Club Benefits
You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars to get a solid pair of wireless earbuds. In fact, there are plenty of options under $100 that more than make a great case for the dollars in your wallet. Fully featured earbuds with ANC and great sound are no longer the stomping ground of the wealthy.
Our top pick for the best cheap wireless earbuds are the CMF Buds Pro 2. They sound great, offer a whole bunch of great features, and pack in a great fit for a pretty unbeatable experience for the price. There are plenty of options besides, and if you're looking for something even cheaper, we'd recommend the JLab Go Pods ANC — they're super cheap, and super good.
Meet the testing team
I maintain the site's buying guides for headphones, wireless earbuds, Bluetooth speakers, soundbars, and more. I have spent more than 20 years testing audio equipment for my own enjoyment, and was previously the audio editor for iMore. There's nothing more I love than jamming out to my favorite tunes on audio equipment of different prices and sizes.
Nikita is a staff reviewer for Tom's Guide, and has tested numerous headsets, earbuds, and speakers, in addition to other gear such as keyboards and mice. In her downtime, Nikita can usually be found sinking hours into RPGs on her PS5, out on a walk with a camera in hand, at a concert, or watching F1.
The best cheap wireless earbuds overall
CMF’s lineup just seems to get better — and cheaper — with every new release. Case in point: the CMF Buds Pro 2, which bring a whole host of useful features to the table, along with great sound and a comfortable fit. Oh, and they’re orange. And who doesn’t like orange earbuds? People who also hate fun, I’d wager. And I love fun.
But there’s more to the Buds Pro 2 than their sense of fun. They’re a great-sounding pair of earbuds, with a very useful EQ, should you want to dial in the sound to your liking. There’s plenty of detail, some lovely rich mids, and plenty of bass to get your ears bouncing along to your favorite tunes. All the while, the ANC blocks out loads of noise so you can listen distraction-free.
The battery life is good too, confirmed with our rigorous testing, and they’re comfortable for long periods. They’re our pick for the best cheap earbuds for good reason, and no, it's not just because they’re the color of a delicious fruit. Although that does help.
Read the mini review
Comfort
Thanks to a plethora of fitting options, the CMF Buds Pro are extremely comfortable. They’re light in the ear, and don’t fall out no matter how much you shake your head around. The tips are soft and supportive, and the buds themselves are shaped well enough that they don’t press on any pressure points in the ear.
The case is a little thick, so it might dig into your leg if you’re wearing slightly tighter pants, but it’s no great issue. We did find that pressing the touch controls shifts them in your ears a little, but this is a problem inherent to most in-ear buds.
Sound quality
The CMF buds sound really, really good, not just for the price but for the format, period. They have a very rich, engaging sound signature that makes any genre sing. From pop princesses to metalheads and R&B heroes, the Buds Pro 2 deliver great sound.
We’re big fans of the EQ in the Nothing X app as well. It means that you can get really granular control of the sound profile and dial it in to your liking. If you’re too chicken to play with frequency bands, you can also use the presets for different genres. Whichever you choose to engage with, the Buds Pro 2 are some lovely-sounding buds.
Battery life
The battery life of Nothing’s budget earbuds is some of the best around, beating out even more expensive options. With 11 hours on tap in the buds themselves, you’ll be going for longer than even those with Sony and Bose’s range toppers. The 43 hours in the case keep them going for even longer still, beating out just about everything else out there.
During our battery life testing, we found that the real-life numbers matched the claimed figures. With 4 hours of use, we had about 75% of our battery remaining. Not the most scientific of tests, but it gave us a good idea of how much juice we’d used and how much we had left.
ANC
In the review, our reviewer Erin says that they deliver “AirPods Pro 3 like ANC.” They do a fantastic job of blocking almost everything we threw at them, including a busy office environment, loud city streets, and a stressful train journey. They handled everything with aplomb. There’s a little noise that leaks through when you’re not listening to music, but that’s to be expected.
Turn on the transparency mode and the one weakness starts to rear its head. It’s fine, but this is where things feel their cheapest. Voices have a slight metallic, robotic quality, and it can feel piped in. It’s no great shame, given that the buds cost less than $100, but it's something to keep in mind nonetheless.
Application
The Nothing X app is excellent. It’s super well set out, making it easy to find features and turn them on and off. There are plenty of different options on board, and the EQ is one of the clearest you’ll find. It’s attractive too, with really nice graphics setting everything apart.
It’s also nice and stable, so you don’t have to worry about anything disconnecting and causing problems. Great app.
- Read our full CMF Buds Pro 2 review
The best cheap wireless earbuds for spoken word
Did you know: ASMR is really (like, really, really) popular in Japan? So it would make sense that some of the best earbuds for audiobooks, podcasts and ASMR would come from the Land of the Rising Sun. They’re made by Final, and they sound uncanny. That’s a good thing, by the way — they really make it feel like you’re in the same room as the people speaking around you.
