9 Best Bluetooth Headphones under $100

We’ve tested 193 headphones on 9 key categories. We’ll cover:

• The best Bluetooth headphones under $100 right now.
• A/B sound comparisons, so you know exactly how they sound
• All of the measurement data and our hands-on experience.

We’ve tested 193 headphones on these 9 decision-making factors:

1. Sound
2. Comfort & fit
3. Durability
4. Battery
5. Features
6. Noise isolation
7. Noise cancelling
8. Bluetooth
9. Value

For each category, we combined measurement and test data with our expert’s hands-on experience. For wireless headphones under $100, we primarily focused on Sound quality, battery life, and features (including wireless connectivity) because these are the most important for a good user experience, in our opinion.

Not everybody needs expensive high-end models, so look for cheaper headphones towards the bottom.

For more $100 options, see the best headphones under $100, the best Bluetooth earbuds under $100, and the best ANC headphones under $100.

Best Bluetooth Headphones Under $100

1. Anker Soundcore Life Q30

Anker Soundcore Life Q30 are the best Bluetooth headphones we’ve tested, with excellent noise cancelling and great sound compared to other headphones – Anker Soundcore Life Q30 review.

Check the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 A/B Sound Test:

The Life Q30 out-of-the-box sound profile is a bit bassy and warm, which isn’t ideal for purists. You can bring up their audio reproduction quality if you tweak them in the companion app.

Wireless headphones offer excellent active noise canceling technology, removing lots of annoying background noise that ruins the listening experience. Their ANC is great for the price. See the tests in full review.

You can choose between 3 ANC modes: Outdoor, Indoor, and Transport noise cancellation modes.

Apart from the ability to reduce background noise, Anker Soundcore Life Q30 come in a lightweight design and swivel ear cups for easier portability. The built-in microphone is also quite good for taking phone calls.

They’re also one of the best wireless headphones under $100 in playtime, lasting 44+ hours on a single charge. There’s still an audio jack in case of an emergency.

Their over-ear ear cups fit even bigger ears, and they create a comfortable listening experience.

2. SoundPEATS Space

SoundPEATS Space come close to the best headphones under $100, being particularly strong in comfort, sound, and active noise cancellation. While having a few flaws, they’re still a worthy runner-up – SoundPEATS Space review.

Check the SoundPEATS Space A/B Sound Test:

Sound signature is balanced through the midrange and treble but boosted in the lowest frequencies. Applying EQ makes the sound more coherent, with a good sense of music playing in the space around you (pun intended).

Headphones are well-constructed and sleek, so wearing them doesn’t feel awkward. They have a gentle clamping force but stay on your head quite well. Pleather earpads are also very plush and comfortable.

A small minus is the lack of sweat resistance (since they’re stable enough to take in the gym) and the lack of a protective pouch.

On the other hand, you’ll enjoy their outstanding 65 hours of playtime with ANC (123 hours without it) and more than satisfying active noise cancelling performance.

3. EarFun Free Pro 3

In addition to fancy features like ANC and transparency mode, you’re getting the best audio quality. This is a fabulous pair of wireless in-ear headphones for audiophiles on a tight budget – EarFun Free Pro 3 review.

Check the EarFun Free Pro 3 A/B Sound Test:

For the price point, they provide a great listening experience. There is plenty of detail in all frequency ranges, especially in the midrange. They could be better at imaging, but that’s hardly noticeable during listening.

Their lightweight housing is very comfortable to wear. However, despite using ear fins, they aren’t the best choice to wear during a workout. To prevent any damage from sweat, Free Pro 3 are offering IPX5 water resistance.

Their case is slightly bigger than in Free Pro 2, but still pocketable. It can hold up to 27 hours of additional playtime. The two earbuds themselves can play for around 5 hours (with ANC).

To ensure the most optimal audio transmission, earbuds support aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec as well as AAC for iOS users.

Compared to the original Free Pro 2, the third generation also supports a companion app with fully customizable EQ.

