Last updated: May 25, 2026
If you want the best wireless earbuds under $100 in 2026, you have more real options than this category used to allow. Cheap earbuds are no longer automatically muddy, flimsy, or useless on calls. The good ones now give you legit active noise cancellation, long battery life, multipoint pairing, and sound quality that is genuinely easy to live with every day.
I checked current manufacturer pricing on May 25, 2026, then cross-checked each pick against recent review coverage so this list reflects what still makes sense right now. Prices can move fast, especially on Amazon and on color-specific store pages, so think of this as a current buying snapshot, not a forever promise.
| Earbuds | Best for | Current price checked | Battery / ANC highlights | Main caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EarFun Air Pro 4 | Best overall | $89.99 on EarFun | Up to 50dB ANC, 52 hours total, aptX Lossless + LDAC | EarFun’s own store showed it sold out when checked |
| Soundcore Liberty 4 NC | Best ANC under $100 | $99.99 on soundcore | Adaptive ANC 2.0, 10/50-hour battery, LDAC | Fit is not my first choice for hard running |
| CMF Buds 2 Plus | Best battery life | $59 sale / $69 regular on Nothing US | 50dB ANC, LDAC, up to 61.5 hours total | No wireless charging, and the case changes are divisive |
| Nothing Ear (a) | Best for iPhone users on a budget | $59 sale / $99 regular on Nothing US | 45dB ANC, 42.5 hours total, light fit, good mic | EQ options are simpler than the best Android-focused rivals |
| Skullcandy Dime 3 | Best cheap workout or backup pair | $34.99 on Skullcandy | 20 hours total, Stay-Aware Mode, multipoint pairing | No ANC, so it is not the travel pick |
My quick take: if you want one easy recommendation, get the EarFun Air Pro 4 if you can still find it in stock. If your top priority is blocking noise, go Liberty 4 NC. If you want the longest battery life for the least money, CMF Buds 2 Plus is the one.
2026’s Best Wireless Earbuds Under $100
1. EarFun Air Pro 4 – Best overall
The EarFun Air Pro 4 is still the most balanced under-$100 pick I found. EarFun’s official store lists it at $89.99, and the spec sheet still reads like a much pricier pair: adaptive ANC up to 50dB, Bluetooth 5.4, aptX Lossless, LDAC, wireless charging, multipoint, and up to 52 hours total battery life. That is a ridiculous amount of feature density for the money.
Tom’s Guide liked the comfort, codec support, sound quality, and ANC enough to call these “the perfect budget earbuds for audiophiles,” which matches why they still belong near the top of this list. The only reason they are not a no-brainer is availability: EarFun’s own store showed the product as sold out when I checked, so Amazon stock matters more here than official-store stock.
- Current price: $89.99 on EarFun’s store when checked, though the listing showed sold out.
- Highlights: aptX Lossless, LDAC, wireless charging, multipoint, and up to 52 hours total battery life.
- Best for: Anyone who wants the strongest all-around value, especially Android users who care about codec support.
- Caveat: Official-store availability is spotty, so double-check live stock before treating it as your locked-in winner.
Check price on Amazon
See specs on EarFun
2. Soundcore Liberty 4 NC – Best ANC under $100
If your main goal is shutting the world up without crossing the $100 line, the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is the strongest current case. Soundcore’s US page lists it at $99.99 and leans hard into the stuff that matters here: Adaptive ANC 2.0, up to 98.5% noise reduction claims, LDAC support, six mics for calls, and up to 10 hours from the buds or 50 hours total with the case.
SoundGuys still treats the Liberty 4 NC as one of the better affordable noise-canceling earbuds because the value proposition is obvious: good ANC, long battery life, and a feature-packed app. I would not make these my first workout pick because even SoundGuys calls out the fit as less ideal for running, but for commuting and desk use they make a lot of sense.
- Current price: $99.99 on soundcore US when checked.
- Highlights: Adaptive ANC 2.0, LDAC, 10/50-hour battery rating, and strong app controls.
- Best for: Flights, trains, office noise, and anyone who wants the most ANC-focused feature set in this budget.
- Caveat: Great commuter buds, not the pair I would buy first for fast runs or extra-secure gym use.
Check price on Amazon
See specs on soundcore
3. CMF Buds 2 Plus – Best battery life
The CMF Buds 2 Plus is the battery-life monster in this group. Nothing’s US store listed it at $59 on sale, down from $69, and the official product page claims 50dB hybrid ANC, LDAC support, IP55 protection, and up to 61.5 hours of total playback with ANC off. At this price, that kind of runtime is hard to ignore.
SoundGuys liked the sound quality, ANC, Bluetooth 5.4 support, and overall value, even while knocking the redesign for dropping the old Smart Dial. That is basically the right way to think about these earbuds: they are not perfect, but the mix of battery life, tuning, and low price is still one of the best deals in the category.
