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The best wireless earbuds under $100
June 4, 2025
Just a few years ago, functional and reliable cheap true wireless earbuds would have been an oxymoron, but now they’re being released in droves. You no longer have to shell out more than $100 for a pair of solid, truly wireless earbuds. Instead, as technology has progressed, you can save money and enjoy the latest and greatest audio engineering. In this price range, you can now expect to find features previously reserved for premium wireless earbuds, such as active noise canceling (ANC) and a functional companion app.
Each year, we test dozens of new budget earbuds in our SoundGuys testing lab. We collect objective data on each of the earbuds we test, including measurements to rate the sound quality, ANC performance, and battery life. Our team of expert product reviewers then uses each of the earbuds in the real world. By combining expert insights with objective testing data, we feel confident recommending each of the picks in our list of the best wireless earbuds under $100.
June 3, 2025: Updated content formatting. We removed the Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW, Jabra Elite 4 Active, Anker Soundcore Space A40, Nothing Ear 1, and Sony WF-C500. We added the CMF Buds 2 Plus.
The Quick Answer
For a quick guide to the best wireless earbuds under $100, check out our top picks below. Each has a link to our full review.
The best overall:
The best noise canceling:
The best features:
The best sound quality:
The best for small ears:
The In-depth Answer
Below you’ll find our in-depth coverage of each of the best wireless earbuds under $100. Each model has been rigorously tested, ensuring you can trust our recommendations.
Best wireless earbuds under $100: EarFun Air Pro 4
The EarFun Air Pro 4 offers an impressive combination of features and performance rarely found in earbuds at this price point. With Bluetooth 5.4 and support for high-quality codecs like LDAC and aptX Lossless, these earbuds deliver excellent sound quality. The default tuning is enjoyable, but you can further customize it using the 10-band equalizer in the companion app.
Noise cancellation is another strong point, with five different ANC modes to choose from. The “Strong ANC” setting reduces external noise by an average of 75% according to our testing, which is impressive for earbuds in this price range. You also get two Ambient Sound modes for situational awareness when needed.
The earbuds are comfortable for extended wear and come with five sizes of silicone ear tips to ensure a good fit. With an IPX5 water resistance rating, they’re suitable for workouts and light rain. Battery life is solid, lasting 8 hours and 44 minutes in our testing, with the case providing additional charges for up to 41 hours of total playback time.
Other premium features include wireless charging, Google Fast Pair, and Bluetooth Multipoint for connecting to two devices simultaneously. The EarFun Audio app offers extensive customization options, including control customization, EQ presets, and even a hearing test to create a personalized sound profile.
Read our full EarFun Air Pro 4 review
Best ANC wireless earbuds under $100: CMF Buds 2 Plus
The CMF Buds 2 Plus deliver excellent active noise cancellation (ANC) for their $69 price tag, reducing ambient noise by up to 83% in our testing. While they don’t quite meet the advertised 50dB reduction, they still perform admirably, particularly in canceling high-pitched background sounds. Their Smart Adaptive Mode effectively adjusts ANC levels based on your surroundings, although I found setting it to “High” and leaving it there gave me the best results. These earbuds underperform slightly in the 50–100Hz range, which means lower engine rumbles might still seep through, but they do a much better job than most sub-$100 options in filtering out chatter and daily noise.
On top of ANC, you get premium features like personalized sound via Audiodo’s hearing test, LDAC codec support for higher-quality streaming, and strong battery life—over 10 hours on a single charge. However, the company’s baffling decision to drop the tactile Smart Dial from the case feels like a step backward. That said, for anyone prioritizing effective noise cancellation and tailored audio performance on a budget, the CMF Buds 2 Plus are an outstanding value.
Read our full CMF Buds 2 Plus review
Best features for less than $100: Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
You’d be hard-pressed to find earbuds for a Benjamin Franklin that do most of the tasks the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC promises. With an IPX4 rating, long battery life, and good ANC with additional wind reduction and adaptive noise canceling features, these earbuds have more features than most name-brands at this price.
Typical of most consumer wireless earbuds, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC boosts bass and treble compared to our headphone preference curve. The accompanying app gives you a whopping 22 EQ presets alongside a labeled eight-band equalizer so you can fine-tune your listening experience. Anker kitted out the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC with Bluetooth 5.3 and LDAC, AAC, and SBC codecs. Android users will likely get the most out of the LDAC codec. Meanwhile, iPhones will default to the AAC codec. Oh, and they also support Bluetooth multipoint, so you can simultaneously connect to more than one device.
For most people, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC are simply good, value-priced earbuds. They tick off most boxes, from the nearly 10 hours of battery life with ANC on to the responsive touch controls.
