Apple’s iconic white AirPods (and AirPods Pro) might be the poster child for the true wireless earbud revolution, but you don’t need to spend $150+ to get the wire-free convenience they offer. There are plenty of good true wireless earbuds for $100 — or even a lot less.
For sheer value, the best true wireless earbuds under $100 are the 1More Stylish. Combining great comfort, sound quality, battery life, and water resistance, we think most people will love them — and love their price. But if you want to save even more (or swap out some features), our list of the top true wireless contenders that all ring in at under $100 gives you plenty of options.
The best cheap true wireless earbuds at a glance:
The best cheap true wireless earbuds: 1More Stylish
Why you should buy them: With great sound, comfort, and battery life, the 1More Stylish are the best bang for your buck.
Who they’re for: Anyone who wants a set of excellent, daily-driver true wireless earbuds that are well priced.
Why we picked the 1More Stylish:
When it comes right down to it, what should a set of true wireless earbuds deliver? Great sound? Absolutely. Enough battery life to keep you from worrying? Definitely. A comfortable, lightweight design that is also easy to use? Yes, please! The 1More Stylish do all of these things, plus they’re able to stand up to a moderate amount of sweat, making them a great companion no matter where you go.
Best of all, at the magical $100 price, they’re way cheaper than true wireless models from Apple, Jabra, Beats, and Sony, proving that you don’t have to spend tons of money for a great set of wireless buds.
Even though they’ve been around a while, the Stylish’s 6.5 hours of battery per charge beats several of today’s best buds, including both of Apple’s AirPods models. Their elegant charging case extends that to 26 hours, and if you ever find yourself in need of a quick top-up, the 1More Stylish can give you an extra three hours after just 15 minutes spent in the case. With Bluetooth 5 and support for aptX and AAC, wireless connection is clear and reliable.
Perhaps the best feature of the 1More Stylish is their sound quality. As with the majority of 1More products we’ve tested, the Stylish sound way better than their humble price suggests. “With bold bass and well-balanced mid and treble frequencies, the headphones made all genres I listened to … sound just the way I expected,” we noted in our review.
Of course, when you’re in this price range, there are a few things that don’t show up. There’s no active noise cancellation, no passthrough mode for piping in outside sounds, and you’ll need to control volume from your phone’s rockers (or your voice assistant). But given the Stylish’s many strengths, those are all fair compromises for what you do get.
Read our full 1More Stylish review
The best cheap true wireless earbuds for working out: JLab Jbuds Air Sport
Why you should buy them: They’re tough as nails and won’t budge during even your most strenuous workouts.
Who they’re for: Those who need true wireless earbuds designed for serious activity — that don’t cost a small fortune.
Why we picked the JLab Jbuds Air Sport:
Yes, we’ve seen plenty of people at the gym with Apple AirPods. And why not? If your workout consists of free weights and cardio sessions on a stationary bike, you probably aren’t at risk of losing one of those little white golf tees. Or if you do, they don’t have far to fall. But more demanding fitness regimens require a different kind of true wireless earbud, like the JLab Jbuds Air Sport.
Designed with a Powerbeats Pro-style wraparound earhook (but without the astronomical price point), the Jbuds Air Sport should stay put no matter how intense your training session gets. They also offer an IP66 rating, which means that short of taking them for a swim (don’t do that), they’ll stand up to any water or dust you expose them to.
A solid 6-hour battery life per charge (and 34 hours of reserve in the case) means the Air Sport will get you through even your longest sessions, and the Be Aware function is a must for those who take their workouts to the streets, allowing you to bring in the ambient world around you with a tap. We’re also big fans of JLab’s built-in EQ settings. Without ever needing to open an app or touch your phone, you can switch between three different modes to match your tunes.
Finally, a two-year warranty — one of the longest you’ll find on any true wireless earbuds — provides confidence that these buds can walk (or run) the talk.
The best cheap true wireless earbuds alternative to AirPods: Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2
Why you should buy them: You like the AirPods design, but wish they had more features and a lower price.
Who they’re for: Those who love the golf-tee style, but want to save some green over the AirPods.
Why we picked the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2:
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Apple must be feeling pretty flattered by the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2. These true wireless earbuds make no excuses in their attempt to mimic Apple’s iconic earbuds, but they make up for that flagrant imitation by going well beyond what Apple offers on the AirPods — and for a lot less cash.
First, you actually get a choice of color: White or black. Second, at around 6 to 7 hours of battery per charge, the Liberty Air 2 outlast the AirPods. Third, you get way more for your money. Clocking in at just under $100, the Liberty Air 2 have a wireless charging case (which begs a $40 upgrade from Apple), a variety of silicone eartips to achieve a much better fit, and IPX5 water resistance for tough workouts.
You can also use the earbuds independently, either one at a time in mono mode with the same device, or you can pair each bud to a separate device. Speaking of pairing, we had a little trouble with the buds on initial pairing and had to reset them, so we recommend downloading Soundcore’s app first, and following the instructions to ensure easy setup.
The app also lets you customize the touch controls, including the ability to swap one of the factory-set options for features like volume control. It also provides a HearID sound test to calibrate the Liberty Air 2’s EQ to your personal hearing profile. Speaking of sound, the default quality is relatively impressive, with some rich bass and clear treble — though things do tend to get a little crispy with brighter instruments.
We think most people will be satisfied with their $100 purchase based on all the features these buds offer, and the HearID sound test will also add an extra element of control.
The best cheap true wireless earbuds for those on a strict budget: Tribit Flybuds
Why you should buy them: They’re shockingly cheap, offer solid sound and connection, and look good to boot.
Who they’re for: Anyone looking to dip their toes into fully wireless earbuds for a crazy-low price point.
Why we picked the Tribit Flybuds:
It wasn’t long ago that true wireless earbuds cost $200 or more per pair, and for that mighty sum, you were lucky to get a connection that held together — let alone decent sound. Times have definitely changed, and all for the better when it comes to shopping. Tribit’s Flybuds represent exhibit A when it comes to proving our new wireless future, offering a sexy design, solid connection, simple and relatively reliable touch controls and, if you can believe it, decent sound.
Now, we’re not saying these are going to be audiophile earbuds by any means — that’s just not going to happen at this price. But what they do offer is a relatively comfortable fit and a balanced sound signature that’s accessible and enjoyable for calling, music playback and, especially, podcasts. If you’re looking for the absolute lowest amount you can spend on true wireless earbuds and still get something you’ll enjoy, these are a great choice.
Other features include a sleek and minimalist charging case — complete with faux leather exterior — 5 to 6 hours of playback time per charge (and up to 36 hours of total battery with the charging case), and an IPX5 water-resistance rating. If you weren’t expecting AirPods-beating specs for well under $100, you’re not alone. Now, we can’t say that these buds will hold up indefinitely, and you’ll likely want to be careful with them, as build quality at this price level is simply not going to keep up with top-tier choices.
But at this price, the Flybuds are a killer deal for those on a super-tight budget who still want wireless freedom.
Editors’ Recommendations