- Current price: $59 sale price on Nothing US when checked, with a $69 crossed-out regular price.
- Highlights: 61.5-hour total battery claim, 50dB ANC, LDAC, and IP55 durability.
- Best for: Buyers who care more about battery endurance and value than brand prestige.
- Caveat: The new case design lost some of the personality that helped the older CMF buds stand out.
Check price on Amazon
See specs on Nothing
4. Nothing Ear (a) – Best for iPhone users on a budget
If you use an iPhone and just want a good under-$100 pair without overthinking codec charts, the Nothing Ear (a) is the cleanest fit here. Nothing’s US store listed it at $59, down from $99, and the official page highlights 45dB ANC, up to 42.5 hours total battery life, and a fast-charge claim of up to 9.5 hours from a 10-minute case top-up.
SoundGuys describes the Ear (a) as a jack-of-all-trades pair that does not have any major flaws, and that is exactly why it works for this slot. It is not trying to win on one flashy spec. It is just a comfortable, stylish, competent daily pair with decent ANC and good microphone quality, which is honestly what a lot of iPhone buyers want if they do not feel like paying AirPods money.
- Current price: $59 sale price on Nothing US when checked, with a $99 crossed-out regular price.
- Highlights: 45dB ANC, 42.5-hour battery claim, light fit, and strong all-around usability.
- Best for: iPhone users who want good sound and ANC without spending for AirPods Pro.
- Caveat: The EQ is simpler than what the most tweakable Android-focused buds offer.
Check price on Amazon
See specs on Nothing
5. Skullcandy Dime 3 – Best cheap workout or backup pair
The Skullcandy Dime 3 is the pick for people who do not want to spend much but still want something worth carrying. Skullcandy’s product page listed the standard colors at $34.99 when checked and highlights 20 hours of total battery life, multipoint pairing, Stay-Aware Mode, Tile tracking, and a sweat-and-water-resistant build.
SoundGuys’ verdict is basically why these stay on the list: at this price they are hard to beat, and they sound more neutral and grown-up than you would expect. The tradeoff is obvious too. There is no ANC, so these are not the right buy for flights or loud offices. They are the cheap pair you can toss in a gym bag, glove box, or backpack without worrying about it.
- Current price: $34.99 on Skullcandy’s main product page when checked.
- Highlights: 20 total hours, multipoint, Stay-Aware Mode, Tile finding, and a tiny case.
- Best for: Backup duty, casual workouts, or buyers who want to spend the least possible amount and still get a decent pair.
- Caveat: No active noise cancellation, so they are a value pick, not a travel pick.
Check price on Amazon
See specs on Skullcandy
What I Dropped From The Old List
I cut the Soundcore Space A40 and OnePlus Buds 3 from the main five. Space A40 is still a reasonable budget option, but Liberty 4 NC is the more convincing current Soundcore recommendation if you are shopping today. OnePlus Buds 3 still has a good reputation, but the official current US price was harder to verify cleanly than the models above, which made it a weaker choice for a live buying guide update.
How I Picked These Earbuds
I started with current manufacturer pages for pricing, battery claims, ANC claims, codec support, and water-resistance ratings. Then I cross-checked recent reviews so the final picks were not just spec-sheet winners.
- Official store pages came first for price, specs, and current availability.
- Recent reviews were used to sanity-check sound quality, comfort, call quality, and fit caveats.
- I favored earbuds that still make sense for normal buyers, not just people who like chasing obscure audio gear.
- I kept the list to five because this page ranks already and needs sharper decisions, not more clutter.
Related Reading
- The Best Gaming Headsets Under $100 in 2026
- The Best Budget Tech Gifts Under $50
- Best Buying Guides & Round-Ups
Final Thoughts
The best wireless earbuds under $100 are finally good enough that you do not have to talk yourself into obvious compromises. If you want the safest all-around pick, go EarFun Air Pro 4. If you want the best ANC, buy Liberty 4 NC. If battery life matters most, CMF Buds 2 Plus is the budget standout.
And if you just want a tiny pair you can beat up without guilt, Dime 3 still earns its place. Different budget, different job, still a legit pick.
FAQ
The EarFun Air Pro 4 is the best all-around pick in this update because it combines strong ANC, great codec support, wireless charging, multipoint pairing, and long battery life without breaking the $100 ceiling.
The CMF Buds 2 Plus is the strongest battery-life pick here. Nothing’s official US page claims up to 61.5 hours of total playback with the case, which is huge for this price range.
The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is the best ANC-focused pick in this roundup. It gives you adaptive ANC, long battery life, LDAC support, and a strong feature set right at the $100 limit.
The Skullcandy Dime 3 is the best cheap pick in this update. You give up ANC, but you still get a tiny case, multipoint pairing, Stay-Aware Mode, and a sweat-resistant build at a much lower price.