They’re positively tiny, and with that comes a lightweight and comfortable fit. They feature a specially shaped bud that's designed to relieve pressure on the ear, and it works wonders. If you’re listening to spoken word content for a long time, then the ZE500 are a massive boon.
Battery life could be better, and they’re a little plasticky. But, if you’re out to enjoy some spoken word on the go (or as you drift off to sleep), the ZE500 are the buds for you. Just make sure you try to remember that you’re not actually in the same room as the people in your podcast. Waking up to Alex Cooper in your ear might get weird quick.
Read the mini review
Comfort
They’re tiny, for one, and with that comes a very low weight. The eartips are well-shaped to boot, and the buds themselves have a design that’s supposed to relieve pressure in the ear when you wear them. It works very well too, making sure that they stay comfortable no matter how long you’re listening to your podcast, audiobook or barbership supercut ASMR… thing.
There aren’t as many fitting options in the box, but you’ll still quickly find a fit that works for you with those that are available. We had no problem wearing them for the entirety of their battery life — although that’s not quite as long as we’d like. We’ll get more into that later.
Sound quality
For their destined content — audiobooks, podcasts and ASMR recordings — the ZE500 are a sonic triumph. Voices sound crystal clear and natural, and their binaural reproduction makes it sound like you’re in the recording studio with your favorite podcasters. It works phenomenally well, and it can make going to sleep a whole lot easier. Unless you like horror books, in which case you probably shouldn’t. You know, nightmares and all that.
They’re also great for just about anything else, like music. They’re obviously going to shine when it comes to vocals in tracks, but the rest of the frequency range is well accounted for. They sound good for a wide range of different genres, from drum and bass to classical and everything in between. They’re some truly great-sounding earbuds.
Battery life
This is where things fall down slightly for the diminutive little buds. Unfortunately, they only offer around 4.5 hours of battery life. That’s about enough for a few chapters of your favorite audiobooks and a few episodes of lengthier podcasts. Whatever you listen to, you’ll probably be reaching for the charging case come lunch break.
The charging case adds another 18 hours of battery, so you’ll have no trouble getting through a couple of work days with the buds. Our testing showed that the claims at least matched the real life battery of the buds, but it would still be nice if they lasted a little longer.
ANC
There is no ANC on board with the ZE500 — they’re focused on making your favorite spoken word stuff sound excellent. They do a good job of passive noise canceling, though, as their in-ear seal keeps a great deal of unwanted sound at bay.
Application
The Final app is very good indeed. It's pleasing to the eye, and it makes it easy to control the buds various features. We do feel that the volume step optimizer, which lets you change the difference in volume steps for more granular control, feels a bit gimmicky though. We’d have hoped there was an EQ setting instead, although we can understand its absence given that these are buds not solely designed for music playback.
We’ve not had any issues with instability either, which is always nice. If you bought the more expensive “Patra” edition, which features words from Japanese ASMR VTuber Zhou Fang Patra, you’ll need to get the separate app.
- Read our full Final ZE500 for ASMR review
The best cheap wireless earbuds for sound
Earfun’s flagship buds (which, yes, feels very weird to say when they’re only $99) were so close to being the top of the guide. They actually were, for a hot second, before CMF came along and offered something even better for a whole $20 less. Still, the AirPro 4+’s AirPods Pro 3-rivalling sound and multitude of excellent features mean they still have the opportunity to hop into your pockets. And your ears.
It’s all down to the aforementioned sound. It should belong to something that costs anywhere between double and triple the price of the buds. There’s LDAC and aptX support for higher resolution, and unlike other buds at this price with such luxuries, they actually boast the audio hardware inside to make use of the increased fidelity.
They’re about as fully featured as you could hope for as well, including solid ANC, long-lasting battery life and a comfortable fit. For their $99 price, they’re a steal, especially if you’re looking for something that sounds better than almost anything else, not just sub $100, but less than two hundred smackeroonies.
Read the mini review
Comfort
Thanks to their lightweight design and soft eartips, the Air Pro 4+ are a very comfortable pair of earbuds. Remember that you’ll need to try the different-sized eartips in the box to ensure that you get the best fit possible, mind you, and that you may even end up with different sizes on either ear to get a good seal for the ANC.
We did find that touching the touch controls on either earbud moves them around in your ears, which can press on pressure points in the ear, but it's not enough that you’ll want to yoink them out and throw them across the bus.
Sound quality
This is where the Air Pro 4 + truly shine. We absolutely love the way the earbuds sound, from their detail retrieval and min-range punch to their stellar soundstage and groovy bass. They outperform just about anything that’s a similar price sonically, and actually make use of the higher quality Codecs (LDAC and aptX) with their superior internals.