4. 1MORE SonoFlow

1MORE SonoFlow have the longest 70-hour battery life of all wireless Bluetooth headphones under $100 we’ve tested – 1MORE SonoFlow review.

Check the 1MORE SonoFlow A/B Sound Test:

Good sound quality is one of the main selling points of the SonoFlow, providing a very accurate sound signature with minimal deviations.

You can correct most of those inside 1MORE Music’s custom EQ (our settings for the most accurate listening are available in the full review).

Furthermore, the over-ear headphones have a stable Bluetooth connection, even when using LDAC Bluetooth codec, and no audio lag when watching video content on your phone.

On top of that, they have a good ANC performance and a mind-blowing battery of over 60 hours (even more if you turn ANC off).

Most importantly, earcups are sufficiently big to fully encapsulate your ears and ensure long-lasting comfort. Headphones come packed in a travel-ready carrying case.

5. EarFun Air Pro 3

EarFun Air Pro 3 are the best in-ear headphones under $100 for active noise cancellation we’ve tested – EarFun Air Pro 3 review.

These are the successors of the already great EarFun Air Pro 2, with better noise cancellation and sound.

Check the EarFun Air Pro 3 A/B Sound Test:

While already good out of the box, you can significantly improve the audio by making changes to the app’s equalizer. That way, the bass gets more detailed and the treble airier.

These earbuds can make even premium offerings blush with the sheer number of features they offer. The best ones are active noise cancellation and ambient sound mode, both working incredibly well.

Next is the battery, lasting more than 8 hours per charge, almost beating the best ANC earbuds on the market.

Furthermore, earbuds support Bluetooth 5.3 and the new LC3 Bluetooth codec, with aptX Adaptive ensuring you can also listen to some high-res audio.

Find another great option among the best wired earphones under $100.

6. Treblab Z2

Treblab Z2 are the best sweatproof wireless headphones under $100 we’ve tested, with a comfortable fit and a premium feel – Treblab Z2 review.

The ANC plays an important factor in audio quality. If disabled, the sound is quite bass-heavy and warm, with lots of details being lots under a meaty low-end.

On the other hand, if ANC is enabled, the overall signature gets brighter, with less bass and a more focused presentation. While the latter sounds more Hi-Fi, the rumble from before is practically gone.

These are full-sized Bluetooth headphones with active noise-cancellation that work reasonably well in most situations, especially if you want to take them on public transport to cancel out annoying engine noise.

The wireless noise-canceling headphones are built quite well, with plastic that feels soft to the touch. There’s even sweat-resistance protection. Earpads are decently padded, while clamp force prevents them from moving too much.

7. SoundPEATS Air4 Pro

Incredibly natural sound reproduction meets comfort, stability, and good noise cancellation – SoundPEATS Air4 Pro review.

Check the SoundPEATS Air4 Pro A/B Sound Test:

Out-of-the-box sound is technically V-shaped but sounds well-balanced. Our custom EQ makes it even more natural and faithful to the original audio. They’re an excellent pick for budget audiophiles.

Furthermore, they’re comfortable to wear and stick to your ears like glue. Adding IPX4 to the equation, you can easily use them for light sports activities.

Active noise cancellation works great at canceling sub-bass frequencies, like engine rumble while finding midrange and higher tones a bit more challenging. At least the ambient sound mode works incredibly well.

Earbuds use Bluetooth 5.3 to ensure stable connection and support Game mode, multipoint, and the newest Qualcomm Bluetooth codecs like aptX Adaptive, Lossless, and Voice.

8. EarFun Wave Pro

Wave Pro are excellent portable Bluetooth headphones for the price – EarFun Wave Pro review.

Headphones have a balanced frequency response. The high frequencies are smooth and shimmery, while the midrange is almost perfectly flat. Using our custom EQ settings even further improves the audio performance.

Thanks to over-ear pads with a thinner yet still plushy edge, they enclose your entire earlobe and avoid squeezing it. Consequently, you can wear them for hours without experiencing pain.

Headphone’s durability is better than normal. They have an aluminum headband and metal plate on the ear cups. They even include a hard-shell travel case to protect them while in a backpack.

