For most of us, headphones are an everyday necessity, helping us connect to our favorite media, make phone calls, and tune out noisy distractions. Over-ear headphones can provide stellar audio and noise cancelation but tend to be bulky, making them difficult to stow or unsuitable for exercise. Earbuds are a great, lightweight option for versatile listening in any environment. Some of the best wireless earbuds come at a high price point, but you don’t need to break the bank on a new pair so long as you’ve identified your priorities.
Would you prefer to focus on audio fidelity? How about iOS compatibility? Or maybe you need something that can handle a sweat-inducing jump rope workout? Regardless, we’ve got you covered for budget-friendly listening for under $100.
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Editor's Choice
EarFun Air Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds
The EarFun Pro 3 are currently our favorite earbuds under $100. They support most of our priority features, including active noise cancelation (ANC), ambient mode, aptX support for Android users, and impressive battery with nine hours of playback from a single charge and a total playtime of 45 hours. You also get Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint connectivity, so you can seamlessly move between devices. The EarFun app isn't special, but it does let you customize EQ and toggle ANC modes.
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Runner-up
Samsung Galaxy Buds2
The Galaxy Buds 2 typically have a market price of over $100, but they've been available at a steep discount for quite some time. Though not as feature-rich as the Galaxy Buds Pro, the Galaxy Buds 2 deliver a good set of features, like ANC, and impressive audio quality for the discounted price. Though they work best with Samsung Galaxy phones, you can pair them with any Android and, with the help of the Galaxy Buds app, most iOS systems.
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Premium pick
Sony WF-C500
The Sony WF-C500 are a great option for premium listening that just fits the budget. They feature excellent audio, 10 hours of battery life, an IPX4 rating, and an ergonomic, low-profile design. A quick charge of 10 minutes gets you another two hours of battery life and an IPX4 rating means they are protected from sweat, rain, and other liquids.
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Best value
OnePlus Nord Buds 2
The OnePlus Nord Buds 2 offer a comfortable fit and ANC at a more affordable price. The sound quality might not be the most impressive, but it's solid considering the price. Pairing is simple for both iOS and Android devices, and an IP55 means it's protected from water and dust. Each model comes with three ear-tip sizes and a charging case that provides an additional 36 hours of battery life.
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Impressive battery life
Anker Soundcore Life P3
The Anker Soundcore Life P3 are affordable wireless earbuds with premium features like ANC support and impressive battery life. This pair lasts up to 50 hours and a 10-minute quick charge delivers a whopping four hours of new battery life. There are three noise-canceling modes and six microphones to aid phone call clarity. The Soundcore app lets you customize the controls and EQ, test for ear tip fit, or choose gaming, sleeping, or ambient sound modes.
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Best for remote work
Jabra Elite 4
- Brand
- Jabra
- Noise Cancellation
- Yes
- Connectivity
- Bluetooth 5.2
- IP rating
- IP55
- Dimensions (earbuds)
- 20.1mm x 27.2mm x 20.8mm (0.79 x 0.82 x 1.07 inches)
- Waterproof
- No
The Jabra Elite 4 are solid, midrange earbuds regarding sound quality, onboard controls, and battery life, but they shine with mic quality, effectively isolating your voice from background noise. You can also turn on a sidetone that sends a small amount of your own voice into your ear as you speak. This allows you to adjust your speaking volume based on your environment. These buds are on the higher end, but might be worth it if you're constantly on Zoom.
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Best ANC
Soundcore Space A40 Earbuds
The Anker Soundcore Space A40 is our favorite pair of affordable earbuds. They're small but mighty, provide surprisingly excellent noise cancelation, up to 10 hours of battery, and sport a neutral sound profile that works for most musical genres. Each pair comes with four different ear tip sizes, and the case provides an additional 50 hours of charge. The Soundcore app also provides 22 preset EQ options with support for SBC, AAC, and LDAC codes.