Some may be disappointed that there’s no spatial audio on board, but given the general quality of such systems in other buds at this price, it doesn’t feel like a sore spot. The sound quality is better than pretty much everything else that costs a similar amount.
Battery life
The staying power is extremely impressive. They’ll last for 12 hours with the ANC turned off, making them longer lasting than even the expensive flagship options from Bose and Sony. The case contains plenty of battery life at 42 hours, letting you recharge the buds around 3 times.
We found that the real battery life did about as well as Earfun said it would — we could use them all day, and then charge them in the case ready for the next. You’re not going to want for battery life with the Air Pro 4.
ANC
This is another place where the Air Pro 4 show off. The ANC, while not quite as good as the CMF buds above, is very good. It does a good job of keeping the sound of the bus at bay, making sure that you can enjoy your music to the max.
Transparency mode, as with many at this price, does make things sound a bit robotic on occasion. It's easy to forgive considering what else they offer, but its worth noting that its not perfect.
Application
The Earfun app is fine. It’s not going to win any design awards, but its easy to find settings and features without too much worry. There’s even a useful EQ that you can use to customize the sound exactly how you want it — and with 9 bands of adjustment, its pretty well equipped. You can also customize the touch controls.
This is also where you control the ANC level and check the battery level. It’s a good app, but don’t expect anything that’ll make you think “oh wow, I’m glad I’ve got a few megabytes less space in my phone’s storage.”
- Read our full EarFun Air Pro 4+ review
Best cheap wireless earbuds under $50
Before we go into anything about the diminutive Go Pods ANC, let me just tell you their price. When not reduced in deals events, they’re just $39. That should temper any complaints with the buds — and honestly? We don’t really have any complaints about them at all. They’re a very solid option for under $50, packing in useful features for a bargain price.
They sound excellent for something this cheap, with a bassy sound profile that’s sure to get your head bopping to the music. The ANC is perfectly fine, balancing out different frequencies to keep loud sounds from disrupting your peace. Even the app is useful, with a whole bunch of features you can use to get the most out of what is a cheap purchase.
There’s only one real negative that we’d level at the Go Pods ANC — and that’s the fit. They’re not uncomfortable per se, but they can get tight after a while. Still, considering the price and the quality of the rest of the features, these are a great pair of buds that make a compelling case for your hard-earned money.
Read the mini review
Comfort
For the most part, the Go Pods ANC are perfectly fine. They’re not the most comfortable earbuds around thanks to their larger enclosures, but they don’t press too much on the usual sore spots. The range of eartips in the box is good too, so you can easily customize them to fit your ears properly. The stems make it easy to get them situated in your ears as well.
There is a slight hiccup, though. After a few hours of use, we found that they started to feel a little tight. There was some pressure on spots of the ear, and using the touch controls made them slightly sore. It’s no great issue — just pop them out every now and again — but its important to know these things before grabbing a pair.
Sound quality
Considering how little the Go Pods ANC cost, the sound is pretty good. Sure, they’re quite bassy, but that just makes them a whole bunch of fun to listen to. There’s not loads of detail on offer, and the mids sometimes take a back seat to the lower register, but they sound much better than buds that cost the same.
There’s even a custom EQ that you can use to dial in the sound to your liking. This is a surprisingly well-rounded sound-centric feature set, especially when you take that price into consideration. Do they sound game-changingly good? No. But they do sound fun — and surely that’s the most important thing.
Battery life
The battery life is fine. It’s not as good as some of the other options on the list, but you’re not going to find yourself thinking “oh wow, I wish these earbuds had a little more battery life.” There are 7.5 hours of life in the buds themselves, and then 26 hours in the charging case. Nothing special, but quite enough to last you through your commute and a work day if you charge them up at lunch time.
We found that the battery life matched the quoted numbers on the box. Just remember that listening at louder volumes and with the ANC on can affect the battery life and you’ll have no mid-bus journey battery woes.
ANC
Noise canceling? At this price!? It’s definitely a nice bonus, and you’ll be surprised how effective it is. The noise of your commute is well muted, and loud offices become a distant memory. If you want to block out noise for as little money as possible, you can do an awful lot worse than the Go Pods ANC. Just don’t expect wonders — they are only $39.
Transparency mode is solid, but as you might expect, everyone you speak to does sound a little like a robotic clone. But then you remember that they’re cheap, and that any form of ANC is a massive bonus. There had to be a compromise somewhere, and here its the transparency mode.
Application
JLab’s app is top-notch. It’s full of useful features, like extensive EQ and ANC settings, changing sound modes, and manipulating the ANC. It’s well laid out and easy to understand to boot, so you won’t have any problems finding different features and settings. It’s a must download if you pick up the buds, making sure that you get the most out of them.