Furthermore, active noise cancellation successfully reduces most frequencies, including ones responsible for speech. However, while great to wear in a loud office, their poor sub-bass reduction makes them unsuitable for long-distance flights.

For slightly cheaper options, see the best earbuds under $50.

9. Edifier W820NB Plus

Wireless headphones with a clear, tight sound that’s suitable for serious audio lovers – Edifier W820NB Plus review.

W820NB have a tight, forward tuning with just enough bass and midrange to make everything sound natural. Vocals are slightly thin but never sibilant. One thing to keep in mind is that they sound the best using the ambient sound mode.

The noise-canceling headphones are lightweight and comfy, perfect for commuting. Pleather ear pads with memory foam are plush and replaceable. The only downside is that passive isolation isn’t the strongest, which also leads to sound leakage.

Inside the Edifier Connect app, you can play around with EQ and other features like active noise cancellation and Game mode.

The headphone’s battery can hold up to 49 hours of playtime without ANC. A fast-charge option gives 7 extra hours of runtime in just 10 minutes.

These budget headphones are a great choice for someone looking for a balanced sound.

Honorable Mentions

Jabra Elite 45h

TOZO HT2

SoundPEATS H1

Treblab X3 Pro

For more affordable options, see the top true wireless earbuds under $50.

How We Test

All headphones in our list are objectively tested for sound quality by measuring their frequency response (see graphs in full reviews). How to read charts?

We take a systematic approach by testing and trying headphones ourselves. For headphones under $100, we focused on features important for daily and casual listening because this is the most common use. Read all about our testing and scoring methodology here.

How did we choose the models?

As mentioned above, we primarily focused on 3 decision points:

1. Sound quality: They need to be fun to listen to, preferably with EQ options
2. Battery life: A longer playtime that charges quicker is better
3. Features: We looked at features like active noise cancellation, microphone performance in quiet and noisy environments, and app support.

We believe the recommended headphones are the best to get today for the budget. We choose from 193 headphones we tested. We listed different types of headphones at different prices and those best at a specific thing.

What to Expect from Wireless Headphones under $100?

Bluetooth headphones under 100 dollars aren’t the best headphone brands offer. Neither are the worst or the cheapest. They stand in the middle between the two poles and often offer the best value for money.

Here’s what you can expect:

70% – 80% of audio performance compared to high-end headphones

Generally, you can get excellent audio quality in $100 headphones if you pick the right model. Expect rich equalization options with decent drivers that produce a solid bass response.

These are perfect for casual users who want a good pair of headphones that don’t need to be top-tier. Nonetheless, the level of detail and intricacies is noticeably lower compared to more expensive headphones.

• Bassheads should go for bass-emphasized sound
• Audiophiles for a neutral sound profile
• And if you’re on the fence and want something that sounds good for all music, go for a balanced or slightly V-shaped sound

The more neutral sound is more suitable for all music types, from hip-hop to metal.

From 20 to 60 hours of battery life (over-ear models)

Their battery capacity compares to the flagship models but largely depends on the model you choose. In-ear headphones for $100 last from 5 to 10 hours per charge with an additional 20h-35h in the charging case.

Good comfort and ergonomic design

You can expect high comfort even if you pay less. It largely depends on the model and not so much on the price. Look for thick headband padding and preferably replaceable earpads.

The latest Bluetooth versions & functionality

Wireless Bluetooth technology today is cheap. The latest versions of Bluetooth used to be more expensive, but today, even cheap headphones come with the latest versions. Wireless connection stability is good across the board.

Sturdy build quality

Expect high-quality plastics with some metal parts and mostly faux leather earpads and padding.

100 dollars is quite a bit of money. Companies cannot afford to sell badly made products, so most are well-made with sturdy materials and thoughtful design.

All in all, you might not get the best of the best currently available in the headphone world for less than $100, but pretty close to it. Check the pros & cons of headphones under $100.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Bluetooth Headphones Under $100

Here we answer more questions: