21 Best Cheap Underwear Brands That Aren't a Downgrade
Only pairs at or under the $22 median. Value carries 30% — but so does comfort, so the cheapest pair does not automatically win.
Underwearank editors
August 2026 · 21 min read
21 brands reviewed
Eligibility — At or under $22 per pair, the median price across all 40 brands
This guide helps you compare 21 underwear brands in our best cheaper alternatives ranking without relying on marketing claims. We apply one published formula to every brand, explain why each pair lands where it does, and put the fastest answers first. Uniqlo AIRism ranks No. 1, but the quick picks below may be a better match for your budget or priorities.
The answer in three lines
Lower-price alternative
Quince
The highest-ranked option below the winner's $10 per-pair price.
These labels are derived from the same order below: the winner, the highest-ranked cheaper option, and the brand that gains most from this weighting. They are not separately hand-picked.
All 21, in order
- 01Best ValueUp 11 places vs overall
1. Uniqlo AIRism
The value benchmark the whole market is measured against.
At roughly a third of the premium price, AIRism gets you most of the way there on comfort and beats nearly everything on breathability. Seams and elastic are the compromise — expect a shorter life.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where Uniqlo AIRism scores 8.7; value carries 30%, where it scores 9.8. That moves it up 11 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Unmatched cooling in heat and humidity
- Extremely low per-pair cost
- Nearly weightless under slim trousers
What to know
- Seams fail earlier than premium pairs
- Thin fabric shows wear
- Comfort · 30%
- 8.7
- Fit · 10%
- 8.3
- Durability · 20%
- 7.2
- Breathability · 10%
- 9.7
- Value · 30%
- 9.8
- 02Up 6 places vs overall
2. Under Armour
A reliable gym pair at multipack pricing.
Performance Tech Boxerjock is light, quick-drying, and unusually stable for the price. It feels synthetic and looks utilitarian, but few multipacks manage sweat and movement this well.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where Under Armour scores 8.1; value carries 30%, where it scores 9.1. That moves it up 6 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Fast drying with mesh ventilation
- 3-, 6-, and 9-inch inseams
- Excellent multipack value
What to know
- Synthetic hand feel
- Limited non-boxer-brief cuts
- Comfort · 30%
- 8.1
- Fit · 10%
- 8.8
- Durability · 20%
- 8.7
- Breathability · 10%
- 9.1
- Value · 30%
- 9.1
- 03Most DurableUp 10 places vs overall
3. Duluth Buck Naked
Workwear durability, oddly good fabric.
The most durable pair tested — the elastic outlasts the fabric, which is backwards from everyone else and a good thing. Slick synthetic feel divides people, but nothing here fails early.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where Duluth Buck Naked scores 8.2; value carries 30%, where it scores 8.1. That moves it up 10 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Outlasts every other pair on the list
- No-chafe flat seams
- Generous no-questions return policy
What to know
- Slippery synthetic feel
- Plain, limited colorways
- Comfort · 30%
- 8.2
- Fit · 10%
- 8.5
- Durability · 20%
- 9.5
- Breathability · 10%
- 8.4
- Value · 30%
- 8.1
- 04Up 12 places vs overall
4. Real Men Apparel
Support sized by pouch volume, not only waistband.
Separate pouch-size choices solve a fit problem most brands ignore, and the bamboo blend is soft for the price. The utilitarian finish and Amazon-first presentation feel less polished than the specialist competition.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where Real Men Apparel scores 8.5; value carries 30%, where it scores 8.8. That moves it up 12 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Multiple pouch-volume choices
- Good support for muscular builds
- Strong multipack value
What to know
- Sizing takes extra work
- Finishing is basic
- Comfort · 30%
- 8.5
- Fit · 10%
- 9.1
- Durability · 20%
- 7.7
- Breathability · 10%
- 8.2
- Value · 30%
- 8.8
- 05Up 26 places vs overall
5. Quince
Modal multipacks priced like supermarket cotton.
