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The best cheap noise canceling earbuds
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get great noise canceling earbuds.
October 8, 2025
Chase is the Managing Editor at SoundGuys, where he oversees content related to headphones, earbuds, speakers, and all things audio. As a founder of the non profit organization Music For Mental Health, Chase is also passionate in uncovering the ways music creation and listening can serve individuals and the community. You can find music he produces by searching his name on Spotify, Apple Music, and all other streaming platforms. Chase studied Commerce and Applied Music Technology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.
If you’re trying to get effective noise canceling on a budget, good news—there are more solid options now than ever before. A few years ago, cheap ANC earbuds were more hype than help, often delivering poor sound and ineffective noise reduction. That’s no longer the case. In our testing, we’ve found a growing number of affordable models that don’t just cancel noise—they do it well, with respectable battery life, decent sound, and surprisingly capable connectivity.
Whether you’re looking to drown out airplane noise, focus better at the office, or just enjoy podcasts without background hum, there’s something here that’ll get the job done without draining your wallet. We tested each of these picks in our SoundGuys lab and have ranked them based on their noise canceling performance.
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- Compare tableProductVotes
- 5 total votes5 total votes
$59
8.4
8.3
10.0
8.0
8.5
6.0
10.0
9.5
- 7 total votes7 total votes
$90
8.3
8.1
7.5
9.5
8.0
6.2
10.0
9.8
- 12 total votes12 total votes
$100
8.2
8.4
10.0
8.0
8.0
6.3
5.0
9.5
- 9 total votes9 total votes
$100
8.2
8.0
10.0
8.5
9.0
6.3
5.0
9.8
- 10 total votes10 total votes
$39
8.1
8.2
10.0
9.0
8.5
5.9
5.0
8.8
- 3 total votes3 total votes
$80
7.9
8.3
10.0
8.5
8.0
6.2
5.0
6.3
- 10 total votes10 total votes
$59
7.6
8.1
5.0
9.0
8.0
6.0
5.0
8.8
- 5 total votes5 total votes
$90
7.2
7.5
5.0
9.8
8.5
5.7
0.0
9.5
- 1 total votes1 total votes
$80
7.1
7.6
3.0
8.2
8.5
6.3
5.0
8.8
- 1 total votes1 total votes
$80
7.0
7.5
3.5
9.5
8.5
6.1
0.0
9.5
- 3 total votes3 total votes
$80
7.0
7.5
3.5
8.0
6.5
5.6
5.0
9.5
- 5 total votes5 total votes
$40
7.0
8.0
3.5
7.9
8.0
6.0
0.0
8.5
Product chart
In the chart above, you can see how the best noise canceling earbuds compare based on their price and the ANC score we measured for each.
We test and measure all of our noise canceling earbuds the same way, regardless of the price tags. This includes objective measurements using our trusted Bruel & Kjaer 5128 for isolation, ANC effectiveness, and frequency response. We test battery life and microphones the same way each time, too. In essence, by repeating the same tests utilizing the same methods, we can objectively analyze the data to discover answers to questions about sound and noise cancelation.
Of course, we are all humans living in the real world, and what appears great on paper does not always work as advertised. That’s why we also tested and reviewed the earbuds on this list in actual use conditions. We want to make sure that our tests and subsequent scores inform how we choose the best.
Here at SoundGuys, we’ve been testing audio products for over a decade. Our team comprises audio product experts who have tested hundreds of different headphones, earbuds, and speakers. Moreover, our team comes from diverse backgrounds and a wealth of expertise, including audio engineering, film production, journalism, podcasting, music production, and even touring musicians.
Everything we recommend results from our objective measurements and great subjective experiences. Ultimately, we want you to enjoy your purchase or, at the very least, leave our site with a little more knowledge about the inner workings of audio. To see why you can trust us with your purchase decision, make sure to check out our ethics policy.
As with anything “cheap,” you ought to expect to make some concessions because it’s not just hype and marketing that differentiates the best (and more expensive) ANC earbuds from the rest. You might’ve noticed that some of our picks for the best list aren’t from the most instantly recognizable brands, and that doesn’t mean the quality is worse, only that you aren’t paying for the cachet of, say, Apple. Sure, the reputation of Bose or Sennheiser (for instance) is well earned because their products are consistently pretty good. Rest assured, we’ve tested these choices out, so you don’t have to gamble. Cheap ANC earbuds are a boon for all of us, but we want to make sure you don’t misstep and buy the wrong ones.
Bear in mind that with budget-friendly ANC earbuds, you probably won’t get everything you want, but you can get close. You may get great ANC, but maybe the app isn’t the best, or the controls have some limitations that premium sets aren’t hampered by, or maybe the mic is a weak point. Here, we’ve tried to round up some options to cover most priorities. If you’re an Android user, you might have to dig a little to get something with codecs other than AAC or SBC. At this point, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything good with spatial sound on a budget. However, technology has improved vastly in recent years, so you can find some gems for not much money.
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Best overall pick: SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+
We pick SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+ as our best overall earbuds in this under-$100 wireless earbuds group because they combine standout sound and modern connectivity in a compact package. They use xMEMS drivers and support LDAC, and the PeatsAudio app adds a 10-band custom EQ and presets so listeners can tailor the tuning. Our MDAQS rating for these earbuds is very high (overall 4.9), driven largely by strong timbre. ANC performance is solid for the class, reducing noise by up to about 30dB, and the earbuds are light and comfortable for long wear. They also earned Best Sound Quality recognition for their tuning and feature set, even though battery life with ANC on is modest. Sourced from SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+ review – SoundGuys.
Best Battery Life pick: Skullcandy Method 360 ANC
We picked the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC for battery life because our testing shows they deliver about 7 hours and 43 minutes with ANC on and roughly 32 hours with the case, with Rapid Charge giving around 2 hours from 10 minutes of charging. The earbuds use Bose-provided drivers and tuning, which helps them punch above their price class sonically, while the included tips and fins give a secure, comfortable fit. The case design and slider mechanism have some practical issues for active users, but fit and controls were comfortable and reliable in use. We also recognize them for comfort — they additionally earned Best for Comfort — thanks to the ergonomic design and stable fit. Overall, their battery and fit profile make them a strong pick for long commutes or days away from a charger. Sourced from Skullcandy Method 360 ANC review: Bose sound on a budget? – SoundGuys.
Best Call Quality pick: SOUNDPEATS Air5 Pro
The SOUNDPEATS Air5 Pro earn our Best Call Quality pick thanks to six onboard microphones with AI noise reduction that meaningfully improve voice clarity in windy and street environments. They also support high-quality Android codecs like LDAC and aptX Lossless and offer multipoint connectivity and an adaptive ANC that reduces external noise by an average of 83% with the right fit. The PeatsAudio app supplies a 10-band EQ and adaptive EQ features so users can fine-tune responses for calls and music. Battery life with ANC on is limited (~3 hours 54 minutes), though the case provides multiple additional charges. We also note they earned Best for Android users recognition for their codec and feature set. Sourced from SOUNDPEATS Air5 Pro review: High-end features at a budget price – SoundGuys.
Best Value pick: EarFun Air Pro 4
The EarFun Air Pro 4 are our Best Value pick because they pack uncommon features for the price: Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Lossless and LDAC support, a 10-band equalizer plus 30 presets, wireless charging, and ANC that cuts average external loudness by about 75% on its strongest setting. They also delivered roughly 8 hours and 44 minutes in our battery test and about 41 hours total with the case, and 10-minute fast charging yields around 2 hours of playback. The app’s extensive customization and the optional in-ear detection add polish to the experience. These earbuds additionally earned Best for iPhone users recognition for solid AAC support and reliable pairing on iOS. Sourced from EarFun Air Pro 4 review – SoundGuys.
Our verdict
Across this group of wireless earbuds aimed at the under-$100 space, the SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+ stand out for sound-first buyers thanks to LDAC support, strong timbre on our MDAQS assessment, and a deep custom EQ, while the EarFun Air Pro 4 deliver the most rounded value with long battery life, wireless charging, and broad codec support. The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC is the pick for users who prioritize long on-ear time and comfort, and the SOUNDPEATS Air5 Pro fit buyers who need the clearest call transmission and Android-focused codec options.
Among the remaining models, the OnePlus Buds 4 are a great all-around option that unlock extra features with a OnePlus phone (including LHDC and AI translation) and offer strong ANC and about 5.5 hours of playback with ANC on; the CMF Buds 2 emphasize longer battery life (around 9 hours) and improved noise cancelation with a bass-forward but spatial sound signature and a respectable MDAQS overall score; and the CMF Buds Pro 2 bring a unique Smart Dial on the case, reliable ANC performance particularly on lows, and about six hours of playback with ANC on. These summaries should help you match a pick to how you use wireless earbuds under $100 — whether you want the best sound, the best value, long battery life, or the clearest calls.
FAQ
If you wonder why you should care about ANC, consider that the less interference from the outside world your music competes with, the lower you can keep your volume to hear your music. If your volume remains at a safe level, then you have a much better chance of avoiding noise-induced hearing loss. Additionally, some folks use noise canceling earbuds as a way to better focus on a task by muting the distractions of a less-than-ideal environment.
ANC is a complicated enough task and relatively new, so we see the greatest differences between new and old ANC units and flagship and budget units. When compared to decades of research and design behind studio headphones (for example), through which the differences between cheap and expensive studio headphones eventually lead to diminishing returns, the gap between budget ANC earbuds and premium ANC earbuds is more striking. You can expect your wallet-friendly ANC earbuds to attenuate some noise but not necessarily do it as well as the latest top-tier ANC earbuds. Conversely, your brand new budget noise canceling earbuds may outperform last year's flagship because the technology rapidly improves each year.
Implementing noise canceling capabilities in earbuds requires more space-consuming hardware, adding to the manufacturing costs. Wireless earbuds with ANC use multiple microphones to receive external sounds and processors to counteract them with anti-noise signals.
You should expect at least an IPX4 rating against moisture most of the time on any noise canceling earbuds. Be careful if you choose to purchase earbuds with less than an IPX4 rating, and consider something more durable if you plan on exercising.
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