The Best Headphones Under $100

Who these are for: If you’re looking for true wireless earbuds and want the most amount of features for the least amount of money.

Why we like it: The Soundcore Space A40 true wireless earbuds pack great sound, a ton of features, and 10 hours of battery life into a conveniently tiny package—all for under $100. The app offers multiple ways to fine-tune the sound to your liking: EQ presets, manual frequency-range adjustment, and a listening-test-based personalization system. The earbuds are small and lightweight, with a smooth, ergonomic design that should sit comfortably in a broad range of ear sizes. The ANC is customizable and works well, and the hear-through mode sounds quite lifelike. Soundcore’s claim of 10 hours of battery life is accurate, though your results may vary based on how you use this pair. The charging case is small enough to fit easily in most pockets.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: This pair uses touch-based controls rather than physical buttons to access features like play/pause, ANC, and volume control. We prefer physical controls because touch controls are notoriously prone to misfires. You can customize the control functions in the Soundcore app, but you’ll have to omit one of importance. We don’t recommend these earbuds for working out, either, as they don’t have stabilizing wings or a high water-resistance rating.

Battery life: 10 hours
Warranty: 18 months

For more info, see our full guide to the best Bluetooth wireless earbuds.

Who these are for: If you’re looking for traditional over-ear wireless Bluetooth headphones and want good sound for the least amount of money.

Why we like it: The sound quality of the Soundcore Space One headphones is solid out of the box and adjustable to your taste via the Soundcore app. The design is lightweight, with memory foam earcups that are soft and comfortable. The use of three microphones helps ensure that your voice sounds clear over calls and video chats, and the adjustable active noise cancellation is on par with that of more expensive models. The 40-hour battery life with ANC on is impressive.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The sound can come off a little coarse or muddy, particularly with male vocals or higher frequencies. The Soundcore Space One headphones also utilize small buttons rather than touch controls, so you’ll have to get used to finding them without looking.

Battery life: 40+ hours
Warranty: 18 months

For more info, see our full review of the best Bluetooth wireless headphones.

Who this is for: Great for any listener (or for musicians, podcasters, or recording enthusiasts) who wants a very accurate set of headphones. They’re affordable and put your hard-earned cash toward great sound quality rather than extras like Bluetooth or noise cancelling.

Why we like it: The MDR-7506 headphones have been a recording-studio and live-audio mainstay since being introduced in 1991. Not only do they provide a neutral sound across all frequency ranges, but they also give you a better sense of space and dynamics in your music than many options twice the price. They’re durable, comfortable, and reliable, and a great value at under $100.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Although the long, coiled cable is practical for studio use, you can’t swap it out for a standard shorter cord with a remote and a mic for mobile-device use. You also won’t be accused of being a trendsetter in the MDR-7506 headphones, as they’re professional-looking, not stylish.

Cable style: coiled (9.8 feet) with 3.5 mm and removable ¼-inch adapter
Warranty: 90 days

For more info, see our full guide to the best audiophile headphones for everyday use.

Who this is for: Kids headphones are sized for smaller noggins, but more importantly, they include volume-limiting features to protect kids from hearing damage even if the kids themselves aren’t ready to self-regulate volume on their own—a crucial tool to pair with their computer or tablet.

What we recommend: Our guide to the best kids headphones includes multiple recommendations under $100, for a variety of uses. The Puro BT2200-Plus is our favorite pair for listening to music and watching videos. If your kiddo needs a great microphone for school or gaming use, we like the JLab JBuddies Play because of its retractable boom mic, which improves voice clarity and cuts down on background noise. Budget-minded shoppers should check out the Onanoff BuddyPhones Explore+ (for toddlers) or the Altec Lansing MZX4500 (for kindergartners to tweens), both of which are priced around $30.

We measured all of these headphones to ensure that they properly limit the volume to a safer level of 85 dBA. You can learn more about safe listening and how we tested in our full guide to kids headphones.

Who this is for: The JLab Go Air Sport is an affordable and durable pair for runners who want to block out the noise, whereas the Baseus Eli Sport 1 is the best choice if you want to hear your surroundings.

Why we like it: We’ve found that runners are interested in headphones that either let you hear your surroundings or completely block out noise. We have running earbuds under $100 that suit either preference. The JLab Go Air Sport is best for blocking external sounds and offers plenty of features for the price. The IP55 Ingress Protection rating means it’s sweat resistant, and the hook-over-the-ear design keeps the earbuds in place. The pair offers eight hours of battery life and an additional three full charges in its case. You also get a full suite of touch-based controls that are reasonably simple to use while you’re in motion.

The Baseus Eli Sport 1 true wireless earbuds have a similar hook-over-the-ear design, but the speaker rests across the ear canal without fully blocking it, giving you the ability to hear your surroundings. The Sport 1 was one of the most comfortable and best-sounding pairs of this style that we tested. They feature a suitable IPX4 water resistance rating and a removable rope neckband for runners who like tethered earbuds that can be hung around the neck when not in use. This pair also has full tap-based controls and about 7.5 hours of battery life per charge, with an additional 22 hours in the charging case.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The sealed tips of the Go Air Sport will amplify footfalls and breathing sounds, as isolating earbuds tend to do. The large case likely won’t fit in a pocket, but it should fit in a running belt. The microphone quality is somewhat muffled—people should be able to understand you, but they may ask you to speak up on occasion if you’re naturally soft-spoken.