Quince puts a genuinely soft modal blend into aggressively priced multipacks. The pattern and waistband are simpler than premium modal specialists, but the fabric-per-dollar equation is among the strongest on the list.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where Quince scores 8.5; value carries 30%, where it scores 9.5. That moves it up 26 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Very low modal multipack price
- Soft everyday fabric
- Simple, low-logo styling
What to know
- Limited technical options
- Basic pouch and waistband construction
- Comfort · 30%
- 8.5
- Fit · 10%
- 7.9
- Durability · 20%
- 7.3
- Breathability · 10%
- 8.1
- Value · 30%
- 9.5
- 06Up 16 places vs overall
6. Pair of Thieves
Target-friendly pricing with genuinely useful mesh.
SuperFit is airy, stretchy, and much better in heat than its retail price suggests. The waistband is less refined than premium competitors and the fabric can snag, but the comfort-per-dollar ratio is strong.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where Pair of Thieves scores 8.3; value carries 30%, where it scores 9.0. That moves it up 16 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Cool, breathable mesh
- Accessible multipack pricing
- Pouch and long-leg options
What to know
- Mesh can snag
- Waistband feels bulky under slim trousers
- Comfort · 30%
- 8.3
- Fit · 10%
- 8.4
- Durability · 20%
- 7.6
- Breathability · 10%
- 9.0
- Value · 30%
- 9.0
- 07Best Modern BasicUp 4 places vs overall
7. SKIMS
A modern cotton-modal basic with an unusually broad size run.
The men's line gets the fundamentals right: a soft cotton-modal blend, clean styling, strong stretch recovery, and sizes from XS through 5X. The standard cotton boxer brief is the one to buy; the slicker stretch fabrics trade some airflow for a closer fit.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where SKIMS scores 8.8; value carries 30%, where it scores 8.0. That moves it up 4 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Soft cotton-modal everyday fabric
- XS-to-5X size range
- Strong leg elastic and shape recovery
What to know
- Popular sizes sell out often
- No functional fly on core styles
- Comfort · 30%
- 8.8
- Fit · 10%
- 8.8
- Durability · 20%
- 8.4
- Breathability · 10%
- 8.3
- Value · 30%
- 8.0
- 08Up 9 places vs overall
8. Separatec
A dual-pouch system for maximum separation.
Separatec takes pouch engineering further than most with two distinct compartments. It improves airflow and contact separation, but the extra opening and setup will feel overdesigned to anyone happy with a conventional pouch.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where Separatec scores 8.5; value carries 30%, where it scores 8.6. That moves it up 9 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Complete anatomical separation
- Soft bamboo-viscose options
- Competitive multipack price
What to know
- Unfamiliar two-pouch setup
- More fabric and seams up front
- Comfort · 30%
- 8.5
- Fit · 10%
- 8.8
- Durability · 20%
- 7.7
- Breathability · 10%
- 8.7
- Value · 30%
- 8.6
- 09Up 20 places vs overall
9. adidas
Straightforward sport basics with broad retail reach.
adidas covers both cotton basics and quick-dry athletic boxer briefs without asking specialist-brand money. Fit and fabric vary by collection, so the performance line is the safer pick for exercise.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where adidas scores 7.9; value carries 30%, where it scores 8.7. That moves it up 20 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Good sale and multipack pricing
- Quick-dry options
- Widely available sizing
What to know
- Quality varies by collection
- Basic pouch construction
- Comfort · 30%
- 7.9
- Fit · 10%
- 8.2
- Durability · 20%
- 8.1
- Breathability · 10%
- 8.4
- Value · 30%
- 8.7
- 10Best Everyday CottonUp 11 places vs overall
10. Bombas
Sock expertise, applied downward.
Softer than the price suggests and backed by a returns policy nobody else matches. The support panel is mild compared to SAXX, so it is an everyday pair rather than a performance one.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where Bombas scores 8.9; value carries 30%, where it scores 7.6. That moves it up 11 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Genuinely frictionless returns
- Soft cotton-modal hand
- One-donated-per-purchase model
What to know
- Mild support versus athletic brands
- Cotton dries slowly
- Comfort · 30%
- 8.9
- Fit · 10%
- 8.4
- Durability · 20%
- 8.3
- Breathability · 10%
- 7.8
- Value · 30%
- 7.6
- 11Up 17 places vs overall
11. Nike
Familiar cotton, helped along by Dri-FIT.
