The best computer speakers for anyone on a budget

Read our full review of the Creative Pebble Plus speakers.

Let’s face it: not all of us have a ton of desk space for big speakers. That’s why small, compact speakers like these are a great choice — especially at this price. Not only that, but they actually look good at your desk, whether you get them in white or black to match your office decor. 

Of course, the advantages of these speakers aren’t just their size and looks: it’s their audio quality. As Amazon reviewer Hawkmoon 269 writes “there is no distortion at loud settings and the bass is actually quite good. The overall quality of sound highlights both high and low midpoints very well.” 

The speakers also have a 45-degree angle tilt, which is ideal for a listener sitting at a desk because it projects the audio up towards them. Not only that, but if you don’t mind spending a little more, you can get the speakers with a powerful down-firing subwoofer to make the sound even better (though you’ll obviously need a little more office space).

While the speakers are definitely small and light enough to be portable, they are a little on the fragile side so may not be the best for taking with you on a work trip. 

Obviously, for this price, these speakers aren’t for audiophiles, but for their price point and size, they still deliver surprisingly good audio quality. One reviewer writes “They are loud enough and deliver excellent treble and bass. I’m amazed that the sound quality is so much better than I expected at this price.”

The speakers are easy to set up, plugging into any computer (or other device) with a headphone jack. They have a built-in knob for volume, and thanks to their compact size, they won’t take up much space on your desk. 

Many reviewers also love these speakers because of how durable and resilient they are. They’re hefty enough to resist easily falling over if you accidentally bump them, and even if you do knock them down, they can take most falls. In fact, one reviewer writes “I dropped them 100 times, they still work. I tend to be a klutz, and have knocked these guys over at least twice a week since I bought them Aug 2016. The cover flies off one and across the room, but I set them back up and they still work.”

The Edifier Exclaim e10 computer speakers don’t offer a ton of bonus features, as this model only offers wired connectivity using a 3.5mm AUX cable. Aside from that, all you get are power and volume buttons. These are really just skinny, sleek-looking speakers that don’t aspire to be anything more than that.

That said, their modern design and relatively low price means you’ll get something that won’t be a huge distraction, visually speaking. If you want to plug some speakers into your computer, push them to the back of the desk, and never think about them again, this might be the set to get.

Budget computer speakers that come with subwoofers for added bass aren’t impossible to find, but they’re certainly not the norm. This CyberAcoustics speaker set distinguishes itself from the competition with a genuine 2.1 setup at just $40. You’ll feel like you spent a lot more than that, especially considering some of the other goodies you get for the price.

Each of the two speakers comes equipped with dual 2-inch drivers that will only be bolstered by the deep bass produced by the subwoofer. The bad news here is that you can only connect to devices via a 3.5mm cable, but for $40, you have to accept some compromises. Another nice standout inclusion is the control pod, a little circular gadget with controls for volume, bass, and power, as well as a headphone jack for private listening. You’ll never have to touch the speakers themselves after positioning them.

Take a quick gander at Amazon reviews for these speakers and you’ll find multiple reviewers surprised by just how good these speakers are for being USB-powered and so small. For example, one Amazon customer writes “These little guys are tiny but the sound is huge” and another reviewer writes “the sound is good enough that I can play the music on my laptop in one room and hear it on another floor.” 

The speakers also just look cool on your desk, thanks to their compact, modern design and blue LED lights. The lights are an especially nice touch if you’re watching a movie or listening to music in low light. They also don’t need much space — always a plus if you don’t have a large desk. 

If you're the kind of person who likes for your technology to make a statement, then this should be your top pick. The Creative Labs T20 Series II 2.0 speakers are the most attractive option in the bunch, with a sleek, dare we say "classic" design and convenient front access to bass, treble, and volume buttons.

More than just a pretty face though, this speaker set also boasts excellent bass and 2-way design (so there's no need for a subwoofer), stereo adapters to plug into your your LCD TV, DVD player, or gaming console, and clear, dependable sound. There's also a headphone jack front and center if that's your kind of thing. We'd recommend this model for college students on a budget or anyone looking to add more audio oomph to their home office setup without spending a lot of money.