Here are the best wireless earbuds under 100 dollars that:
- Sound better than more expensive models
- Stay in ears comfortably
- Have a long battery life
- And the latest features
Sounds too good to be true? Check them below:
Rating | Price | Battery | Water protection | Companion app | More info | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus Best overall | 4.1 | Under $100 | Up to 9h (+36h in case) | IPX5 | | |
SoundPEATS H1 Runner-up | 4.1 | Under $80 | Up to 10h (+30h in case) | IPX5 | | |
4.2 | Under $80 | Up to 5h (+14h in case) | IPX5 | | ||
EarFun Free Pro 2 Best noise cancelling | 4.4 | Under $80 | Up to 5h (+20h in case) | IPX5 | | |
TaoTronics Soundliberty 80 Best microphone | 4.5 | Under $60 | Up to 4h (+16h in case) | IPX8 | | |
JBL Reflect Mini NC Best for sports | 4.0 | Under $100 | Up to 7h (+14h in case) | IPX7 | | |
Jabra Elite 3 Sports alternative | 4.3 | Under $80 | Up to 7h (+21h in case) | IP55 | | |
4.4 | Under $80 | Up to 10h (+10h in case) | IPX4 | | ||
Treblab X3 Pro Best ear hooks | 4.5 | Under $70 | Up to 9h (+36h in case) | IPX7 | | |
4.5 | Under $80 | Up to 7h (+28h in case) | IPX5 | |
You would expect to find big brands to make the best earbuds under $100 with Bluetooth. But that’s not the case.
At this budget, less known brands come to shine with a couple from bigger brands.
Most truly wireless headphones under 100 dollars don’t offer the latest technology or good sound. They’re rather average, or even sound terrible. But that’s not the case here.
Read below for specific reasons why the earbuds on the list are better.
Have less money? Check the best wireless earbuds under $50.
The Best Bluetooth Earbuds under $100
1. Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus are the best Bluetooth earbuds under $100, because of their superb sound.
- Even better sound that the predecessor
- Excellent battery life (9h per charge)
- Comfortable fit
- Good build quality
- Unique design
- Foam tips required for optimal fit
- No ANC or Ambient sound mode
The sound is where Melomania 1+ truly shines. For the wallet-friendly price, the earbuds offer an outstanding sound signature, providing great clarity in highs and mids, with a good amount of bass.
It isn’t an exaggeration if we say: The Melomania 1 are the best sounding wireless earbuds under $100.
They also support aptX for CD-quality audio streaming on Android, and AAC for best integration with iOS devices.
Despite their earplug designed housing Melomania 1’s are actually very comfortable and lightweight. Provided with the memory-foam ear tips they stay firmly in your ears.
With nine hours of battery life per charge, they’re exceptional. You can also use the phone’s voice assistant feature with all major smart assistants.
They work with all kinds of smart assistants and have an IPX5 rating that protects against liquids. The new Plus model even come with an app that offers fully custom EQ.
If you’re interested in a cheaper older version, here’s a full Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 review.
2. SoundPEATS H1
SoundPEATS H1 are one of the best wireless earbuds under $100 with good sound and the latest audio codecs.
- Comfortable design
- Excellent passive noise isolation
- Long-lasting battery life
- Water-resistant design (IPX5)
- Great sound quality
- … but with too much bass
- Bluetooth range isn't great
- No ANC or ambient mode
Earbuds have a strong sub-bass hump that creates a nice rumble without masking the mid-range.
Higher frequencies can sound a bit metallic at first but become much more natural when you use the included foam tips. Furthermore, true wireless buds deliver a decently spacious sound for better listening experience.
The latter are also responsible for a more secure fit and comfort since you don’t have to shove the earbuds too deeply into your ear canal.
The H1 have a better battery life than most, clocking at 10 hours on a single charge. The fast-charging and Qi wireless charging case holds another three additional charges.
Android users will like that these wireless earbuds support aptX Adaptive, a next-gen Bluetooth codec.
