower end.
One other thing they have in common with the AirPods Pro is that they’re not nessecarily the best workout headphones if spend hours training every week, as the fit isn’t quite optimized for high-impact exercise. But if you’re after a versatile option to wear at the gym and at the office, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are a great choice.
Also tested
The workout headphones in the guide above aren’t the only ones we’ve tested. We regularly try out workout earbuds so that we can recommend the top options that are worth spending your hard-earned cash on.
However, there are several other good options if you’re after a bit more choice. These are the earbuds we’ve tested that didn’t quite make the cut.
How we test the best workout headphones
Before investing your money in a set of workout headphones, you want to be sure that they do what they claim and are comfortable enough to wear during your training. That’s why we put each set to the test before including it in the guide.
I’ve been testing headphones for almost ten years and know the most important areas to check out before recommending any pair. You really don’t want them to fall out and get lost or need to continually adjust them in your ears.
So, we wear the headphones across a range of training styles, including high-impact runs (which can cause a lot of vibration and movement), intense fast-paced workouts and weightlifting sessions to see how they fare.
If they easily stay in place, they glide through this test, but it’s not a write off if they do move — headphones that struggle with runs may still make great weights companions — so we move into other areas, like comfort and sound.
For longer sessions, including runs, yoga classes and extended gym sessions, we check that the headphones are actually comfortable in your ears and don’t leave you with ear pain or pressure headaches, which can happen with some sets.
Likewise, you don’t want them to run out of battery mid-session, so we check how the battery life stacks up to the manufacturer’s specs. For earbuds, we see how long they last out of the case and confirm how long the case can boost that.
When it comes to sound quality, even the best workout headphones aren’t going to be a match for the best audiophile headphones in terms of clarity and detail. But that doesn’t mean you need to put up with poor or low quality audio.
We use a consistent playlist of music to help compare the headphones to other sets we’ve tested, which includes a variety of motivational dance music, dynamic rock songs, and everything in between, including the best new workout music.
How to choose the best workout headphones
There a lot of Bluetooth workout headphones out there, so it can be challenge to decide between them all. However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind that’ll help narrow your options down to the right ones for your needs.
Firstly, it’s vital that they stay in place during your exercise sessions. Some have ear hooks to physically hold them down, but others rely on clever engineering, a range of ear tips, or a specific set of materials to stop them falling out.
You also want them to survive some degree of moisture. If you plan to get sweaty, then you’ll need a set rated to at least IPX4 for water resistance. But for outdoor workouts with a chance of rain, it’s best to aim for an IPX7 rating.
Importantly, they also need to last the length of your workout. If you’re doing short, high-intensity sessions, then you may only need an hour of battery. But, with the right case, you may only need to recharge them every couple of weeks.
If long runs are more your thing or you’re training for a marathon, you’ll need a long-lasting set, like the Shokz OpenRun Pro, which are specifically designed with long distance outdoor runners in mind and last up to 10 hours.
And, finally, how loud do you like your workouts? If you don’t mind some background noise at the gym, then a set of passive noise-canceling headphones should do the job, but most of the best workout earbuds have active noise cancellation (ANC) instead.
Earbuds with ANC cancel out the sound before it even hits your ears, so they’re ideal if you want to zone out to your favorite tracks and focus on your exercise. But you may also want to hear traffic when you’re out and about, so choose a set with a transparency mode too, which cancels most, but not all, noise.
FAQs
What happened to the Jabra Elite earbuds?
In mid-2025, I had to do something hard; say goodbye to the Jabra Elite 8 Active. These were my favorite workout earbuds, but Jabra decided to focus only on business audio and no longer makes consumer earbuds or headphones.
I’d been using Jabra’s Elite Active headphones since 2019, and for more than half a decade they comfortably sat atop my list of the best workout headphones. But we move. Times have changed, and they’re gone (but still supported, for now).
You’d struggle to find a new pair now as most retailers have run down their supplies, but if you’re after new workout earbuds, and to my mind, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are a worthy successor (even if they do add an ear hook).
What do IP ratings mean?
If you’ve been hunting for new workout headphones, you may have noticed that each set has an IP rating for water resistance. This stands for Ingress Protection, and it’s a measure of how well the buds can stand dirt and water.
There’s a standard format to the rating — IPXY — where X refers to the level of dust protection and Y relates to the device’s water resistance. The dust protection runs from 0 to 6, while water ranges between 0 and 9.
Unless you’re working out in very dusty environments, the dust protection is less relevant and most brands don’t even test them against that part of the standard. Instead, you’ll want to pay attention to the water rating.
Headphones with an IPX4 rating are protected against splashes of water, so will cope with sweaty workouts. However, if you want to run in the rain (or are worried about getting caught in a storm) then aim for a set with an IPX7 rating.
This means they can be submerged in water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes without damage. That doesn’t mean you should take them swimming (you’ll want some waterproof headphones for that) but dropping them in a puddle isn’t going to do them any harm.
Should you use over-ear headphones or earbuds for exercise?
Our roundup only includes workout earbuds, but it’s not uncommon to see some people train with over-ear headphones instead, especially at the gym. So, which should you wear for exercise?
Ultimately, it comes down to preference, but there are a few factors to consider. Over-ears use an adjustable headband to keep them in place, so they’re not likely to move about, especially if you’re lifting weights.
Even just a few years ago, in-ear buds weren’t really designed with exercise in mind, so they’d often fall out or need a lot of fiddling to keep them in place. But the best workout headphones we’ve included here all have ways to overcome that challenge.
Some, like the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, have ear hooks to hold them securely. Then there are buds like the Jabra Elite 8 Active which come with the brand’s ShakeGrip design, which uses a blend of internal weighting and grippy materials.
But many people also feel like a larger set of headphones will have longer battery life and sound better too. However, the performance gap has shrunk, so you can get impressive noise cancellation and battery life from workout earbuds now.
The downside to over-ears is that they’re generally not designed for sweaty exercise. Many have leather ear pads, and these quickly wear with repeated movements and contact with sweat. You can replace them, but it’s not ideal.
The earbuds are also lighter, so you’re less likely to notice you have them in, while over-ear cans can start to press against your skull and contribute to tension headaches, unless they’re specifically designed for comfort. Although that usually makes them less durable.
Can you repair workout headphones?
Generally, no. This is partly due to the intricate designs required to make small earbuds packed with batteries, sensors, and headphone components. But it’s also because most brands don’t prioritize repairability.
Many sets, like those in our best workout headphones roundup, are durable, so shouldn’t get easily damaged. And since most offer some degree of water resistance, a bit of sweat or light rain shouldn’t cause you any problems.
So any significant damage is going to come from accidents, like dropping a weight onto an errant bud. However, you may notice a drop in battery life in the longer-term, which you usually can’t do anything about.
The only way around this would be to pick up a set of the Fairphone Fairbuds, which may be the world’s most repairable earbuds since you can replace seven parts, including the battery and outer shell.
They’re currently only available in the EU and UK, and we’re still waiting on details of any US release. But we hope Fairphone will bring these more sustainable earbuds stateside soon.
Are wired headphones good for the gym?
All of the sets in our best workout headphones roundup are wireless and connect to your smartphone or other devices via Bluetooth. But you can still find wired sets, including the Apple EarPods, which looks a bit like AirPods but with a cable and Lightning connector to plug into your iPhone.
Wired sets also tend to be cheaper, so you may be considering a set that you wouldn’t need to worry as much about damaging or replacing. However, it’s important to consider how you like to train before picking up a wired set.
To keep them connected, you’ll need to have your phone somewhere on your body, either in a pocket, waistband or running phone holder. Consequently, there are two different devices moving at different times as you exercise; your earphones and your smartphone.
The movements are translated between them with the cable, so if you stretch your leg out, the cable tenses and may tug on your earphones, which could lead to them falling out.
Plus, if you’re working out with weights or other equipment, there’s also the risk that the wire will get tangled up, leading to the headphones falling out or the cable getting ripped.
Similarly, if you prefer to keep aware of your surroundings, you can use most wireless workout headphones in mono mode, with just a single earbud in while the other stays in the case. You don’t have the same option for wired workout headphones.
What is the best device for listening to music while running?
Many runners would advise picking up a set of the best bone conduction headphones for running. Like the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 in our roundup, these use vibrating pads on your cheek bones to reproduce audio, leaving your ears free to pick up the sounds around you, like traffic and other people.
This is very helpful while out running, especially if you want to run safely in the dark. Although music can be a great motivator, you don’t want to miss important alerts like emergency vehicle sirens or bikes coming up behind you.
Plus, it means that you’re more aware of everything else going on around you, including other runners and pedestrians. And if you plan to run races, using bone conduction headphones allows you to chat with other runners and listen to music.
You can get similar effects with most of the best workout headphones, as transparency modes use the earbuds’ built-in mics to elevate environmental noise, but bone conduction headphones also wrap around your head, so stay in place more effectively during high-impact activities like running.
How do you keep your headphones from falling out at the gym?
If you want to prevent your earbuds falling out of your ears or slipping out of place, the first thing to consider if the type of exercise you want to do. For running and other high-impact activities like jumping, the most secure type of workout headphones are those with ear hooks.
These sit above your ear to prevent them moving or falling out, and so can cope more effectively with vibrations. This is also why many runners opt for a set of the best bone conduction headphones, since these wrap around your head to similar effect.
If you want more minimalist earbuds, then before you start your workout, you can adjust the silicone ear tips. Most sets come with a small, medium, and large replacement pair of tips so you can find the ones that fit your ear size the most.
