I’ve tested dozens of earbuds as a tech product reviewer, and one thing I’ve learned is that you rarely need to spend more than $100 for a high-quality earbud. Audio technology has gotten so good — and so affordable — that many brands offer impressive earbuds with clear sound, great battery, and a comfortable build for anywhere from $20 to $100.
But just because it’s possible to pay a budget price for a pair of earbuds doesn’t mean it’s easy to find these cheap earbuds. That’s where ZDNET editors’ and my expert testing of many affordable earbuds on the market come in.
Also: The best earbuds of 2025
What are the best cheap earbuds you can buy right now?
ZDNET went hands-on with every budget earbud pick on this list to compile recommendations for every use case, from casual and noise-canceling listens to exercise-friendly earbuds that stay put in your ear. Our staff tested out a ton of earbuds, chose our favorites, and left behind the flops to create this list of $100-or-less earbuds with impressive features.
My pick for the best budget earbuds overall is the Nothing Ear (a) for its long battery life, premium active noise cancellation, and versatility. It’s one pair of earbuds I’ve used and loved long after I finished product testing, which says a lot. But they are on the more expensive side of these budget picks, so keep reading for the more affordable options that won’t hurt your wallet.
The best budget earbuds of 2025
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Think of the Nothing Ear (a) as the AirPods’ stylish and cooler older sister. It’s got most of the same functionalities as the AirPods Pro 2, from form factor to pinch controls, but it’s $100, compared to Apple’s $250 earbuds. Plus, the earbuds look far more interesting than any other earbud I’ve tested, with a bright yellow that sticks out and a transparent build that displays the tech inside.
Out of all the earbuds I’ve tested over the past year and a half, these are one of the few pairs I return to and use weekly. The earbuds offer powerful and balanced noise cancellation that silences outside surroundings and keeps you tuned into your music. The sound is clear and robust, the battery life lasts a while, and the fit is comfortable for hours.
Also: These are still one of my favorite earbuds I’ve ever tested
I liked these so much that I ran my first half marathon with the Nothing Ear (a) in. The pinch controls on the earbud’s stem make it easy to switch songs, pause, and play music while you’re moving without all the fuss of finicky touch controls that never seem to be responsive on the first try.
Plus, if you own a Nothing phone, these earbuds are integrated with ChatGPT, so you can ask the earbuds your wildest questions and get a quick response from the AI chatbot.
Nothing Ear (a) tech specs: Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 | Battery life: 9.5 hours with ANC off | Noise cancellation: Yes | Waterproof rating: IP54 (dust-protected and water-resistant)
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You can count on JLab to make value-packed earbuds that won’t cost $100, and these JLab Go Pop ANC earbuds are no different. For $30, the JLab Go Pop ANC delivers nice sound, noise cancellation, and long battery life.
These stemless earbuds have responsive touch controls on the ball. While they feel light and plasticky, they do a good job of staying in my ears. Each earbud’s eight-hour battery life keeps music-listening going all day, and an extra 24 hours in the case saves you from constant recharging. From a battery and comfort perspective, the Go Pop ANC knocks it out of the park.
The sound on these is good, but it’s not amazing. I wish it were more robust and clear, but it’s as good as you can get for such an affordable price. The noise cancellation silences ambient background noise, and I had no trouble staying focused with these earbuds as my coworkers chatted at neighboring desks. The Go Pop ANC includes an awareness mode for those wanting to stay tuned into their environment as they listen to music.
Considering the breadth of features and the asking price, this is an impressive and value-packed earbud I recommend to those looking for an affordable pair of buds to work and exercise with.
JLab Go Pop ANC tech specs: Connectivity: Bluetooth Multipoint | Battery life: 8 hours in the earbuds and 24+ hours in the case | Noise cancellation: Yes | Waterproof? IP55
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Noise cancellation in cheaper earbuds is often a gimmick. Headphone companies slap the words “noise-canceling” on any earbud they sell, because an earbud can essentially cancel out the external noise of the world if the music playing is loud enough. That’s not the same as active noise cancellation, which uses microphones to assess the ambient sound waves of your environment and match it with the opposite sound waves.
So what if we told you that these under $50 earbuds have noise cancellation that actually works? ZDNET headphone expert Jada Jones tested these 1More PistonBuds Pro Q30, and can confirm that the ANC is comparable to more expensive earbuds, like the AirPods Pro 2.
If you want a pair of buds that share similar features to higher-end earbuds, like Sony’s warm sound, Bose’s comfort, and Apple’s noise cancellation, these could be for you. Oh, and did we mention they are half, if not a third or a fourth, of the price of those aforementioned brands’ earbuds?
More: Don’t sleep on these $40 wireless earbuds
1More PistonBuds Pro Q30 tech specs: Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 | Battery life: Over 7 hours | Noise cancellation: Yes | Waterproof? IPX5
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These earbuds from Soundpeats are for people who take their music seriously but aren’t serious about spending $300 on a pair of earbuds. The Soundpeats Air4 Pro earbuds offer some modern amenities, like Bluetooth 5.3, noise cancellation, and in-ear detection that stops and starts your music as you take the earbuds in and out. But what you really care about with these is the sound, which ZDNET contributing writer Jack Wallen says is high-quality.
He recommends these earbuds to anyone who cares a lot about sound quality and is constantly adjusting the EQ of their music to hear the most out of it. “The Soundpeats Air4 Pros deliver a rich, dynamic, and agile sound that I would normally associate with costlier earbuds,” Wallen writes.