The Essential cotton-stretch boxer brief is closer to a better basic than a technical base layer. Dri-FIT and wide hems improve moisture handling and ride-up control, but serious runners can find cooler all-mesh options.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where Nike scores 8.1; value carries 30%, where it scores 8.4. That moves it up 17 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Soft familiar cotton feel
- Wide hems resist ride-up
- Easy multipack availability
What to know
- Not as cool as full performance mesh
- Limited pouch shaping
- Comfort · 30%
- 8.1
- Fit · 10%
- 8.3
- Durability · 20%
- 8.2
- Breathability · 10%
- 8.0
- Value · 30%
- 8.4
- 12Up 14 places vs overall
12. Boody
Soft bamboo basics with seamless options and inclusive sizing.
Boody's bamboo-viscose knit is soft, smooth, and available through 4XL, while the seamless version removes waistband bulk. Support is gentle rather than athletic and the shorter cut can move on large thighs.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where Boody scores 8.8; value carries 30%, where it scores 8.0. That moves it up 14 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Soft bamboo-viscose fabric
- Seamless waistband option
- Sizes through 4XL
What to know
- Light pouch support
- Short legs can ride up
- Comfort · 30%
- 8.8
- Fit · 10%
- 8.0
- Durability · 20%
- 7.6
- Breathability · 10%
- 8.4
- Value · 30%
- 8.0
- 13Best OrganicUp 21 places vs overall
13. Pact
Organic cotton without the markup.
The cleanest supply chain on the list at a price that undercuts most premium cotton. Pure cotton means it holds moisture, so it is a cool-weather and desk-job pair, not a summer one.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where Pact scores 8.4; value carries 30%, where it scores 8.6. That moves it up 21 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Certified organic cotton, Fair Trade factories
- Very gentle on sensitive skin
- Strong price for the material
What to know
- Poor moisture management
- Fit is loose and unstructured
- Comfort · 30%
- 8.4
- Fit · 10%
- 7.7
- Durability · 20%
- 8.0
- Breathability · 10%
- 7.1
- Value · 30%
- 8.6
- 14Up 23 places vs overall
14. Jockey
A century of practical cuts and sensible prices.
No brand covers more conventional shapes with less fuss. The best Jockey pairs are dependable and inexpensive, though the enormous range hides meaningful differences in fabric and waistband quality.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where Jockey scores 7.8; value carries 30%, where it scores 8.9. That moves it up 23 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Exceptional cut and rise selection
- Reliable multipack value
- Broad size availability
What to know
- Inconsistent quality across lines
- Many cotton styles hold moisture
- Comfort · 30%
- 7.8
- Fit · 10%
- 8.0
- Durability · 20%
- 7.9
- Breathability · 10%
- 7.4
- Value · 30%
- 8.9
- 15Up 15 places vs overall
15. Polo Ralph Lauren
A department-store staple with a better-than-basic fabric range.
The cotton multipacks are familiar and serviceable; 4D Flex Cooling is the line that makes the brand competitive with newer performance basics. Fit is dependable, though full-price value is only average.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where Polo Ralph Lauren scores 8.2; value carries 30%, where it scores 7.9. That moves it up 15 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Dependable mainstream fit
- Useful cooling microfiber option
- Frequent multipack discounts
What to know
- Full price is unremarkable value
- Large logo waistband
- Comfort · 30%
- 8.2
- Fit · 10%
- 8.3
- Durability · 20%
- 8.1
- Breathability · 10%
- 8.1
- Value · 30%
- 7.9
- 16Up 20 places vs overall
16. Calvin Klein
The default answer for forty years.
Consistent, widely available, and endlessly discounted — which is the real argument for it. The cotton-stretch is unremarkable next to modal, and quality drifts noticeably between the outlet and mainline stock.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where Calvin Klein scores 7.9; value carries 30%, where it scores 8.3. That moves it up 20 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Available everywhere, always on sale
- Fit people already know
- Solid multipack economics
What to know
- Outlet stock is visibly lower quality
- Fabric is dated versus rivals
- Comfort · 30%
- 7.9
- Fit · 10%
- 8.2
- Durability · 20%
- 7.8
- Breathability · 10%
- 7.4
- Value · 30%
- 8.3
- 17Up 18 places vs overall
17. Tommy Hilfiger
Classic logo-waist basics in nearly every cut.
