The best budget wireless earbuds - check out our handpicked selection
Psst, I'll let you in on a little secret: quality wireless Bluetooth earbuds have never been cheaper and I'm talking prices lower than $100. Are you shocked? Don't be: tech is advancing, more people are adopting and that leads to a natural decrease in price.
And now that the facts are out of the way, let me tell you what type of people could benefit from a budget-friendly pair of Bluetooth earbuds:
- Kids and teens who are still working on their "Not losing that!" skills
- Forgetful adults
- Runners and fitness freaks who'd like to not overstress about leaving their buds in the locker
- Music lovers who don't go nuts over super high-end audio quality
But it gets better: some of these picks can actually work for that last group of people too, especially if their EQ skills are on point.
Once upon a time, we all associated a lower price point with a decrease in performance, but with the advancement of technology, things are shifting and toady, it rather feels that with premium products, you're paying for an increase in quality.
And that was my fancy way of saying that if you're in the market for a top notch pair of wireless earbuds on the budget-friendly side, you're likely to find what you need right here. As always, we've made sure to find the best options you've got, so all you have to do now is check them out:
The best wireless earbuds to buy in 2024 for under $100:
- Galaxy Buds Live — Best user experience
- Sennheiser CX — Best all-around buds
- Audio-Technica ATH-CKS5TW — Best for powerful bass
- Jabra Elite 4 Active — Best budget earbuds for working out
- Samsung Galaxy Buds+ — Best cheap smart earbuds
- Sony WF-C500 — Best passive noise isolation
- Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 4 NC— Best entry-level earbuds
- Nothing Ear Stick — Best design
- Skullcandy Dime — Cheapest wireless earbuds
- EarFun Air Pro 3 — Best battery life
- Author's Pick
- FAQ — check out what you should consider
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live
Infamously known as the Samsung Beans, this pair of headphones is much more than just a meme. They are pretty, shiny and most importantly: reliable! Here's the deal: you don't just get to Samsung's level without a couple of lessons becoming hard-learned. So you can bet that Sammy can present you with a user experience like no other, which extends to the Buds Live too.
These have pretty large speakers, which guarantees you solid sound quality and a bit of oomph on the side too. They come with ANC and they are compatible both with Android and iOS. But the important part? The shape! These don't come with tips at the end, like other buds, which can mean a lot of different things to different users, such as better health benefits, higher comfort levels and an open-style design that never truly isolates you to an extreme.
Sennheiser CX
The Sennheiser CX model wins hands down when it comes to bang for the buck, it’s the best deal you can get on budget wireless earbuds at the moment. It’s worth noting that these earbuds are normally $129 but you can always find a deal to drag them below $100.
Most of you have probably heard of Sennheiser. The German brand specializes in professional audio equipment and musicians and audio pros swear by its products. Now back to the CX. These are truly wireless earbuds, and they deliver amazing sound through their 7mm drivers.
There is support for a bunch of Bluetooth codecs onboard, including SBC, AAC and aptX, touch-sensitive controls, Siri and Google Assistant integration, 9 hours of battery life (+18 from the case).
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS5TW
Another entry in the sub-100 category, not strictly "cheap" but at the top of the food chain if you value sound quality. Audio-Technica is another popular name among musicians and audiophiles, so the inclusion of the ATH-CKS5TW is not surprising (what IS surprising is the price).
These puppies don’t have the most catchy name in the history of earbuds but they deliver on so many levels. They have big 10mm drivers that deliver one of the most powerful bass responses in a pair of in-ear headphones.
The ATH-CKS5TW is a truly wireless earbuds model that also comes with an IPX2 rating, meaning you can sweat in the gym all you like while wearing those. The battery life is just amazing at 15 hours on a single charge for the earbuds, and 45 hours if we count in the case.
There are physical buttons on each bud, which is a strange choice but a useful one nonetheless. These are the best budget wireless earbuds for people who like their bass heavy and powerful.
Jabra Elite 4 Active
The Jabra Elite 4 Active is the newest model from the company, and it's aimed at the budget market. These earbuds are still pretty amazing for their listed price of $119.99 (you can find them for well under $100 when there's a deal around).
Not only do they retain the great ergonomics of the company's more expensive models, but these earbuds also offer Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), adjustable equalizer, and HearThrough technology.
The Jabra Elite 4 Active model is a part of the "Active" line, which means that along with the secure fit (these earbuds won't fall off during your workouts), you're getting IP57-rated water and sweat proof protection - perfect for all kinds of workouts.
There are other bells and whistles onboard, such as the Jabra Sound+ app with a great equalizer to finetune your sound, the Spotify Tap integration, and up to 28 hours of playback (7 hours in the earbuds and up to 21 hours in the case).
There’s not much else to be said here - the Jabra Elite 4 Active earbuds are the best choice for the active person on a budget. But if you're looking for a dedicated pair of earbuds for running and working out, you should check out our piece on that, too.
Samsung Galaxy Buds+
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 are official and they're pretty affordable - actually cheaper than the Buds Pro model. However, even at $149.99, these wireless earbuds don't make the cut. Fret not, though because the Galaxy Buds+ model meets our sub-100 criteria.
