Best budget wireless earbuds under $100
Under $100, the better picks are not all the same job. Tom's Guide splits the field by price and use case, with stronger ANC, longer battery life, and better sound appearing at different tiers. Every pick here has a flaw, and the cheapest ones give up more than the pricier ones.
4 products ranked Updated
Our rankings are built from published testing by named outlets, not from our own lab. We earn a commission when you buy through our links, and it never changes the order.
The short answer
- 1 JLab Go Pods ANC Best bargain under $40 $36 at Amazon
- 2 CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 Best value under $70 $69
- 3 EarFun Air Pro 4+ Best near-$100 buy $99
- 4 Final ZE3000 SV Best for sound $89 at final-inc.com
Prices checked 31 October 2026. They move constantly — the retailer's own page is the authority.
JLab Go Pods ANC
Tom's Guide places the JLab Go Pods ANC in its under-$40 slot. The outlet says they sound better than expected and bring useful basics like strong ANC for the price, multipoint, customizable EQ, and an IP66 rating. The tradeoff is clear: they are still budget earbuds and will not match premium sets in performance.
Pros
- Sound better than expected
- Great ANC for the price
- Multipoint and customizable EQ
Cons
- Will not match premium earbuds
- Cheap build-level expectations
Where these findings come from
- Tom's Guide: Tom's Guide names this the under-$40 pick. It says they sound better than expected, have solid battery life, great ANC for the price, multipoint, customizable EQ, and an IP66 rating.
- Tom's Guide: Tom's Guide also says they are cheap and will not match premium earbuds in performance. The page lists them at $36 at Amazon.
CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2
Tom's Guide puts the CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 in the under-$70 slot. The outlet likes the Dirac tuning, spatial audio in the app, bass-heavy sound, IP55 rating, 43-hour battery life, wear detection, multipoint, and strong overall value.
Pros
- Dirac tuning
- 43-hour battery life
- Wear detection and multipoint
Cons
- Near the top of the tier
Where these findings come from
- Tom's Guide: Tom's Guide names this the under-$70 pick. It praises the Dirac tuning, spatial audio in-app, bass-heavy sound, IP55 rating, 43-hour battery life, wear detection, multipoint, and strong overall value.
EarFun Air Pro 4+
Tom's Guide places the EarFun Air Pro 4+ at the top of the price range. The outlet's message is that this is the set to buy if you want to spend nearly all of the budget ceiling.
Pros
- Top of the price range
- Tom's Guide says it will not let you down
Cons
- Leaves little room under the cap
Where these findings come from
- Tom's Guide: Tom's Guide names this the under-$100 pick and says it is the top of the price range and will not let you down.
Final ZE3000 SV
Tom's Guide includes the Final ZE3000 SV in its under-$100 sound-focused roundup. The outlet praises the sound quality first, then points to ANC, detail, and a wide soundstage. The downside is practical rather than sonic: battery life could be better, and availability is inconsistent.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality
- Surprisingly effective ANC
- Wide soundstage and good detail
Cons
- Battery life could be better
- Availability is inconsistent
Where these findings come from
- Tom's Guide: Tom's Guide says this has excellent sound quality, surprisingly effective ANC, a wide soundstage, and good detail.
- Tom's Guide: The outlet says battery life could be better and availability is inconsistent. The page lists it at $89 at final-inc.com.
What actually matters
Under $100, the useful question is not just sound. It is how much of the rest of the package survives the price cut.
If you care about calls, check the microphone notes. That matters if these will live in your work bag.
If you care about noise blocking, look for ANC that the outlet actually liked, not just ANC in the spec list. Tom's Guide says the JLab Go Pods ANC and Final ZE3000 SV do well on active noise canceling for the price.
If you care about value, the middle of the range is crowded. Tom's Guide's $69 and $89 picks are there because they keep useful features without pushing past the cap. The cheapest option is not always the best deal if it gives up too much sound or battery life.
If you care about extras, look for multipoint, EQ control, and water resistance. Those are the features the outlet repeatedly call out in this price band. They are also the first things to disappear when a maker cuts cost.
What to expect from each pick
The JLab Go Pods ANC are the cheapest route here. Tom's Guide says they sound better than expected and bring strong ANC for the price, plus multipoint, customizable EQ, and an IP66 rating. The tradeoff is that they are still budget earbuds and will not match premium sets in performance.
The CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 are the value play in the middle. Tom's Guide points to Dirac tuning, spatial audio in the app, bass-heavy sound, IP55 rating, 43-hour battery life, wear detection, multipoint, and strong overall value.
The EarFun Air Pro 4+ sit at the top of the range. Tom's Guide's message is that this is the set to buy if you want to spend nearly all of the budget ceiling.
The Final ZE3000 SV are the sound-first choice. Tom's Guide praises the sound quality, then points to ANC, detail, and a wide soundstage. The downside is practical rather than sonic: battery life could be better, and availability is inconsistent.
FAQ
Are the best budget earbuds all around $50?
No. Tom's Guide's stronger feature picks run up to $99. The under-$100 band is wide enough that the tradeoffs change as price rises.
Which pick is best if I want ANC first?
Tom's Guide gives strong ANC marks to the JLab Go Pods ANC and the Final ZE3000 SV.
Which one is the safest buy if I want to spend as little as possible?
The JLab Go Pods ANC is the under-$40 pick at $36 at Amazon. It has strong feature coverage for the money, but Tom's Guide says it will not match premium earbuds in performance.
Where this comes from
We did not test these. These people did.
Every score on this page rests on the testing below. The ranking is ours; the measurements are not. How we research.
- Tom's Guide — Tom's Guide says the reviewer tested loads of budget earbuds in 2025 and published the roundup on January 3, 2026.
- Tom's Guide — Tom's Guide says the reviewer tested as many cheap earbuds as their ears would allow and published the roundup on August 8, 2025.
Questions people ask
Are the best budget earbuds all around $50?
Which pick is best if I want ANC first?
Which one is the safest buy if I want to spend as little as possible?
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