Cotton Classics are ordinary but dependable, while TH Micro and Stretch Modal provide a meaningful softness upgrade. The perpetual discounts are part of the value equation, so paying full list price makes little sense.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where Tommy Hilfiger scores 8.0; value carries 30%, where it scores 8.1. That moves it up 18 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Very broad style range
- Cotton, modal, and microfiber options
- Easy to find on sale
What to know
- List pricing is inflated
- Quality changes across collections
- Comfort · 30%
- 8.0
- Fit · 10%
- 8.1
- Durability · 20%
- 7.8
- Breathability · 10%
- 7.8
- Value · 30%
- 8.1
- 18Up 15 places vs overall
18. BOSS
Designer multipacks with tidy tailoring and a loud waistband.
BOSS cuts a clean, supportive trunk and offers more rises and leg lengths than most fashion labels. Stretch cotton is pleasant rather than exceptional, making multipacks and sale prices the sensible way in.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where BOSS scores 8.0; value carries 30%, where it scores 7.8. That moves it up 15 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Clean close fit
- Many rises and leg lengths
- Good multipack availability
What to know
- Logo-heavy styling
- Fabric does not justify full designer pricing
- Comfort · 30%
- 8.0
- Fit · 10%
- 8.5
- Durability · 20%
- 8.0
- Breathability · 10%
- 7.6
- Value · 30%
- 7.8
- 19Up 19 places vs overall
19. MeUndies
Prints first, engineering second.
The MicroModal is legitimately soft and the print catalog is unmatched, but the waistband loosens faster than anything else near this price. Great to lounge in, mediocre to sweat in.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where MeUndies scores 8.8; value carries 30%, where it scores 7.2. That moves it up 19 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Very soft MicroModal
- Widest print and color selection
- Membership pricing softens the cost
What to know
- Waistband stretches out early
- Underperforms during activity
- Subscription pressure
- Comfort · 30%
- 8.8
- Fit · 10%
- 7.6
- Durability · 20%
- 6.9
- Breathability · 10%
- 7.7
- Value · 30%
- 7.2
- 20Up 19 places vs overall
20. Fruit of the Loom
Mass-market value with more ventilation than expected.
CoolZone and Breathable lines add useful mesh where basic cotton pairs usually run hottest. Waistbands and shape retention remain budget-grade, but the per-pair cost is hard to argue with.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where Fruit of the Loom scores 6.8; value carries 30%, where it scores 9.2. That moves it up 19 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Very low per-pair cost
- CoolZone mesh improves airflow
- Many cuts and pack sizes
What to know
- Elastic ages quickly
- Fit consistency is only average
- Comfort · 30%
- 6.8
- Fit · 10%
- 6.7
- Durability · 20%
- 6.2
- Breathability · 10%
- 7.1
- Value · 30%
- 9.2
- 21Best BudgetUp 19 places vs overall
21. Hanes
The floor the whole category is built on.
Nothing about it is good except the price, and the price is very good. Buy the multipack, accept that the waistband is done inside a year, and replace the whole drawer for less than four premium pairs.
Why it ranks here: Comfort carries 30% here, where Hanes scores 6.4; value carries 30%, where it scores 8.8. That moves it up 19 places from the overall list.
