Best cheap workout earbuds under $100

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Look, life is expensive, and sometimes you just want something that does the job that you can grab, go, and not baby. That’s where cheap workout earbuds that sell for under $100 come in. We’ve rounded up the best budget earbuds for your gym, jog, or dance routine, so you can get back to counting reps or steps and stop readjusting your buds.

Editor’s note: this list was published on January 2, 2024, to include the JLab JBuds Mini in our Top Picks and adjust formatting to our current style.

The best cheap workout earbuds under $100 overall/for most people: JBL Endurance Peak 3

If ever there was a set of earbuds meant for working out, it’s the JBL Endurance Peak 3. Outfitted with comfortable over-ear hooks, the buds rotate into place to hold them still no matter what the activity.

Rated as IP68, the Endurance Peak 3 are extremely durable. There’s no active noise cancelation (ANC), and the isolation is just okay, so they’re meant more for keeping you aware rather than in silence. JBL provides a comprehensive app, complete with an equalizer to tweak the pretty bassy default frequency response. Topping it off, the Endurance Peak 3 battery lasts 8 hours and 47 minutes, according to our standardized battery test. In all, these are well-designed and purpose-built for athletes.

Nevertheless, maybe you dislike hooks or want noise canceling in your affordable workout earbuds. Check out our other entries below if that’s what you need.

Best cheap workout earbuds under $100: Jabra Elite 4

Jabra has a frankly confounding selection of similar but slightly different earbuds. The Elite 4 strikes the best balance for the price with Jabra’s ergonomic design and excellent isolation, owing to a good fit.

For Android users, you get the aptX codec. Apple users can still use the Elite 4 but will have to make do with the lesser SBC codec. Battery life with ANC on lasts 5 hours and 5 minutes, so it’s not winning a marathon, but it’ll probably last you running one. The sound is good by default, but there’s an equalizer if you need one as well. Topped off with an IP55 rating, they’ll stand up to most activities.

Best cheap workout earbuds under $100: JLab Epic Air Sport ANC

It’s a balancing act picking out earbuds with parameters such as price ceiling and durability, and the JLab Epic Air Sport ANC doesn’t make you choose to sacrifice much. These IP66-rated earbuds have hooks to hold the buds in place regardless of your activity.

The JLab buds last 15 hours and 31 minutes to a single charge cycle with active noise canceling (ANC) on. ANC itself is really impressive on the buds as well, especially for the price. You also get transparency mode and an app with an EQ. Transparency mode is useful for the times you go for an outdoor run and need some situational awareness. Chiefly, the main mark against the Epic Air Sport ANC buds is that sometimes the touchpad can misfire. Still, the controls do work.

Best cheap workout earbuds under $100: JLab JBuds Mini

The JLab JBuds Mini shines in the realm of fitness with their IP55 rating, ensuring they’re resistant to sweat and dust, allowing users to push through the most intense workouts without worry. Their ultra-portable design is a significant advantage as the buds can be conveniently attached to a keychain, ensuring they’re always within reach when it’s time to hit the gym or the trails.

They come with three different-sized ear tips to secure the perfect fit. Although they lack a secondary point of contact, their lightweight design minimizes the risk of them falling out. The default tuning leans towards a consumer-friendly profile with an emphasis on bass, perfect for powering through tough workouts.

Overall, the JLab JBuds Mini earbuds present a compelling option for fitness enthusiasts looking for reliable, budget-friendly workout earbuds under $50.

Best cheap workout earbuds under $100: Anker Soundcore Life A1

For way under budget, the Anker Soundcore Life A1 provides a secure fit thanks to three different wing stabilizer sizes. You don’t get any app support here, but you can cycle through some EQ presets using the controls on the earbuds.

These buds boast a bassy tuning but not so much as to ruin your running playlist. They use touch controls, which work well. Of the compromises the A1 requires is that you don’t get noise canceling, and the case is a bit flimsy. Nevertheless, the IPX7 is virtually waterproof. Plus, the battery life is impressive, reaching 8 hours and 23 minutes. If you’re just dipping your toes in, the cost of entry is low enough that the A1 is a good choice.

Who should buy the Skullcandy Push Active?

While not the newest toy, the Skullcandy Push Active might have disappeared from your radar, but it’s worth a second look. Frequently found heavily discounted, these IP55-rated earbuds yield a good battery life (8 hours and 8 minutes) and a secure fit. Along the sides, you’ll find the control buttons, which is a feature that allows tactile feedback while avoiding painfully pushing the buds deeper into your ears. More companies using buttons should follow that formula. With the over-ear hooks, you do end up with a substantially sized charging case, which is a downside, as is the SBC-only Bluetooth codec. For the price, these sound good, and you even get an app with EQ.

