The Best Cheap Wireless Earbuds: Affordable Options That Hit the Right Notes

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Once priced out of reach for many consumers, true wireless earbuds have come a long way since the original AirPods. Since 2017, major audio brands like Bose, Jabra, and Sony have taken the product category into the mainstream. Until not too long ago, consumers had to make major compromises in terms of quality, performance, and battery life to find a cheap pair of true wireless earbuds. Luckily, that's not the case anymore!

Today, well into the mid-2020s, there are tons of great options for everything from working out to gaming that, most importantly, are actually affordable.

Best Cheap Wireless Earbuds

• Best Overall: Nothing Ear (a)

• Best Budget: 1More PistonBuds Pro Q30

• Best Stemless Earbuds: EarFun Free Pro 3

• Best Value: Soundcore P40i

• Best for Exercising: Soundcore Sport X20

• Best for Bassheads: Jabra Elite 3
  

What to Consider

Form Factor

Before picking your next pair of cheap wireless earbuds, there are a few different form factors to consider such as weight and design. Products with AirPods-like stem designs might cause less fatigue because their weight is more evenly distributed. On the other hand, traditional earbuds have a more tight fit and, on some occasions, a tougher build.

Sound Quality and Noise Cancellation

You can expect solid audio performance and call quality from every pick of ours, though you should keep in mind that the closer you get to maxing out your $100 budget, the better they will be. If you like to frequently tune the sound to your liking depending on the content (e.g., music, podcast, gaming, etc.), look for a companion app that offers such tools. Thankfully, even today's low-priced wireless earbuds offer this option.

The above note about getting better sound if you max out your budget also applies to noise cancellation. Noise cancellation used to be a premium-only feature, but it's now widely available in the under-$100 space. Wireless earbuds with price tags closer to three-digit territory will almost certainly get you stronger noise cancellation with customization options.

Battery Life

Depending on how you plan to use them, the battery life of your next wireless earbuds is also important. When it comes to charging options, a battery case with a futureproof USB-C connector is a must. You can even find options with cases that are compatible with wireless chargers, which is rather impressive given the price point.

How We Tested

For this guide, I zeroed in on true wireless sets that cost under $100. I tested wireless earbuds from 1More, Jabra, and Soundcore, among others, and I spent at least a week with each as my go-to set.

While testing these cheap wireless earbuds, I paid close attention to their audio performance, design, and ergonomics, to name a few key features. As the Best Products senior tech editor, I can personally vouch that all suggestions on this list have futureproof Bluetooth connectivity and stellar call quality.

Why Trust Us

Best Products has been committed to bringing you the best reviews for many years. Personally, I've been researching, evaluating, and testing audio gear since the early 2010s. True wireless earbuds have been part of my daily routine for almost a decade, and I'm constantly evaluating products to determine which are the best. When you read about the best cheap wireless earbuds below, know that my expert self backs every pair.

Upgrade your on-the-go sound with these thoroughly tested cheap wireless earbuds — all of which cost less than $100. Rest assured that any of our suggestions also make great tech gift ideas for a family member, friend, or co-worker.

Ear (a) Wireless Earbuds

The Nothing Ear (a) true wireless earbuds are the best with stem design under $100. The $99 earphones offer a fusion of captivating design, durable build, exceptional ergonomics, top-notch sound, reliable noise cancellation, and excellent battery life. By overdelivering across the board, the Ear (a) is worth maxing out your $100 budget.

Available in black, white, and yellow with transparent stems, the Nothing Ear (a) earbuds make their rivals look generic in comparison. I was impressed by the product’s characterful design the moment I opened its box. The earbuds’ impeccable comfort and pinch stem controls made me feel like I’m using a more upmarket set, too.

By producing a crisp and powerful sound that’s customizable via a super sleek app, the Nothing Ear (a) treated me to a sonic experience that’s worthy of the buds’ price-defying design. The adjustable noise cancellation is solid for a product in this price category. Maxing it out helped me focus on work, though it couldn’t match the silence generated by costlier competitors.

With almost 10 hours of battery life without noise cancellation, the Nothing Ear (a) earbuds exceeded the expectations set by their sticker. Their transparent charging case with matching color accents is splash-resistant and totally worth showing off.

Review: Nothing Ear (a) Wireless Earbuds

PistonBuds Pro Q30 Wireless Earbuds

The PistonBuds Pro Q30 wireless earbuds by 1More are the best option for thrifty buyers who want to keep their budget around $50. The stem earphones have a sleek design, a comfy in-ear fit, and a gym-ready build with an IPX5 rating for sweat- and water resistance. Their all-around sound quality and noise cancellation are also excellent for a product in this price range.

Equipped with well-tuned 10-millimeter audio drivers, the PistonBuds Pro Q30 produced a surprisingly balanced sound for such an affordable set. Unlike their competitors, the earbuds can also deliver multi-dimensional spatial audio. Activating the functionality enhanced any content I streamed — not just Dolby Atmos audio — though it didn’t match the immersion brought by pricier Apple and Beats wireless earphones.