The Eli Sport pair’s lower water- and sweat-resistance rating makes it unsuitable for runners who perspire heavily or like to run in a downpour. Like with the Go Air Sport, its tap controls can be a bit fussy. However, its larger surface area makes misfires less common. The charging case is about the size of a bar of soap, so it won’t fit easily into your pocket.

JLab Go Air Sport
Battery life: eight hours
Protected against: water and sweat

Baseus Eli Sport 1
Battery life: seven and a half hours
Protected against: water and sweat

For more info, see our full guide to the best running headphones.

Who this is for: The Linsoul Tin HiFi T3 Plus set is a perfect first pair for the more discerning music fan who prefers wired earbuds and isn’t looking for extra frills.

Why we like it: This wired pair features an ergonomic build and a sturdy but lightweight cable. The T3 Plus’s balanced sound—with a gentle bass boost, delicate high notes, and clear vocals—makes this pair ideal for listening to just about any genre of music. The 3D-printed, polished-resin earbuds are shaped to hug your ear like professional in-ear monitors and isolate your ears from external noise. Finally, the included cable is replaceable and made with oxygen-free copper coated in Kevlar for added protection.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Compared with what you get from pricier options, the T3 Plus’s soundstage is somewhat shallow. The cable's two-pin connector is less robust than an MMCX connector and it doesn’t include a microphone or a remote, but you can replace it if those features are a must (for a replacement, we recommend the Linsoul Tripowin Grace, which is available in either a 3.5 mm version or a USB-C style). This set doesn’t come with a carry case, a cleaning kit, plug adapters, or sound filters.

Warranty: one year

For more info, see our full guide to the best wired earbuds.

Who this is for: If your heart is set on true wireless earbuds but you aren’t willing to pay more than about $50, these are your best option.

Why we like it: The EarFun Free 2S is a completely wireless pair of earbuds that remains affordable while still providing an experience on a par with (and sometimes better than) that of true wireless earbuds in the $90 to $100 range. The pair has many features you usually find only on higher-priced models, such as a noise-reducing microphone for calls, a case that charges wirelessly, and full tap-based controls. It comes with an 18-month warranty and has high water resistance with an IPX7 rating.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: This pair lacks advanced features like active noise cancellation and a hear-through mode. These earbuds don’t sound as balanced as other options like the 1More Piston Fit BT pair. The EarFun Free 2S has a pronounced high-frequency spike that may be fatiguing for sensitive listeners, while other listeners might register it only as a whistle-like quality in “s” sounds or overemphasized cymbal rings. But this isn’t an uncommon sound profile, and we’ve found the same flaw in more expensive earbuds, so it’s not as much of a dealbreaker at this price.

Battery life: seven hours (plus 23 more hours in the case)
Protected against: water (IPX7)
Warranty: 18 months

For more info, see our full guide to the best Bluetooth wireless earbuds.

Who this is for: Anyone looking for wired earbuds that are super affordable.

Why we like it: Available for around $15, the Moondrop Quarks pair feels substantially built, has a three-button remote and mic on the cable, and delivers sound quality on a par with that of earbuds costing twice as much. The Quarks pair had clear, crisp highs in our tests, and it offers a broader soundstage than anything else we’ve heard under 20 bucks. The cable’s included three-button remote and mic is a rarity, and it controls music playback and volume on most devices. (An even cheaper version is available without the remote and mic.)

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Quarks set doesn’t have a sweatproof or waterproof rating, so we don’t recommend this pair for working out.

Remote: three-button remote/mic

For more info, see our full guide to the best wired earbuds.

Taking good care of any headphones will keep them working better and longer. And if you’re on a budget, this can mean big savings in the long term. In our blog post on how to clean earbuds and headphones, we recommend wiping down headphones’ earpads and tips regularly with a mixture of soap and warm water on a lightly damp cloth. If your headphones are powered, make sure they’re off and disconnected before doing this.

Before borrowing or lending a pair of headphones, always make sure to give them a quick wipe-down. The same goes for right after a workout or on a particularly humid or rainy day, because even water- and sweat-resistant headphones shouldn’t be exposed to moisture for too long. And wireless headphones should always be completely dry before charging.

In addition to keeping the outer surfaces clean and dry, remember that the insides of earbuds collect earwax, skin cells, sebum, and other oils, which can affect sound quality. We recommend getting a small, soft brush and cleaning tool to make sure your earbuds are always free of debris.

Keep your headphones away from very cold or very hot—and especially humid—environments. Store them in the bag or case that they came in to protect them from getting dirty or damaged in your bag.

Always unplug your wired headphones by grasping the plug on the end and gently but firmly pulling it out, rather than yanking on the cable. If you have sealed earbuds, twist to remove them from your ears rather than pulling them out by the wires—doing so protects both your earbuds and you, as creating a vacuum between the two can be damaging to your ears.

Avoid kinking or bunching your headphone cables by using a Velcro fastener or a plain-old twist tie to keep them wrapped up in a loop. Wrapping the cable around your device while your earbuds are plugged in, or storing them in a messy tangle, is a surefire way to shorten their life expectancy.

Lastly, if you have powered headphones, make sure the rubber door on the charge port and/or battery compartment is sealed during storage. If you’re unable to keep the ports covered, we recommend cleaning them out regularly with a cotton swab to keep them free of dust and moisture.