3. JBL Live 300TWS
Affordable wireless earbuds from JBL with an in-house signature sound.
- Good sound quality
- Durable build with an IPX5 rating
- Comfortable fit
- Companion app with custom EQ
- Peak at 8kHz makes for a bright, tiny sound
- Unimpressive features
- App problems with Samsung Galaxy devices
You can expect a pretty standard JBL sound profile with some bass boost and an 8kHz peak. In-app EQ lets you slightly tweak audio settings to your liking.
Earbuds appear bulky but fit rather comfortably. The latter is possible thanks to good fit options. In the box, you receive unintrusive ear tips and ear fins that help them to stay in place.
To command the earbuds, they use touch-sensitive controls. You can rearrange the gestures based on your preferences. Also, they use an auto-play/pause sensor, which can be disabled in the app.
JBL Live 300TWS have great build quality and are ready for sports activities as well. On top of having a rugged construction without visible weak points, they’re also IPX5 rated against sweat.
4. EarFun Free Pro 2
EarFun Free Pro 2 are one of the best cheap wireless earbuds under $100 with good sound and many features.
- Fun, dynamic sound with good detail
- Very comfortable & lightweight
- Smaller case with Qi wireless charging
- Strong Bluetooth connection
- Great active noise cancellation (for the price)
- Included swab for cleaning the earbuds
- Earbuds easily lose seal, affecting bass performance
- Less battery life compared to previous generation
- Slighty too aggressive noise reduction for voice calls
You can’t find more dynamic true wireless earbuds under $80, especially for bass lovers. They can get very exciting when needed, with a hefty bass boost to rumble your ears.
The midrange and treble are equally focused, which makes for a lively listening experience.
Free Pro 2 ANC true wireless earbuds come in a small, comfortable form factor with ear fins to help with stability.
Ear tips are slightly longer than usual to better seal the ear canals, which improves isolation.
They come with active noise canceling, which works quite well. You can also increase awareness by using Transparency mode.
The playback time with ANC can last up to 5 hours, and the USB-C charging case even supports wireless charging.
5. TaoTronics Soundliberty 80
Excellent budget wireless earbuds under $100 for taking voice calls and videoconferencing.
- Good overall sound
- IPX8 water-resistant rating
- Excellent microphone quality
- Support for both AAC and aptX
- No audio lag with videos and games
- No passive isolation whatsoever
- Subpar battery life
- Poor stability
Despite rocking an open-air design, these earphones have a full sound reproduction with a pleasant midrange and decent treble. Of course, the sub-bass lacks extension.
Soundliberty 80 come with an interesting design. They’re similar to the original Apple AirPods but with pointier stems and a blueish finish to make them stand out.
Mic inside a stem helps a lot for phone calls, picking up your voice with excellent clarity. They’re one of the best when it comes to blocking background noises during voice calls.
For improved sound quality and latency on Android devices, wireless buds support an aptX Bluetooth codec. It’s a shame they can only last four hours per charge.
And if you feel like only using one earbud, these also support mono mode. Just be careful to put one earbud in the included case to disable automatic ear detection, which pauses playback when you take them out of your ears.
TaoTronics Soundliberty 80 review
Top 3 not exactly what you’re looking for? See these:
Best headphones under $100 (over-ear & on-ear)
Best earbuds under $100
Find best true wireless earbuds under $50
6. JBL Reflect Mini NC
JBL Reflect Mini NC are the best wireless earbuds for sports activities that sound good.
- Excellent sound quality (after EQ)
- Great stability during workouts
- Comfortable fit
- Stable Bluetooth 5.1 connection
- Companion app with custom EQ
- Durable build with an IPX7 rating
- Poor active noise cancellation performance
- Control customization could be better
Most people who exercise will like earbuds’ energetic and sometimes bass-heavy sound. On the other hand, audio purists can play with a customizable sound inside the JBL app.
Overall, the sound is nicely dynamic, and the output can get dangerously loud. Earbuds have a good detail retrieval but are also occasionally sibilant.