The earbuds’ companion app offers a rich set of features for customizing their sound and noise cancellation. The latter has three distinctive settings, which is a nice touch for a set of earbuds you can frequently snag for less than $50. I also liked the robust selection of soundscapes available in the 1More app. It helped me focus on work or unwind without having to parse through playlists.

The PistonBuds Pro Q30 wireless earbuds are available in black or white with contrasting gold accents and a matching case. Consider these wireless earbuds by 1More if you are looking for a stemless set for the same money.

Review: 1More PistonBuds Pro Q30

Free Pro 3 Wireless Earbuds

The EarFun Free Pro 3 wireless earbuds are the best stemless set for less than $100. Priced at $80 before without any discounts — there are frequent deals and discounts with these bad boys — the buds deliver a compact and durable design, a comfy fit, customizable sound, solid noise cancellation, and a wireless charging-compatible case. The transparent selection of features the Pro 3 brings deserves a spot in a higher price category.

Sound-wise, the EarFun Free Pro 3 performed like a pricier set. Thanks to support for Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound and Sony’s audiophile-grade LDAC codec, the earbuds produced a top-tier sonic experience, especially when linked to an Android phone. Their customizable noise cancellation is also stellar (for the money), and so is their call quality.

The EarFun Free Pro 3 earbuds are incredibly comfortable and suitable for all-day wear. Their touch controls are reliable and customizable via their companion app. My favorite option was to turn off single taps to avoid accidental inputs if I reached to adjust them in my ear.

You can order the Free Pro 3 in black, blue, and white with silver accents. Each color option comes with a matching case that fits in a small jeans pocket. Consider the similarly priced and equipped Air Pro 3 buds from the same maker if you like the features but prefer a stem design.

Review: EarFun Free Pro 3 Wireless Earbuds

P40i Wireless Earbuds

Anker’s stem-toting Soundcore P40i are cheap wireless earbuds that are a solid, considerably cheaper alternative to the Nothing Ear (a). Compared to the Nothing Ear (a), the Soundcore P40i has a more generic design, no support for lossless audio streaming, and a lower durability rating than its rival. Still, the earbuds’ lower price tag, longer battery life, and wireless charging-equipped case make up for these shortcomings.

The earbuds’ audio quality and noise cancellation are excellent for a set that’s priced closer to $50 than to $100. Their 11-millimeter audio drivers pump out a bass-forward sound that’s customizable via the excellent Soundcore app. The latter also features dedicated modes that enhance the experience while watching a movie or gaming.

One of my favorite features of the Soundcore P40i earbuds has nothing to do with their solid audio performance and superb battery life but with their charging case. In addition to having ample battery capacity and onboard wireless charging, the bundled accessory doubles as a smartphone viewing stand. It’s more useful than any rival, regardless of its price category. I enjoyed using it to play Sega Genesis classic games on a Samsung Galaxy S24+ with an external controller.

The Soundcore P40i earbuds are available in black, white, navy, and purple.

Sport X20 Wireless Earbuds

The all-new Soundcore Sport X20 wireless earbuds by Anker by Anker are hands down the best for workout warriors on a tight budget. They lap the competition in design, durability, ergonomics, sound, and battery life. Their features and everyday performance topped my expectations, so I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to bigger-budget shoppers who prioritize a secure fit and next-level durability over spatial audio and other top-shelf features.

I like the no-nonsense design and uncompromising durability of the Soundcore Sport X20. The buds’ soft, easily adjustable ear hooks ensured a secure fit that kept them in place even during my HIIT workouts. Their clicky button controls allowed me to adjust the playback between sets with sweaty hands — an impressive feat that buds with touch-only controls have failed over the years.

The bass-forward sound of the X20 is ideal for keeping you or the gift recipient motivated during workout sessions. The Soundcore companion app is packed with tools, which I found handy for customizing the sonic experience for scenarios that didn’t involve exercising. The earphones’ noise cancellation is also solid, if not as wow-inducing as their sound and durability.

Anker offers the Soundcore Sport X20 in black, green, and white. Each version rocks contrasting color accents that give it a more upmarket look, as well as a matching storage case that holds several additional full charges.

Elite 3 Wireless Earbuds

Jabra's Elite 3 wireless earbuds offer the best bass experience in their price range. By combining a snug fit with a perfect in-ear seal and powerful audio drivers, the earphones produce a rich and booming bass that's insanely entertaining. Their sound is adjustable via a mobile app.

While testing the Elite 3, I marveled at the earbuds' high-quality noise isolation. The effectiveness rivals the active noise cancellation of similarly priced rivals. I could tune out pesky ambient noises just by placing the buds in my ears, effectively replacing high-quality earplugs. There's even an ambient mode for maintaining a connection with your surroundings.

Thanks to their snug fit, powerful sound, and clicky button controls, the Jabra Elite 3 earbuds are a solid option for exercising if you or the giftee don't like sets with around-ear hooks.

Review: Jabra Elite 3 Wireless Earbuds

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