What we like
- Cheapest per pair by a wide margin
- Available in every store
- Fine for laundry-day rotation
What to know
- Waistband fails fast
- Baggy, shapeless fit
- Cotton holds heat and moisture
- Comfort · 30%
- 6.4
- Fit · 10%
- 6.1
- Durability · 20%
- 5.8
- Breathability · 10%
- 6.6
- Value · 30%
- 8.8
Compare every score used in this order
Swipe horizontally to compare every score →
| Brand | Visit brand | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uniqlo AIRismBest Value | 8.8 | 8.7 | 8.3 | 7.2 | 9.7 | 9.8 | $10 | Visit |
| 2 | Under Armour | 8.7 | 8.1 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 9.1 | 9.1 | $15 | Visit |
| 3 | Duluth Buck NakedMost Durable | 8.5 | 8.2 | 8.5 | 9.5 | 8.4 | 8.1 | $22 | Visit |
| 4 | Real Men Apparel | 8.5 | 8.5 | 9.1 | 7.7 | 8.2 | 8.8 | $13 | Visit |
| 5 | Quince | 8.5 | 8.5 | 7.9 | 7.3 | 8.1 | 9.5 | $8 | Visit |
| 6 | Pair of Thieves | 8.5 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 7.6 | 9.0 | 9.0 | $13 | Visit |
| 7 | SKIMSBest Modern Basic | 8.4 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.4 | 8.3 | 8.0 | $18 | Visit |
| 8 | Separatec | 8.4 | 8.5 | 8.8 | 7.7 | 8.7 | 8.6 | $13 | Visit |
| 9 | adidas | 8.3 | 7.9 | 8.2 | 8.1 | 8.4 | 8.7 | $14 | Visit |
| 10 | BombasBest Everyday Cotton | 8.2 | 8.9 | 8.4 | 8.3 | 7.8 | 7.6 | $22 | Visit |
| 11 | Nike | 8.2 | 8.1 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 8.0 | 8.4 | $16 | Visit |
| 12 | Boody | 8.2 | 8.8 | 8.0 | 7.6 | 8.4 | 8.0 | $20 | Visit |
| 13 | PactBest Organic | 8.2 | 8.4 | 7.7 | 8.0 | 7.1 | 8.6 | $15 | Visit |
| 14 | Jockey | 8.1 | 7.8 | 8.0 | 7.9 | 7.4 | 8.9 | $10 | Visit |
| 15 | Polo Ralph Lauren | 8.1 | 8.2 | 8.3 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 7.9 | $16 | Visit |
| 16 | Calvin Klein | 8.0 | 7.9 | 8.2 | 7.8 | 7.4 | 8.3 | $17 | Visit |
| 17 | Tommy Hilfiger | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.1 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 8.1 | $16 | Visit |
| 18 | BOSS | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 7.6 | 7.8 | $16 | Visit |
| 19 | MeUndies | 7.7 | 8.8 | 7.6 | 6.9 | 7.7 | 7.2 | $20 | Visit |
| 20 | Fruit of the Loom | 7.4 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 6.2 | 7.1 | 9.2 | $4 | Visit |
| 21 | HanesBest Budget | 7.0 | 6.4 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 6.6 | 8.8 | $5 | Visit |
Select any column heading to re-sort. Prices are approximate list price per pair and change frequently.
Judge the saving after the compromise
Every eligible pair costs no more than the site median. The useful question is what disappears when the price drops: comfort, useful life, or neither.
Compare per-pair prices
Multipacks can change the real cost dramatically, so the list uses approximate price per pair rather than pack price.
Protect the comfort floor
Comfort carries the same weight as value so the cheapest product cannot win on price alone.
Watch replacement cycles
Durability receives 20% because replacing a cheap pair early can erase the original saving.
Why this order differs from the main list
Two rules are doing the work here. The first is eligibility: a brand appears only if it sells at or below the median price of the full list. The second is the weighting. Value and comfort both carry 30%, and durability carries 20%. Weighting value alone would hand this to whatever is cheapest, which is not the question. The question is what you give up to save the money, and durability is most of the answer — a cheap pair that dies in six months was not cheap.
How the sub-scores are made- Comfort
- 30%
- Value
- 30%
- Durability
- 20%
- Fit
- 10%
- Breathability
- 10%
All-day wear with no chafe, dig, or waistband bite.
What you get relative to the per-pair price.
Elastic and fabric integrity after 30+ wash cycles.
True sizing, leg-hold, and how well the cut stays put.
Moisture handling and airflow under heat and activity.
Note — Cheap and durable pull against each other, and this ranking shows it plainly. The brand at the bottom of this list is the cheapest one on the whole site.
Evidence status
This order currently uses editorial estimates against the published rubric, not completed long-term wear-test results. Updated August 2026.
Uniqlo AIRism leads our best cheaper alternatives ranking
Uniqlo AIRism earns the top spot after applying this article's published weighting, but the most useful choice is the one whose strongest sub-scores match what you notice in daily wear. Use the comparison table before buying, especially when the leaders are separated by only a few tenths of a point.