These sports earbuds use ear wings to lock themselves in place during intense movement. Comfort is good if you don’t have very small ears.
Housing is robust and have an IPX7 waterproof design. Three sets of mushroom-shaped ear tips create a good seal, ensuring above-average passive isolation.
The Reflect Mini NC support noise canceling, but it works quite poorly. On top of that, you also get Transparency mode and a wear detection sensor.
7. Jabra Elite 3
One of the best wireless earbuds under $100 for sports from Jabra, with a good total battery life and good sound.
- Fun sound with boosted bass
- Ergonomic & stable fit
- Good battery life (7 hours per charge)
- Microphone could be better
The Elite 3 follow a V-shaped sound profile with a shimmery 8kHz region. The latter is popular among affordable consumer-friendly headphones.
Thankfully, the midrange isn’t recessed, and the detail retrieval is decent for the price. The Jabra app includes adjustable EQ if you want to go even more extreme with the sound or make it more balanced.
Like other Jabra true wireless earbuds, the Elite 3 also rely on ergonomic design to stay put in your ears.
Housing is fully plastic and rated for an IP55 rating, deflecting sweat and light rain, while also providing a good level of dust resistance.
The battery life of seven hours per charge and additional 21 hours inside the case is pretty good for everyday use.
8. Sony WF-C500
Best Sony earbuds under $100 that have sacrificed features for better sound quality.
- Good sound quality
- Comfortable fit
- Great battery life per charge (10h)
- App with custom EQ
- Barebone feature set
The WF-C500 retain general Sony sound with punchy bass and a slight boost in the upper midrange.
Their default sound profile can be a bit bright for most listeners with sensitive ears. If that’s the case, you can fine tune their sound inside the Sony Headphones app.
Earbuds have a very comfortable and simple design and provide a secure fit. They will endure light workouts and jogs, with an IPX4 sweat-resistant rating keeping sweat away from the internals.
Instead of touch, the WF-C500 use physical controls. They’re nicely tactile and more reliable than touch ones (which usually suffer from accidental or ghost touches).
Sadly, you can’t change controls inside the app, neither you get noise cancelation or ambient sound mode.
Related:
Most users like tight bass, so make sure to check the best bass earbuds as well.
9. Treblab X3 Pro
Treblab X3 Pro are the best wireless earbuds with ear hooks under $100. They’re your best bet for optimal stability.
- Good stability during sports activities
- Comfortable, even for more extended listening
- Durable construction with an IPX7 rating
- 9-hour battery on a single charge
- Very good sound quality (if you get a seal)
- Great passive isolation (if you get a seal)
- Both earbuds support mono mode
- Support for multipoint and aptX
- Ear tips are too short to fit everyone
- Bulky design brings wind noise
- Discomfort when pressing the center button
If you get the perfect fit, the sound is warm and punchy, with good control in the low-end. The mids and high frequencies are slightly pushed behind but still clean and reasonably natural.
X3 Pro mimic a design from Beats PowerBeats Pro, with big, protruding housing and ear hooks that grab around your ears. The latter ensures stability as nothing else can.
Original silicone tips sit quite flush and don’t go too deep. Choosing third-party ones will help you achieve better results. You get much better background noise isolation, without any sound leakage.
Cheap earbuds are fully waterproof (IPX7), support mono mode on each bud, have both AAC and aptX for Android phones, and have 2 physical buttons on each side.
Related: Best waterproof Bluetooth headphones
10. Anker Soundcore Life P3
One of the best wireless earbuds under $100 for active noise canceling from Anker.
- Good active noise cancellation
- Good passive isolation
- Feature-rich app
- No Qi wireless charging for the price
- Call quality could be better
The sound quality is on the bassy side of frequency response, which is great for genres like hip hop. If you’re a big fan of low end, the BassUp feature will boost it even further. On the other hand, you can tame it a little with a custom EQ.
