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Earbuds under $100 now have features that cost $250 a few years ago: noise cancelling, multipoint pairing and long battery life. This guide lists the best wireless earbuds under $100 in 2026, and at the end, the best alternatives to AirPods Pro 3 if you are willing to spend a bit more.
Quick picks
- Best overall: Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC → Check price on Amazon
- Best noise cancelling: EarFun Air Pro 4 → Check price on Amazon
- Best for calls: Jabra Elite 4 → Check price on Amazon
- Best budget: QCY MeloBuds Pro → Check price on Amazon
- Best AirPods Pro 3 alternative: Sony WF-1000XM5 → Check price on Amazon
Part 1: Best earbuds under $100
1. Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC — best overall
Adaptive noise cancelling, LDAC support on Android, multipoint pairing, long total battery life with the case, and a good EQ in the Soundcore app.
Good: strong noise cancelling for the price, good app, multipoint.
Not so good: touch controls can be too sensitive, plastic case.
Buy it if: you want one pair that does everything well.
2. EarFun Air Pro 4 — best noise cancelling under $100
Strong adaptive noise cancelling, LDAC, Bluetooth 5.4, wireless charging case.
Good: noise cancelling is among the strongest at this price, wireless charging.
Not so good: the microphone struggles in wind.
Buy it if: you commute or fly and want quiet.
3. Jabra Elite 4 — best for calls
4-microphone setup for calls, noise cancelling, multipoint, IP55.
Good: Jabra comes from the professional headset world, and it shows in call quality. Solid build, stable connection.
Not so good: flat, less exciting sound for music.
Buy it if: you take many calls or Teams/Zoom meetings on earbuds.
4. QCY MeloBuds Pro — best budget
Noise cancelling and Bluetooth 5.4 at a very low price.
Good: excellent value, balanced sound.
Not so good: basic app, weaker microphone.
Buy it if: you want noise cancelling for as little money as possible.
5. Beats Solo Buds — best cheap option for iPhone
One-tap pairing with Apple devices, Find My support, very small case.
Good: easy with iPhone, small and light.
Not so good: no noise cancelling.
Buy it if: you use an iPhone and want simple, cheap buds.
6. JLab Epic Air Sport ANC — best for workouts
Ear hooks, IP66 rating, noise cancelling, very long battery life.
Good: stays in during exercise, rugged, long battery.
Not so good: bulky.
Buy it if: the gym or running is your main use.
7. 1More PistonBuds Pro Q30 — best for music
Tuned for music, LDAC support.
Good: pleasant, detailed sound for the price.
Not so good: noise cancelling is average.
Buy it if: music quality matters most.
Part 2: Worth spending more? Best AirPods Pro 3 alternatives
AirPods Pro 3 are very good, especially if every device you own is Apple. If you use Android, or mix Apple and Windows, these are the better buys above $100.
Sony WF-1000XM5 — best alternative overall
Class-leading noise cancelling and LDAC on Android. You lose Apple-only features like automatic switching between iPhone, iPad and Mac. Check price on Amazon
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds — best noise cancelling
If blocking noise is the only thing that matters, Bose is the one to beat. Large case, and no LDAC. Check price on Amazon
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 — best for Pixel phones
What AirPods are to iPhone, Pixel Buds are to Pixel: tight integration, live translation, comfortable fit. On other phones, choose Sony instead. Check price on Amazon
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro — best for Samsung phones
Auto-switching across Galaxy devices and 360 Audio. On non-Samsung phones you lose most of the extras. Check price on Amazon
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 — best sound quality
For people who listen to music carefully rather than as background. aptX Lossless on supported Android phones. Check price on Amazon
Beats Studio Buds + — AirPods-style features for less
Easy pairing and Find My on iPhone, also works well on Android, at a lower price than AirPods Pro 3. Check price on Amazon
What to look for
- Multipoint — connects to your phone and laptop at the same time. Very useful for work calls.
- Microphone quality — check reviews for calls in noisy places, not just music.
- Codec — AAC is fine for iPhone and most streaming; LDAC helps only with high-quality files on Android.
- Water rating — IPX4 or better for sweat.
- App with EQ — lets you fix the sound to your taste.
FAQ
Are earbuds under $100 good enough in 2026?
Yes, for most people. The main gaps against flagship buds are call quality in wind, the quality of transparency mode, and ecosystem extras like automatic device switching.
Are earbuds good for work calls?
For a few calls a day, yes — pick a model known for its microphone, like the Jabra Elite 4. For all-day calls, a headset with a boom microphone is more comfortable and sounds better to the other person.
How long do wireless earbuds last?
Usually 2–3 years before the battery gets noticeably weaker. The battery can’t normally be replaced, so treat them as a consumable.
Verdict
For most people, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is the right buy. If you take a lot of calls, get the Jabra Elite 4. If you want to spend more and don’t live fully in Apple’s world, the Sony WF-1000XM5 is the best AirPods Pro 3 alternative.
Related: Anker Soundcore Space Q45 review · Sony WH-CH720N review · Bose QuietComfort 45 review