Remember rifling through a pocket or bag and pulling out a knotted jumble of headphone cords? Those days are behind us.
Now we can tuck these tiny audio devices into our ears and enjoy tunes without dealing with knots.
Bluetooth earbuds can still cost a pretty penny, so we put together a guide highlighting the top choices for shoppers on a budget — the best inexpensive wireless earbuds.
Whether you want the absolute cheapest option or something with extras like active noise reduction and water resistance, there’s a model for you.
Go ahead — meet your new compact music companion.
The Best Wireless Earbuds under $100
| Earbuds | Price | Battery | Waterproof? | Active noise cancellation? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JLab Go Air Pop | $20 | 32 hours | Yes | No | SEE DETAILS |
| EarFun Air Pro | $80 | 32 hours | Yes | Yes | SEE DETAILS |
| Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+ | $60 | 45 hours | Yes | No | SEE DETAILS |
| Tranya T40 | $80 | 8 hours | Yes | No | SEE DETAILS |
| Sony WF-C500 | $100 | 20 hours | Yes | No | SEE DETAILS |
| Google Pixel Buds Series A | $100 | 24 hours | Yes | No | SEE DETAILS |
Best Affordable Wireless Earbuds: JLab Go Air Pop
Earbud prices keep falling! Soon you might spot wireless earbuds at discount stores, but quality varies. The JLab Go Air Pop stands out among budget-friendly picks.
Priced at just $20, these earbuds deliver a solid experience relative to their cost. They also come with a two-year warranty and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
Available in five hues — black, lilac, rose, slate and teal — these compact buds offer an impressive 32 hours of battery life when used with their charging case.
You can use both earpieces for stereo listening or wear a single bud for calls thanks to integrated microphones. Swappable ear tips help you find a secure fit.
Touch controls let you change volume, play or pause tracks and answer calls, and JLab’s app lets you tweak audio settings to your liking.
The bottom line
- Price — $20
- Battery life — 32 hours
- Waterproof — Yes
- Noise canceling — No
Best Budget Noise-Canceling Wireless Earbuds: EarFun Air Pro
Sometimes you just want earbuds that shut out the world. The EarFun Air Pro does that affordably.
These earbuds give you up to 32 hours of battery life and employ active noise cancellation to reduce ambient sound.
If you need to hear your surroundings, transparent mode lets outside noise in as if you weren’t wearing earbuds.
They also support voice assistants like Siri and Google Assistant and offer sweat and water resistance for workouts — all for about $80.
EarFun backs the product with an 18-month warranty for added peace of mind.
The bottom line
- Price — $80
- Battery life — 32 hours
- Waterproof — Yes
- Noise canceling — Yes
Best Budget Long-Battery Wireless Earbuds: Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+
If battery longevity is your top priority, consider the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+.
These provide up to 45 hours of playtime on a full cycle: about 9 hours from the earbuds themselves and up to 36 additional hours from the charging case.
Made by an audio-focused company, they include interchangeable tips for comfort and a mobile app that lets you customize the equalizer.
The Melomania 1+ also supports quality codecs like AAC and aptX for superior streaming sound.
Once priced around $140, they’re currently available for roughly $60 — a strong value for sound-conscious buyers.
The bottom line
- Price — $60
- Battery life — 45 hours
- Waterproof — Yes
- Noise canceling — No
Best Budget Sport Wireless Earbuds: Tranya T40
If you’re constantly active, you want affordable earbuds that won’t quit on you. The Tranya T40 is our pick for fitness fans.
These earbuds are rated IPX5 for water and sweat resistance, meaning they withstand jets of water from any direction. They also include ear hooks to keep them secure during intense movement.
Physical buttons prevent accidental skips or volume changes while you exercise.
The Tranya T40 delivers about 8 hours of playback on one charge.
They have built-in mics for calls, and after a call you can resume normal playback or switch to Bass Boost for an extra punch during workouts.
The bottom line
- Price — $80
- Battery life — 8 hours
- Waterproof — Yes
- Noise canceling — No
Best Budget Hi-Tech Wireless Earbuds: Sony WF-C500
Sony has a long history in electronics and makes some excellent wireless headphones.
For a budget-friendly Sony option, consider the WF-C500. (Yes, Sony’s naming conventions remain odd.)
They offer about 20 hours of playback with the case included and use neodymium drivers that cover a 20Hz–20,000Hz response range.
That means you’ll pick up on fine details in your music.
The WF-C500s support immersive 360 Reality Audio on compatible streaming platforms like Amazon Music, Tidal and Deezer, giving you a more enveloping soundstage.
The earbuds feature a comfortable rounded design and consider sustainability in their construction.
The bottom line
- Price — $100
- Battery life — 20 hours
- Waterproof — Yes
- Noise canceling — No
Best Budget Wireless Earbuds for Android: Google Pixel Buds A-Series
For Android users wanting tight integration with their phone, we recommend the Google Pixel Buds A-Series.
Not to be mixed up with the pricier Pixel Buds Pro, the A-Series is more wallet-friendly while still adapting to ambient sound and delivering up to 24 hours of listening when using the charging case.
They’re water- and sweat-resistant, so rain or a sweaty gym session won’t faze them.
After a workout, you can say “Hey Google” into the earbuds to find nearby snack spots or smoothies — a nice convenience.
The bottom line
- Price — $100
- Battery life — 24 hours
- Waterproof — Yes
- Noise canceling — No
How We Selected the Best Cheap Wireless Earbuds
To locate the top budget wireless earbuds, we sifted through numerous models and prioritized the most important attributes, narrowing our picks to options priced at $100 or less.
We evaluated price, audio performance, battery longevity, water resistance and noise-control features.
- Price: Tech purchases add up quickly. We focused on products that deliver strong value for the cost.
- Sound quality: The primary job of earbuds is to sound good — we didn’t accept poor audio just to save money.
- Battery life: Each pick delivers at least 8 hours from a single charge so you won’t be constantly recharging.
- Water/sweat-resistance: All selections offer some level of protection against moisture so you can use them during workouts or light rain.
- Noise cancellation: While only one of our picks includes ANC, it’s a desirable feature for commuting or travel.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you want the most affordable wireless earbuds, check out the JLab Go Air Pop, priced at just $20.
Even with the low price, they provide a wireless listening experience with more than 20 hours of battery life and come in several colors to suit your preference.
We highlighted the Google Pixel Buds A-Series for Android owners due to their seamless integration with Android phones at the $100 price point.
Apple users seeking tight iPhone integration often consider Apple AirPods (Gen 2), which still sell for about $130. However, you don’t need AirPods — any of the earbuds listed here under $100 will pair with an iPhone. For a very low-cost pick, try the JLab Go Air Pop for $20.
Jordan Blake is a technology contributor for Savinly focusing on consumer audio.