The best cheap workout earbuds under $100: Notable mentions

• Jabra Elite 3: If you’ve got ears that fit most earbuds, the Elite 3 ($59 at Amazon) could work for your fitness routine. Like the Elite 4, it has a similar frequency response, and a lot of the same features. Basically, it’s even more pared down overall in terms of the app experience and zero ANC. Truly it all depends on which Jabra earbuds you find on sale.
• Jabra Elite 4 Active: The workout-oriented Jabra buds (for $89.99 at Jabra) lack much in the way of effective noise canceling, but they do up the IP rating to IP57. They’re coated in a grippy material to help them stay in place too. These are a notable mention because the cheaper Elite 4 does most of the same things and isolates better. If you can find these on a deal, they’re worth a look.
• Jaybird Vista 2: These waffle in price ($117 at Amazon) and sometimes get close to the $100 threshold, but usually are a bit more expensive. They are extremely durable, with an IP68 rating and certified MIL-STD 810G. Jaybird includes stabilizers as well to keep them in place.
• Sennheiser Sport True Wireless Earbuds: Often selling for a hair over $100, these IP54-rated earbuds come with many different-sized stabilizers to keep them in your ears. You get a choice of aptX, AAC, and SBC codecs, and while there’s no noise canceling, the isolation is decent. It helps that the buds sound good, too for $99 at Amazon.
• Skullcandy Mod XT: If you’re fortunate enough to have ears that seem to suit most true wireless earbud shapes, the Mod XT might work for your workout. The buds are rated IP55 and have a somewhat bass-boosted frequency response, but you can adjust that in the app too. They aren’t perfect, but they hit above the price ($48 at Amazon).

What you should know about the best cheap workout earbuds under $100

Every category of audio products has ideal uses in mind. Some on our list are purpose-built for exercise, while others are switch hitters that can handle the gym, but every pick needs to check off a few considerations to make the list.

Durable workout earbuds: IP ratings that can handle your sweat

In general, the majority of wireless earbuds these days boast an IPX4 rating, at the very least. IP stands for “Ingress Protection,” which basically explains the degree to which your earbuds are dustproof and waterproof. Usually, IPX4 is acceptable for most athletes, but if you see yourself running in the rain, you ought to consider a higher rating. The first number (or sometimes X to designate there’s no rating) is the dustproof rating, and the second number is the waterproof rating. The highest possible rating for dustproofing and waterproofing is IP68. Even so, you can’t expect IP68 earbuds to stay waterproof; the “8” in IP68 means these are designed to last 30 minutes submerged in 3 meters of water.

Alternately, if you like to rock climb with buds, for example, then you know it’s a dusty, chalky sport. Tapping a touchpad after doing a climb can easily introduce dust particles into your earbuds, so you’ll want some dust protection as well. The IP rating you need depends on your sport. Keep in mind that while plenty of earbuds can outperform their ratings, that doesn’t mean if they do bust that the manufacturer will honor the warranty if you get a bunch of dust in your IPX4 rated earbuds.

Frequency response is still important for workout earbuds

The early years of Beats headphones, the continued existence of Sony’s XB (for extra bass) line, and the Skullcandy Crusher series all support the theory that people often want a lot of bass — arguably too much bass. For sitting at your desk doing office work, we recommend picking up earbuds that follow our headphone preference curve, and we still recommend that for most people working out as well. However, upping your bass volume slightly can offer benefits such as motivating your workout. Most of our picks approximate our headphone preference curve, but you’ll find a couple that exaggerate the bass. Some come with an equalizer, so you can do it yourself for the times you want added inertia.

With that said, we know some folks regularly work out while listening to podcasts or audiobooks. In that case, it matters less how much bass volume your buds have compared to other considerations like fit, ease of use, listening modes, or durability.

Fit matters the most for the best workout earbuds under $100

It doesn’t matter if your earbuds are the most durable, the best priced, sound the best, or have all the bells and whistles if the fit is wrong. This rings especially true if you need them to work out. Most folks can make do with a less-than-ideal in-ear fit if they’re not moving around much, and some people have the luck of possessing ears that seem to fit everything just fine (for example, the people on the treadmill you see wearing AirPods).

For the rest of us when investing in workout earbuds, look for stabilizers that push against the anti-helix of your ears to hold the buds still. If you don’t mind over-ear hooks, they offer excellent security, but these buds tend to come in bigger charging cases. Choosing correctly sized ear tips will go a long way too. The last thing you want is an earbud falling out when you’re in a flow state.

How we test the best cheap workout earbuds under $100

We subject all of our earbuds to the same measurement tests, and in addition, each reviewer takes them through the rounds for everyday use. If they’re exercise-oriented buds, they’ll see some sweat. We’ve thrown earbuds in pools and doused them in water from knocked-over water bottles. Only the earbuds that survive and live up to the jostling and careless handling of sweaty hands can make this list.

How we choose the best cheap workout earbuds under $100

At SoundGuys, we have a team of experienced reviewers, and this list of the best cheap workout earbuds under $100 represents the culmination of our collective efforts. This list is not representative of any one person’s individual opinion. Using criteria such as durability, stability, and sound quality are all important characteristics considered in compiling our selections.

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