- Read our full JLab Go Pods ANC review
Best cheap wireless earbuds: Specs compared
| Header Cell - Column 0 | ANC | Battery life | Durability rating |
|---|---|---|---|
CMF Buds Pro 2 | Yes | 11 hours (buds) 43 hours (case) | IP55 |
Final ZE500 for ASMR | No | 4.5 hours (buds) 18 hours (case) | IPX4 |
Earfun Air Pro 4+ | Yes | 12 hours (buds) 42 hours (case) | IP55 |
JLab Go Buds ANC | Yes | 7.5 hours (buds) 26 hours (case) | IP55 |
Also tested...
At Tom's Guide, we test a lot of wireless earbuds, but not every model makes it into one of our buying guides. That's not to say that they're not great products, just that they're beaten by rival models with a stronger set of features or better performance at the price. The picks in this guide are the very best cheap wireless earbuds we've tested, and all have been fully reviewed by a Tom's Guide audio expert. But with more models to choose from than ever, we want to make sure that you consider these also tested options that, for whatever reason, didn't quite make the grade to rank among the best of the best.
How to choose the best cheap wireless earbuds for you
Obviously, price is a big consideration when looking for the best cheap wireless earbuds. Many cheap models have listed prices of less than $100, but with sales and discounts at online retailers, you can easily bag a bargain for even less.
Any money you save on your earbuds purchase won't do you much good if you're constantly needing to recharge your audio gear. So pay attention to rated battery life and whether any carrying case comes with the earbuds to provide additional power. You'll also want to see what reviews from both professional testers and people who bought the earbuds have to say about sound quality. That goes for both listening to music via the earbuds as well as fielding phone calls.
How well wireless earbuds fit your ears can vary from person to person. But some models come with additional tips and fins to offer something approaching a customized fit.
Frequently asked questions
What do IP-ratings mean?
Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.
IP-ratings refer to the level of Ingress Protection (IP) from liquids and dirt that a device is protected from. This is part of a device's durability.
IP-ratings explained: The first digit refers to the level of protection from solid particles, such as dust and sand. The scale ranges from 0 (no protection) to 6 (dust-tight) for full protection. For example, an IP6X rating ensures that the device is completely dust-tight, making it ideal for harsh outdoor conditions or industrial settings where fine dust particles are common.
The second digit refers to a devices resistance to moisture, and the scale ranges from 0 (no protection) to 8 for the highest level of protection. For example, with an IPX4 rating, earbuds are protected from water splashes from any direction, while an IPX7 rating ensures that the device can be submerged in water up to 1 meter (around 3 feet) for 30 minutes without any damage.
Most common IP ratings explained
Rating | Level of protection |
|---|---|
IPX4 | This rating shows that the device has been tested and offers protection against splashes of water, making them suitable for workouts or light rain. |
IPX6 | This rating indicates that the device can withstands power jets of water from any direction. |
IPX8 | The device is waterproof and fully submersible up to 1.5 meters for up to 30 mins. |
What does 'true wireless' mean?
Not all wireless earbuds are created equal — some are true wireless, while some are just wireless. If you spot a pair of earbuds with the wireless moniker attached, like the Beats Flex, you'll spot a wire that joins the two earbuds together, usually with a Bluetooth and battery module at some point along the wire. That makes, often, for a cheaper pair of buds, but also one that is more unwieldy and annoying to use. If you like having just one earbud in, however, you can just leave the other hanging over your shoulder, which is an added bonus.
True wireless earbuds, on the other hand, are the kind that you'll see on this list. They are tiny, all-inclusive buds that click into a charging case when you're not using them so that the battery charges up. These are the most commonly found earbuds around now, and they make up the entirety of our best noise-canceling earbuds list, and this one.
How we test the best cheap wireless earbuds
When rating the best cheap wireless earbuds, we look not only at price but also design, sound quality and battery life. We also consider how easy it is to pair earbuds with a smartphone and what kind of controls are accessible through the device.
In terms of audio, we listen to many sample tracks that span a number of genres, including hip-hop, rock, jazz, classical, R&B, and electronic, while assessing volume levels and how easy the earbuds are to drive. Movies, podcasts and video games are also used where necessary. We also make phone calls to assess both call quality and microphone performance.
During the testing phase, our reviewers wear each pair of headphones for hours at a time throughout the course of a week. Reviewers will make note of battery life and how well it matches the rated battery life provided by earbud makers.
Star ratings explained: As with all our reviews, we evaluate the best cheap earbuds based on a five-point system (1 = worst, 5 = best). If a product hits nearly every mark, it’s awarded a coveted Recommended badge, while our Best Value award speaks for itself. Only products with truly exceptional performance across the board are awarded an Editor's Choice badge.
For more information, check out our how we test page for Tom's Guide.
