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Some of our favorite earbuds and headphones come from brands like Bose, Sony, and Apple, all vying for the best audio and cutting-edge features. But the drive to innovate comes at a cost. Specifically, $250 to $300, which is roughly the price range for many of our favorite flagship headphones. Considering how easy it is for earbuds to get out of control under your couch cushions, there's a reason to invest in cheap ones.

At a glance: The best earbuds under $100

Even budget brands offer features like active noise cancellation (ANC) and custom EQ, so it's easier than ever to find a high-quality pair of earbuds for less. There are inevitable trade-offs, especially audio quality. But if you're looking for a pair of earbuds for working out, or you just want to avoid blowing the grocery budget out of buying new earbuds, we've rounded up the best earbuds under $100, including options starting under $30.

We tested all of the options below, evaluating factors like comfort and sound quality. We also dug into the spec sheets, comparing factors like apps, battery life, and water resistance of the headphones to find the ones with the most useful features in their price range.

The best earbuds under $100

Nothing seems to come out of nowhere. The UK-based technology company founded in 2020 by Carl Pei, co-founder of smartphone maker OnePlus, Nothing produces smartphones and headphones with unique, bold design concepts. The company may be called Nothing, but they are anything but anonymous.

At the $100 limit, the Nothing Ear (A) earbuds sound great, are feature-rich, and cost less than the most affordable AirPods. Speaking of AirPods, the earphones themselves have a familiar design, with pinch controls that AirPods users will recognize. Pinch the stem to control playback and calls, and you can customize the controls in the app. The controls have a satisfying, tactile click response.

The app also includes features like customizable ANC, which does a good job of canceling out outside noise. The earbuds also feature in-ear detection, so popping one in will automatically pause the music. In terms of design, the earbuds are made of clear plastic throughout, with a clear stem and a clear plastic cover. I loved the bold yellow colorway of the pair I tested, but these earbuds also come in more subdued white or black colorways.

The streamlined app also includes a customizable equalizer for those who prefer more bass or treble. I found the standard "Balanced" setting lived up to its name, and the earbuds sounded crisp across a variety of genres.

If you're looking for an affordable pair of sports earbuds, the Anker Soundcore Sport X20 are one of our favorite earbuds with ear hooks, thanks to soft silicone hooks that hold the earbuds in place without exerting too much force pressure. The earhooks are also adjustable, so you can adjust them to fit your ears as needed.

The app gives you everything you need for headphones, including adjustable ANC and customizable EQ, and while the noise-canceling features aren't as Zen-like as Apple or Bose's flagship headphones, they're good enough for noisy commutes. Soundcore lists listening time with the headphones at 12 hours and 48 hours with the headphones on, which isn't surprising for a brand best known for making portable chargers. An IP68 rating means these earbuds are durable enough for the toughest workouts.

The sound quality isn't as impressive as our top picks, but the excellent ANC and well-designed shape make them great earbuds for workouts or everyday use.

For a pair of earbuds that cost just $30, JLab does a lot of things right. The controls are intuitive and responsive without being overly sensitive. Double-click to control playback, and click on the left or right to lower and raise the volume respectively. A long press turns ANC on and off.

The ANC and audio quality won't be stunning, but the noise cancellation is fine for everyday use. Standing on a busy street, I could still hear background noise, but I didn't have to raise the volume to compensate. The app's equalizer settings are comprehensive, with three modes: "JLab Signature," "Balance," and "Bass Boost."

The earbuds themselves are small and discreet, but they fit securely on your ears. They're IP55 rated for water and dust resistance, so they should be able to handle most workouts. Like the buds, the box is compact and fits neatly into most pockets.

One quirk this case does have is the built-in USB-C charging cable. This means you need to find a USB-C port to plug it into. Some people might like not having to carry extra cables, but I prefer a standard USB-C port. Ultimately, the Go Pop earbuds are surprisingly affordable, have solid battery life (24 hours total), and feature-rich apps and ANC that are more than adequate for everyday use.

CMF is a sub-brand of Nothing and makes headphones that are more affordable than Nothing's flagship range of headphones. There are some trade-offs, including the build feeling slightly cheaper, but you still get adaptive ANC and customizable EQ. The Nothing Ear (a) earbuds feature pinch controls, while the Buds Pro 2 use customizable tap controls.

I set up double-click to play and pause, and you can also set up controls to jump back and answer or reject calls. Tap and hold to turn ANC on and off. The ANC is adequate, with three modes: transparent, on and off. It's a good idea to leave it on at all times - I've found that audio quality suffers when ANC is turned off. However, leaving ANC on will affect battery life.

The most interesting feature of the earbuds, at least for a fidgety person like me, is this. It's bulky, but has a rotary dial you can use to control the volume. Pressing the dial creates a satisfying tactile click, and the multifunction button can be used to control playback, turn on the voice assistant, or switch to low-latency mode. All features are customizable in the Nothing X app.

These earbuds also have a key feature not often found on budget earbuds, and that's in-ear detection. The app also features a Find My Earbuds feature, which isn't as comprehensive as Apple's Find Me, but is still a handy utility. It emits a loud, high-pitched noise (when you turn the feature on, the app warns you to make sure you're not wearing earbuds), making them easier to find.

The Beats Solo Buds feature a basic design with a small, lightweight case that makes them ideal for those who like to travel light. The earbuds themselves are also small and don't protrude excessively from my ears. The lightweight construction also makes them comfortable to wear, even if the hard plastic does wear down the inner ear after a while.

Part of the reason the case is lightweight is that it doesn't have a battery—while most earbuds have a case with a battery to charge the earbuds, Beats' Solo Buds don't. To charge the earphones, you have to plug them in using the USB-C port in the charging case. The charging case isn't completely necessary, though - the earphones have a battery life of up to 18 hours. The earbuds have a physical button that controls playback. One press plays and pauses, while a long press provides customizable volume control. However, the buttons require a fair amount of force, which means the headphones are pushed into my ears when I use them.

The main appeal of these earbuds is that they're the cheapest option among Apple products, and while they don't sound as impressive as the AirPods, you still get some Apple-specific features like Find My compatibility And seamless pairing with iPhone. Like all Beats earbuds, they work perfectly with Android phones thanks to the Beats app.

How we picked the best earbuds under $100

Our music-obsessed editors test a lot of earbuds and headphones, from premium picks from brands like Sonos to sports-focused earbuds. In our roundup of the best earbuds under $100, we focus on value, choosing brands that combine practical features with premium performance at an affordable price.

Due to price fluctuations, we ensure that the full price of all featured products is under $100. Some of our picks approach the $100 limit, but we also try to include options under $50 and $30 to fit a variety of budgets.