These are great budget wireless earbuds that come equipped with lots and lots of features. They’re comfortable, the Bluetooth connection is absolutely amazing (up to 30 meters), they sound great, there are touch controls onboard, the battery life is decent.
The Galaxy Buds+ model supports QI wireless charging and can work with smart assistants such as Siri, Google Assistant, or Bixby. The only downside is that the price is discounted - outside of deals and promos, these earbuds are not that cheap.
Sony WF-C500
Not all Sony earbuds cost an arm and a leg. The newly released Sony WF-C500 model for example can be found at around $70, which is a real bargain. Granted, this model won’t dethrone your top-of-the-line WF-1000XMs but it offers great features for the money.
The battery life is excellent - you get 8-9 hours from the buds, and another 18 hours with the case. Speaking of the case, it’s tiny and really compact, so you can travel with it with no problem.
Each headphone also has a built-in microphone, and your voice sounds clear when using them making phone calls, or having a chat with your preferred voice assistant. These are also pushing $100 usually, but you can find them at a great discount most of the time easily.
Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 4 NC
Anker is one of those brands that are well known for making excellent bang for your buck products and the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is one of these. They have good, clear sound with defined mids and powerful but not overwhelming bass. The battery life is quite decent - especially if you count the charging case into the equation.
Not only that, but they can provide your style with a splash of color, as they come in a slew of vibrant color options. Oh, and the bold marketing claim of reducing as much as 98.5% of background noise while wearing them, which may be exactly what you are looking for.
I mean, what better way to immerse yourself for under $100, right?
Nothing Ear Stick
Well, then, how about Nothing? The Nothing Ear Stick, to be precise, which is the company's first budget-oriented pair of wireless earbuds. And, of course: they fit our requirement of being under $100. But what you get as a neat little bonus is a striking design that you can't really get anywhere else.
Oh, and of course, that extends to the charging case as well. And that is important, because it provides a total of 29 hours of use. The Ear Sticks can be bundled with an iPhone or Android phone, they utilize Bluetooth 5.2 and they offer a pretty decent IP rating, which makes them a great fit for working out.
Skullcandy Dime
If you want to get the absolute cheapest truly wireless earbuds, you can’t go wrong with Skullcandy and its Dime model. These earbuds are just $19.99, so any potential drawback we might find will be greatly outweighed by the price.
There are also touch-activated controls and automatic Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. Pretty impressive at $19.99.
EarFun Air Pro 3
These have been a best seller online for awhile now, and after looking into it, we kind of get why. For the asking price, these don't offer something exceptional in terms of design, but they do offer a solid feature set and a wide audio range. And that last bit is important!
Out of the box, these are pretty bass-heavy, but if you're into EQ tweaking, that's an issue that you can resolve rather quickly. Or, if you're looking for a bassy pair of Bluetooth earbuds for under $100, then you've already possibly found your pick.
What's more, these come in a bulky case which isn't just there for show: it packs a huge battery and as such, a lot of charges for your buds!
Author's Pick: Pixel Buds A-Series
Hear me out! If you've ever had to test the limits of a pair of earbuds under $100, then blast some black metal through them and start playing around with the EQ until you can make out something more than noise. And you know what? I managed that just fine with the Google Pixel Buds A-Series.
More than that, I found them to be rather comfortable as soon as I got used to the way they wanted me to use them. Not only that, but I really found their extra features handy, like automatic pause when taking off either bud. This may not seem like much, but most buds under $100 don't offer such features.
The only gripe I have with these is that they work best with a Pixel phone, which is some odd form of gatekeeping that Google is into, as the A-Series got neither as clear nor loud as it could on other smartphones, as it did on a Pixel phone like the Pixel 7a.
What do I need to know when buying wireless earbuds for under $100?
Sound Quality
This is by far the most important feature. Check the audio quality of the earbuds. Some cheap earbuds may have sub-par sound quality, which can be disappointing. Look for earbuds with good bass response, clear mids and highs, and balanced sound. It's very important to be able to try before you buy, but if that's not possible, check out our reviews and the "sound quality" section to be precise.
Battery Life
Check the battery life of the earbuds. You don't want to have to recharge them constantly throughout the day. Look for earbuds that offer at least 4-6 hours of battery life, preferably more. Also, don't forget about the charging case and the extra battery it provides.
Comfort
The earbuds should be comfortable to wear for extended periods. Look for earbuds that come with different sizes of ear tips to fit your ear comfortably and securely. Again, it's best if you can try the fit yourself, as each and every ear is unique in shape.
Connectivity
Ensure that the earbuds have stable connectivity to your device. Check if they use Bluetooth 5.0 or higher, which offers better range and connectivity than older Bluetooth versions. If you have more then one source device, a multipoint connection will do wonders and make your life a lot easier.
Extra features
Some earbuds come with extra features such as noise cancellation, an IP rating or touch controls. Consider if these features are important to you, and if they are worth the extra cost.
Getting a solid pair of earbuds for a very reasonable — even tempting! — price is now a possibility. Not all offerings are equal, some will require some setting up to get the most out of, but most are certainly a significant improvement over what you could get five years ago. If you ever felt like you need to spend tons on earbuds, then you should know that it is definitely no longer the case.
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