More: These $70 wireless earbuds are my go-to recommendation for audiophiles on a budget
Soundpeats Air4 Pro tech specs: Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 | Battery life: Over 6 hours | Noise cancellation: Yes | Waterproof? NA
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Long battery life, a secure fit, and sound that keeps you aware of your surroundings are all qualities you should look for in an earbud you’re exercising with. The JLab Flex earbuds are open earbuds which prioritize aware listening over noise cancellation or immersive sound. They work best primarily as earbuds for exercising outdoors, and I can confirm that they’re handy for long runs on busy streets or empty park trails where environmental awareness is paramount.
Open earbuds don’t go directly into your ears; instead, they wrap around the architecture of your ear to deliver sound that blasts near your earlobe. They’re pretty different from noise-canceling earbuds, so you won’t find ANC features in this pair.
Shake your head all you want, but these earbuds won’t budge from your ears. That’s thanks to the clip-on design, which stays in your ears as you move. The Flex Open boasts a seven-hour battery life within the earbud and 21 hours of battery life in the case itself. I’ve never had a problem with a JLab earbud’s battery; I find myself irregularly charging JLab earbuds and rarely confronting battery issues.
At $40, they pack an affordable and valuable punch for an exercise earbud.
JLab Flex Open earbuds tech specs: Connectivity: Bluetooth 5 | Battery life: 7 hours in the earbud and 21 in the case | Noise cancellation: No | Waterproof? Yes, IPX4
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The best cheap earbuds you can buy are the Nothing Ear (a) earbuds. Though they are the most expensive on the list, they are nearly AirPods Pro 2 dupes, with stellar sound, balanced noise cancellation, the same pinch controls, and 10 hours of battery life. But if you want an earbud that’s cheaper than $100, which was our price limit for this article, consider the alternative options below, which are as low as $30.
| Cheap earbuds | Price | Battery life | Noise cancellation |
| Nothing Ear (a) | $100 | 10 hours | Yes |
| JLab Go Pop ANC | $30 | 8 hours in the earbuds, 24 in the case | Yes |
| 1More PistonBuds Pro Q30 | $40 | 7 hours | Yes |
| Soundpeats Air4 Pro | $80 | 6 hours | Yes |
| JLab Flex | $40 | 7 hours in the earbuds, 21 in the case | No |
I chose earbuds that cost $100 or less and offer exceptional features at a not-so-premium price. The right earbud for you depends on what you’re using it for: are you an outdoor exercise junkie who listens to music as you workout? Do you want them for casual listening as you work and study? Do you want a pair with noise cancellation? All these details impact which is right for you.
| You should buy this earbud… | If you want… |
| Nothing Ear (a) | The best budget earbuds you can buy. At $100, they are nearly AirPods dupes, but have a cooler look. Noise cancellation is balanced, sound is clear and strong, and the battery life is competitive. |
| JLab Go Pop ANC | The best budget earbuds under $30. Its sound might not be as competitive as the Nothing Ear (a), but it packs a strong battery life and all-day comfort for a budget price. |
| 1More PistonBuds Pro Q30 | The best budget earbuds for noise cancellation. At $40, they are nearly a steal. |
| Soundpeats Air4 Pro | The best budget earbuds for anyone who cares a lot about their music quality but doesn’t have lots to spend. |
| JLab Flex | The best budget earbuds for exercise. They are open earbuds with a clip-on design that allow you to stay aware of your surroundings as you work out. |
While testing budget earbuds, our staff considered the following:
- Price: Every pick on this list costs $100 or less, with many of the budget earbuds on this list going for a fraction of that price. The earbuds on this list range from $40 to $99. But just because they’re not as expensive as premium buds doesn’t mean they lack the features premium earbuds have.
- Battery life: The earbuds on this list have impressively long battery life, with a few pairs offering 40 to 50 hours of playtime before a recharge.
- Sound quality: What’s the point of an earbud if it doesn’t deliver great-sounding music? We tested each of these earbuds ourselves, assessing them for their sound performance.
- Special features: Some of the earbuds on this list offer multipoint Bluetooth, noise cancellation, and thoughtful design choices that make wearing them every day enjoyable.
If you believe your child is old enough and responsible enough to care for and keep track of a pair of wireless earbuds, that is up to you. Personally, I wouldn’t give a pair of true wireless earbuds to a child under 10, since individual earbuds are easy to lose or get traded away on the playground.
However, models like the Sony WI-C100 connect wirelessly to devices but are wired to one another; this makes them a bit easier for younger children to keep track of, and they’re much more affordable than their true wireless counterparts.
Earbuds that don’t have a proper fit can cause a lot of discomfort and might even cause bruising or small cuts depending on how they fit into your ears. Also, listening to music, podcasts, and videos at high volumes can damage your hearing over time. So make sure your earbuds have properly-sized silicone tips for a secure, comfortable fit, and set them at a reasonable volume.
Having a pair of earbuds with active or adaptive noise canceling tech can be a big help when studying, since they can filter out annoying background sounds like conversations, TV shows, and music. So if you study in dorm common rooms, libraries, or at the dining table at home, you may want to invest in a pair of earbuds with noise cancellation tech.
The terms “true wireless” and “Bluetooth” refer to very different things, but they can co-exist in the same model of earbuds. Bluetooth refers to HOW the earbuds connect to your devices, and in this case, that means wirelessly pairing. True wireless means that there are absolutely no wires connecting the earbuds to one another or your devices; picture a pair of AirPods, and those are True Wireless. Compared to something like the Sony WI-C100, which connect wirelessly to your devices, but the earbuds are wired to one another.
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