Best Earbuds Under $100: Top Budget Picks

Quick Picks: Best Earbuds Under $100

Short on time? These are the picks that independent reviewers keep coming back to. Prices are list (MSRP) prices from the reviews cited below. Street prices change often, so check before you buy.

• Best overall: EarFun Air Pro 4+ ($99.99 MSRP, often on sale near $80). SoundGuys gave it its “best overall” award for features, codecs and wireless charging.
• Best noise cancelling: Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC ($99.99). SoundGuys’ pick for noise canceling, with the best ANC and battery in its group.
• Best features and design: Nothing Ear (3a) ($99). Advanced EQ and call recording.
• Best value: CMF Buds 2 Plus ($69). Strong sound, ANC and battery for the price.
• Best for workouts: Soundcore Sport X20 ($69.99 listed) or any IP55-rated pair, such as the CMF Buds 2 Plus.
• Best cheap pick: JLab Go Pods ANC ($36.99 list, as low as about $21 on sale). TechRadar’s best under $40.

What to Look for in Earbuds Under $100

Under $100 you can now get features that used to cost much more. These are the things worth checking.

Noise cancelling (ANC). Budget ANC is good enough for a commute but rarely matches premium earbuds. SoundGuys measured how much outside noise each pair cuts: the EarFun Air Pro 4+ cut 80%, the Liberty 4 NC 84% and the CMF Buds 2 Plus 83%. The 80% result was described as fine for a commute but average.

Battery life. Always check battery with ANC on, since that is how most people use them. SoundGuys measured about 9 hours 53 minutes for the Liberty 4 NC with ANC on, but only 3 hours 53 minutes for the SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+. That is a big gap between two $100 pairs.

Codecs. If you use Android, look for LDAC (or aptX Lossless) for higher-quality streaming. iPhones use AAC only, so these codecs will not help there.

Water resistance. IP55 or better is a good target for workouts. IPX4 is fine for light sweat.

Fit and comfort. SoundGuys noted the ROSESELSA Ceramics Ultra became uncomfortable after about an hour for its tester. A pair that sounds great is no use if it hurts, so check the return policy.

Sound tuning. Several budget pairs ship with bass-heavy default sound. A good app with an equalizer fixes most of that.

Comparison Table

MSRP, battery (ANC on unless noted), ANC reduction and water rating come from SoundGuys’ October 2026 guide.

Earbuds	MSRP	Battery	ANC cut	Codecs	Water rating
EarFun Air Pro 4+	$99.99	6h 17m	80%	LDAC, aptX Lossless	IP55
Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC	$99.99	9h 53m	84%	LDAC, AAC, SBC	IPX4
Nothing Ear (3a)	$99	about 6h (10h with ANC off)	80.9%	LDAC	IP54
SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+	$99.99	3h 53m	up to 30 dB (no % given)	LDAC, AAC	IPX4
CMF Buds 2 Plus	$69	10h 22m (ANC off)	83%	LDAC	IP55
ROSESELSA Ceramics Ultra	$59.99	10h 11m	76.6%	LDAC, LHDC	IP54

Notes: these are lab-style results from one outlet, so they are comparable with each other but may differ from other reviewers’ numbers. The EarFun Air Pro 4+ was $79.99 at Tom’s Guide’s last check, and the CMF Buds 2 Plus may also be discounted.

Best Overall Under $100: EarFun Air Pro 4+

SoundGuys named the EarFun Air Pro 4+ its best overall pair under $100. It has Bluetooth 6.0, LDAC and aptX Lossless support, a good app, wireless case charging and IP55 water resistance. Tom’s Guide’s reviewer also picked it as the best under $100, praising the dual drivers, “great” ANC, the live translation feature and a 42-hour total battery claim.

The catch: SoundGuys says the noise cancelling is only average (80% reduction), and wind can get through on calls. Its measured ANC-on battery is 6 hours 17 minutes per charge, so the long total comes from the case.

Who should buy it: Android users who want the most features for the money. It lists at $99.99 but Tom’s Guide saw it at $79.99.

Best Noise Cancelling Under $100

Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC ($99.99). SoundGuys picked it as the best noise canceling pair under $100. It had the strongest measured ANC in the group (84%) and the longest ANC-on battery of its main picks (9 hours 53 minutes). It supports LDAC and wireless charging. Downsides: a bulky case and bass-heavy EQ presets. NBC Select also picked it as its best earbuds under $100.