Read our full Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC review
Best sound quality under $100: SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+
Out of all the budget earbuds we’ve tried, the SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+ have the best sound quality, thanks to their xMEMS drivers. If you haven’t listened to xMEMS earbuds yet, you’re missing out, as this sound technology is a step above legacy technology. Our data backs it up as well, with the SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+ scoring an impressive 4.9 on a scale from 1-5 in MDAQS sound quality testing.
Beyond great sound quality, the SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+ also offers good active noise canceling and a companion app that includes features like a 10-band equalizer. The earbuds’ matte black finish with gold accents, lightweight design, and three ear tip sizes ensure comfort and style. They falter slightly with battery life, delivering just 3 hours and 55 minutes of playback with ANC on. Despite this, the charging case offers over six additional charges, compensating for the earbuds’ shorter playback time.
Read our full SoundPEATS Capulse3 Pro+ review
Best for small ears: JLab JBuds Mini
The sound quality is commendable for the price, offering a consumer-friendly tuning with an emphasis on bass, which, while not high-fidelity, provides a satisfying listening experience for everyday use. Alongside thoughtful features like touch controls, these are a great choice for budget-conscious consumers.
Read our full JLab JBuds Mini review
The best wireless earbuds under $100: Notable mentions
This is a crowded price bracket, so be sure to take a gander through our notable mentions. If you don’t see all your desired features, maybe consider upping your price threshold.
- 1MORE ComfoBuds Mini ($99 at Amazon): The 1MORE ComfoBuds Mini are ideal for those with small ears, or those who want ultra-portable wireless earbuds.
- Beats Solo Buds ($79.99 at Amazon): If you don’t need ANC, the Beats Solo Buds are worth considering.
- Google Pixel Buds A-Series ($94 at Amazon): If you like the Pixel Buds line but think they are too pricey, the Pixel Buds A-Series should be on your radar. They have the core features you need at a price you’ll love.
- JBL Tune Buds ($69.95 at Amazon): If you can get a good fit with the JBL Tune Buds, you will enjoy using them. They are packed full of features and have a sound quality that most people like.
- JBL Vibe Beam ($39 at Amazon): If you’re looking for inexpensive earbuds that work well around town or at the gym, it’s hard to argue against the JBL Vibe Beam. Not only are the earbuds under $50, but they offer transparency mode, over 9 hours of battery, and IP54 ingress protection, which is quite a bargain.
- Nothing Ear (a) ($95 at Amazon): The Nothing Ear (a) don’t have exceptional sound quality, but these earbuds are packed full of features.
If you have a smaller budget, make sure to check out our list of the best wireless earbuds under $50 for more great value options.
How we test the best wireless earbuds under $100
When you buy cheap earbuds, even the best wireless earbuds under $100, you’re typically sacrificing style, build quality, and extra features. That said, you should still expect the earbuds to function properly, which is why we test every model found on this best list.
To test connectivity, we connect the earbuds to a variety of devices, including both iPhone and Android phones. If the earbuds support Bluetooth Multipoint, we make sure to connect the earbuds to both a phone and laptop to test the connection strength. As audio experts, we dig through the product specs to find key information relating to the Bluetooth version and supported Bluetooth codecs. If the earbuds have outdated tech, we’ll make it known to you.
The most important feature we test is sound quality. We use the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score (MDAQS) algorithm to rate sound quality on a scale from 1-5, based on typical listener preferences. We also measure the frequency response of each set of earbuds, and compare that to our industry-validated SoundGuys Preference Curve. To attain these measurements, and our ANC and isolation measurements, we place the earbuds on our Bruel & Kjaer 5128 test head. With our battery test, we validate manufacturer claims to see how long the product really lasts in the real world.
We combine our objective and subjective ratings to determine an overall product score. If we would recommend the earbuds to our friends and family, we award the product a SoundGuys Recommended badge. If we think the earbuds are among the best in their class, we award the product a SoundGuys Editor’s Choice badge.
Why you should trust SoundGuys
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Frequently asked questions about wireless earbuds under $100
Yes, cheap earbuds are not necessarily bad, and for most people, spending around $100 will generally merit sufficient sound quality and even features like noise cancelation.
The way songs stream over Spotify sound won’t depend on your earbuds specifically. However, better-quality earbuds will make any streaming service’s music sound better. As for the iPhone, you’ll want to look for a pair of earbuds that support the AAC codec. This codec works well with iPhones to efficiently transfer data from the source device to the earbuds to maintain the quality of your music very well.
Yes, you can always charge the case, even if the earbuds are not in the case.
Battery life is important besides the obvious reasons that charging is annoying or getting caught with a dead battery at an inopportune moment isn’t fun. The longer your battery life to a single charge, the longer your earbuds can potentially last you overall because there’s a finite number of charge cycles before battery degradation occurs. Seeing as replacing your batteries is either very difficult or, most often, not really possible, a longer battery equals a longer-lasting set of buds.