The Soundcore Life P3 have an AirPods-style design with an elongated stem to push the microphone closer to your mouth. However, the mic quality is only decent. Still, it should be fine for Zoom meetings.
Fortunately, the active noise cancelling works pretty well. It isn’t quite on par with EarFun Free Pro 2 but still does a respectable job.
Compatibility with the Anker’s app opens up possibilities to customize the sound, touch controls, enable ambient sound mode, Gaming mode, and many other great features.
Related:
Honorable Mentions
Aukey EP-N7 – Earbuds have a similar shape to the AirPods Pro, with a shorter stem to bring the mic closer to your mouth. That makes them a great option for calls. The results are quite impressive, with earbuds providing excellent mic quality even in louder environments. Aukey EP-N7 review
Sennheiser CX 400BT – For under $100, these are a great buy since they deliver the sound of premium Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2. (Check CX 400BT price)
Anker Soundcore Life P2 – Great pair of true wireless earphones with pretty good battery life and ergonomic design for everyday use. (Check Soundcore Life P2 price)
Creative Outlier Gold – Great sound, rigid charging case, and comfort is something everybody wants and these in-ears deliver exactly that. With Creative Outlier Gold you also get a Super X-Fi app with some extra options, even for surround sound. (Check Outlier Gold price)
Jlab Jbuds Go Air – A bit cheap wireless Bluetooth earbuds with 3 built-in sound profile options. (Check Go Air price)
Jlab Audio Jbuds Air – Regular cheap true wireless earbuds and one of our top picks for the best earbuds under $50. Jlab Audio Jbuds Air review
Mpow X3 – Best value truly wireless earbuds with ambient noise-canceling capabilities. (Check X3 price)
Beats Flex Wireless – Most affordable Beats earbuds and a reliable pair with a W1 chip for Apple devices. They’re a great choice if you already use an iPhone. (Check Flex price)
See more workout headphones.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)
Are wireless earbuds under $100 any good?
Wireless technology got significantly better in the last few years and also cheaper, meaning that even wireless earbuds under $100 are worth checking out. Many more audio products now support companion apps, noise-canceling, ambient sound mode, and other user-focused features that were not that long time ago reserved for premium models.
While $100 is quite a bit of money, and you can expect all-around very compelling options in this price range.
Decent battery life. For truly wireless earbuds, anything from 5 hours up to over 10 hours battery life per charge is decent. Many feature fast charging, which gives 1 hour of music for a short couple-minute charge (on average).
Reliable Bluetooth connection. It’s essential for a good user experience. Signal cutouts are annoying. You should look for a minimum Bluetooth 5.0+, preferably Bluetooth 5.1 for the best connection strength. Both earbuds and a source device need to support the Bluetooth version.
Good to great audio quality. You can get a good and affordable pair of great-sounding earphones for less than $100. Many come with support for popular Bluetooth codecs (like aptX and AAC). Though, it has a negligible effect on perceived sound quality. You can check if you can spot the difference here.
High-end durability. In-ears at this price point often use high-quality materials, although the build quality still isn’t on par with more expensive earbuds. You can expect your new wireless headphones to last at least a couple of years. For water ingress protection, look for IPX (or IP) certification.
Reasonable comfort. These aren’t custom-molded in-ear monitors, so the comfort largely depends on the ear tips you’ll use. Get memory foam tips, we recommend Comply, to get the best comfort and best fit (and background noise isolation) from any Bluetooth in-ear headphones.
In-line microphone. A microphone for making phone calls is standard. It’s not for professional applications but talking with your friends shouldn’t be a problem.
Good value for money. In the end, around $100 is right in the middle between low-end, cheap earbuds and high-end, flagship models that can go up hundreds of dollars. It’s a great middle point where you can expect most of the latest technology and extra features with high-quality sound without paying a premium.
Average performing premium features. Most wireless earbuds still don’t come with EQ settings or active noise reduction. Fortunately, things are changing rapidly and we see more and more affordable earbuds getting app support and other user-friendly features.
For the best noise cancelling earbuds you have to pay a bit more.