Nothing Ear (3a) ($99). Best for features: an 8-band EQ, call recording and good wind handling, with 80.9% ANC. Battery is about 6 hours with ANC on.

CMF Buds 2 Plus ($69). 83% ANC and over 10 hours of battery, for $30 less. It lacks wireless charging.

Nothing Ear (a) (about $99). TechRadar’s best under $100: very good ANC for the price, a small case and in-ear detection, but shorter battery life than rivals (5.5 hours with ANC).

Best Earbuds Under $100 for Workouts

For exercise, a secure fit and water resistance matter more than ANC.

• Soundcore Sport X20 ($69.99 listed). Rotatable ear hooks, an IP68 rating and a 48-hour battery claim in its product listing, as shown by Cult of Mac. Cult of Mac lists mediocre ANC and average battery as the downsides.
• CMF Buds 2 Plus and EarFun Air Pro 4+. SoundGuys notes both are IP55, so they handle sweat and rain.
• JLab JBuds Mini ($39.99 MSRP). IP55, no ANC and a keychain-sized case. Tom’s Guide’s reviewer says they weigh about 3 grams per bud.
• Baseus Bowie MC2 (open ear-cuff style). TechRadar’s best ear-cuff pick: stable fit for workouts and IP67, but no ANC and fiddly touch controls. It is listed at $79.99, and $59.98 on sale.

Open-style designs let you hear traffic, which can be safer for outdoor runs.

Best Cheap Earbuds Under $50

• JLab Go Pods ANC ($36.99 list, $20.99 on sale at Tom’s Guide’s last check). TechRadar’s best under $40: solid ANC at a low price, a built-in USB-C cable and customizable EQ. Downsides: the stock eartips grip poorly and the transparency mode is aggressive. Tom’s Guide’s reviewer rates the ANC only as decent but calls the price remarkable.
• JLab JBuds Mini ($39.99 MSRP, $29.99 at Amazon per SoundGuys). No ANC but tiny and good-sounding for the price.
• CMF Buds Pro 2 ($69 MSRP, $49 at Amazon per SoundGuys). 81% ANC and a Smart Dial case. The default sound is very bassy.
• Moondrop Space Travel 2 ($29.99). The cheapest ANC pair SoundGuys listed: 71% ANC and only 4 hours 20 minutes of battery with ANC on.

The lowest prices above are sale prices that change often.

FAQ

What are the best wireless earbuds under $100? The EarFun Air Pro 4+ is SoundGuys’ best overall. The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is its best for noise cancelling, and the CMF Buds 2 Plus is the best value at $69.

Do earbuds under $100 have noise cancelling? Yes. SoundGuys measured 76% to 84% noise reduction on its main picks. That is fine for commutes, though not as strong as premium earbuds.

Which cheap earbuds have the best battery life? In SoundGuys’ testing, the CMF Buds 2 Plus lasted 10 hours 22 minutes (ANC off) and the Liberty 4 NC 9 hours 53 minutes with ANC on.

Are cheap earbuds good for iPhone? They work, but iPhones only use the AAC codec, so LDAC does not help. The Liberty 4 NC supports AAC.

Which are best for workouts? Pairs with IP55 or higher, such as the CMF Buds 2 Plus, or a hooked design such as the Soundcore Sport X20.

Are there good earbuds under $50? Yes. The JLab Go Pods ANC (about $37 list) is TechRadar’s best under $40.

Should I buy now or wait for a sale? Prices on this list move often, and Tom’s Guide has been tracking early Black Friday deals under $100. If you are not in a hurry, check current prices before you buy.

Sources

Note: I read the SoundGuys, TechRadar and Tom’s Guide pages through fetched summaries, and the others as search excerpts. I did not test any earbuds myself. Prices and battery figures are as reported by each outlet and can change.

• The best cheap earbuds of 2026 under $100, SoundGuys (Oct 15, 2026)
• The best budget earbuds, TechRadar (updated Oct 7, 2026)
• My 5 favorite earbuds under $100, Tom’s Guide
• I tested lots of wireless earbuds in 2025, but I only recommend these 3, Tom’s Guide
• Best headphones under $100, NBC Select
• Best budget earbuds under $100, Cult of Mac

Checked 9 November 2026.