The 10 Best Open Ear Earbuds and Headphones of 2025

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

The best noise-cancelling headphones are designed to insulate you from distractions, but there are times when tuning out your surroundings isn’t an option. From running outdoors to listening for the next station on a train commute, the best open ear earbuds and headphones allow for situational awareness without compromising audio quality.

At a Glance: The Best Open-Ear Earbuds

It’s a niche but growing market, with brands offering more open-ear options than ever. Open-ear earbuds comprise a broad range of styles, with designs ranging from ear cuffs, earbuds with ear hooks, and bone-conduction headphones. What they have in common is leaving the ear canal open.

There are a variety of advantages to open ear earbuds. The biggest advantage is allowing the wearer to be attuned to their surroundings, which is why they’re particularly popular with runners and cyclists who work out outdoors. They’re not just for athletes, though — staying aware can be useful at work, on commutes, or while simply walking around the neighborhood. In addition to awareness, open-ear earbuds can be useful for those who struggle to find comfortable fitting in-ear earbuds.

To find the best open ear earbuds, we started with brands we trust and have used in the past. All of the options below we put to the test ourselves. We used them in a variety of settings, ranging from outdoor bike rides to office work, evaluating them on audio quality, comfort, workout-friendliness, and portability. These are our top picks for the best open-ear earbuds of 2025.

The Best Open-Ear Earbuds and Headphones

The steep price tag may cause hesitation among runners and cyclists worried about dropping these down a runoff grate, and the IPX4 rating is middling. But despite these drawbacks, Bose’s Open Earbuds were the pair I reached for most often, including for workouts.

These earbuds are surprisingly secure, despite the unusual fit that clips around the ear. They were able to handle sweaty bike rides across uneven terrain with minimal movement, and the relatively compact case makes them easy to take on the go.

The earbuds have a physical playback button, which comes in handy in preventing accidental touches during workouts. The drivers do a good job of angling the sound toward the ear while leaving the ear canal open. Crucially, Bose put audio quality first in designing the Open Earbuds, meaning they’re not just for workouts.

The unusual design may take some getting used to — they can exert some pressure on the outer ear, but they get more comfortable with wear. The biggest drawback is the price — $300 at retail is steep for a pair of earbuds. It’s the same price as Bose’s QC Ultra earbuds, which have noise cancelling.

The strong audio performance, portability, and usefulness for workouts and everyday wear ultimately put the Bose Open Earbuds over the top, despite their steep price tag.

Shokz earbuds have been popular with runners and cyclists for over a decade, and the brand pioneered the bone conduction category. The brand’s OpenFit 2 earbuds, released in 2025, use “air conduction” instead, essentially a driver placed near the opening of the ear canal. The result is a crisper, less muddy sound compared to the somewhat muffled performance of true bone conduction headphones.

The OpenFit 2 earbuds come in a compact charging case that’s easy to take on the go, unlike the brand’s OpenRun headphones, which have a band connecting the two earbuds. They’re among the best-sounding earbuds in this category, but you lose out on some fidelity like any open earbuds.

The OpenFit 2 earbuds are designed with workouts in mind, but that’s not their only use case. They’re comfortable enough for all-day wear at the office, and the open design keeps you aware of any conversations. Plus, multipoint compatibility makes it easy to stay connected to your phone and laptop for any calls.

The standout feature for me is the controls. Shokz added both a touch sensor and a physical button. The sensor can be turned off or used for a voice assistant, while the customizable button controls (on each bud) control playback and volume.

Nothing is known for its use of transparent, see-through plastic that creates a boldly minimalist look, and they applied that design to the Nothing Ear (Open) earbuds. They’re among the best-sounding open-ear earbuds, and at $149, they’re more affordable than Shokz or Bose.

The case is long but impressively slim, making it fairly easy to slip into a pocket. The earbuds themselves also feel lightweight, and the earhooks keep them secure. That said, the drivers tend to jut out from the ears, making them slightly conspicuous.

Like my other favorite earbuds from Shokz and Bose, the Nothing Ear (Open) earbuds feature a physical, tactile button. It’s a welcome feature on any workout earbud, as it helps prevent accidental touches. The button is somewhat small and hard to find at first, but the controls are easy to get used to, and they’re also customizable.

The earbuds have a decent 8 hours of playback with the earbuds or 30 hours with the case, and the IP54 water-resistant rating is sufficient for most workouts.