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Best for Apple users
Beats Flex
The Beats Flex earbuds are the best AirPods alternatives at less than half the price. Flexible and lightweight, these inexpensive in-ears feature excellent Bluetooth codec support, particularly for iOS users. There's also a W1 chip that allows you to share audio with friends as long as they have a compatible pair of Apple headphones. Battery lasts for up to 12 hours with automatic play/pause and answering functions available by snapping or unsnapping the magnetic earbuds.
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Best for Android users
Google Pixel Buds A
The Google Pixel Buds A-Series provides seamless integration with Android devices. The Pixel Buds app (on Android only) automatically pairs to the buds, allowing you to access Google Assistant for hands-free control. You can also trigger Adaptive Sound, which adjusts your music's volume in relation to your setting. Some really love this feature and others aren't so sure about it, but we'll let you be the judge.
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Best open ear
Nothing Ear Stick
$79 $99 Save $20- Brand
- Nothing
- Noise Cancellation
- No
- Mono Listening
- Yes
- Bluetooth
- 5.2
- Microphones
- Three per bud
The Nothing Ear Stick are a great option for those who want to stay connected to the world around them. These lightweight pods have an IP54 rating, squeezable stem controls, and a well-designed app. The microphone filters out most street noise and automatically adopts low lag mode when paired with an Android. Like the original AirPods, the Sticks don't come with ear tips, so they may not be suitable for all ear shapes.
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Best for exercise
JLab Go Air Sport
The JLab Go Air Sport wireless earbuds are the perfect pair to use for exercise if you're on a budget. Available in multiple colors, these buds have an IP55 rating that makes them essentially sweatproof, while the over-ear hook keeps them secure and stable. Touch controls eliminate the need to pull out your phone, and eight hours of battery life will keep you rocking out during your run.
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Most colorful
Tozo A1 Mini
The TOZO A1 mini wireless headphones are pretty much the cheapest option for functional earbuds. While there aren't any fancy features, you will get smart touch controls, voice assistant integration, Bluetooth 5.3, and up to 5.5 hours of battery. Available in six colors, these earbuds are ultra-lightweight with a small charging case, USB-C charging cable, and five ear tip sizes.
Choosing the best cheap earbuds for you
Whether you’re supplementing a growing headphone collection or looking for your first pair of earbuds on a budget, you don’t have to make detrimental sacrifices to find the right fit. While you might not find a complete substitute for expensive audiophile sound quality or $200 noise cancelation, you can certainly find a model or two that will satisfy your priorities.
Before buying a new pair of earbuds, make sure you consider what device you’ll be streaming from the most and where you’ll be listening. Android and iOS systems can have different needs. The most common codec to see is SBC, which is supported by every Bluetooth device. If you’re an iOS user looking for higher quality, consider a model with AAC. If you have an Android smart device, look for aptX/aptX HD/aptX Adaptive (or LDAC) support for faster transfer rates that preserve more data. Not all inexpensive models will offer a higher-end codec, but it doesn’t hurt to check.
You’ll also want to think about your priorities regarding listening activity. If you blast trap and metal during a sweaty workout, you’ll want something with a high IP rating. If you like to listen to podcasts while biking to work, you may want an open-ear design instead of noise cancelation. Or, maybe you need a lightweight option to get you through hours of meetings, so you should pay attention to weight and microphone quality.
The best cheap earbuds keep the music pumping without draining your wallet
Our favorite earbuds for just about anyone are the EarFun Air Pro 3. They deliver pretty impressive audio, solid ANC, and up to 9 hours of listening on a single charge, and they'll run you less than $100. If you want to spend even less, go for the Nord Buds 2, which bring solid sound to the table at a low, low price. If you’re eager to prioritize sound quality, even if it comes with a high price point, we recommend the Sony WF-C500 or Jabra Elite 4. And, of course, if you want the cheapest pair of buds that don't absolutely suck, grab the colorful Tozo A1 Mini wireless earbuds. This is a great pair to stock up on if you're prone to losing your low-profile buds.