The best Airpod alternatives for under $100

This holiday season many of you may be tempted to put a shiny new pair of Apple Airpods under the tree, but you don’t have to pay a premium to get good true wireless headphones. As the headphone jack continues to disappear from today’s mobile devices, we’re seeing more true wireless earbuds than ever before. Fortunately, the increase in what was once a novel technology has opened the floodgates for cheap true wireless options, which we present to you today.

If you want more detail on each pick, visit the deep-dive article at SoundGuys which further breaks down each awardee and the testing methodology. With further ado, here are the best cheap true wireless earbuds for under $100. 

Related: What makes a good pair of true wireless earbuds?

Best all-around: JLab JBuds Air

JLab JBuds Air cheap true wireless: The earbuds in the case which is open and angled away (slightly) from the lens.

The JLab JBuds Air truly wireless earbuds lack aptX and AAC support but stay connected within a three-meter range.

Reasons to consider the JLab JBuds Air:

  • IP55 dust- and water-resistance
  • Good battery performance in addition to the 500mAh charging case
  • Stable fit with the proprietary Cush-Fins
  • Excellent value for sub-$50 truly wireless earbuds

Best sound: Monoprice True Wireless

Monoprice cheap true wireless earbuds in case an din front of a black vintage lens.

The Monoprice True Wireless earbuds are IPX4-rated, and smaller than most of the competition.

Reasons to consider the Monoprice True Wireless:

  • IPX4 water-resistance
  • Good sound quality
  • Chic earbud and case design
  • Easy-to-operate playback controls

Best battery life: Rowkin Ascent Micro

Rowkin Ascent Micro cheap true wireless earbuds on a couch with the charging case in the background.

The Rowkin Ascent Micro is one of the more expensive options listed, but it’s designed with athletes in mind and is easy to grip with sweaty hands.

Reasons to consider the Rowkin Ascent Micro:

  • IPX5 water-resistance
  • Comprehensive touch controls
  • Portable design with AirPods-like charging case
  • Effective isolation and noise-reduction performance

Best style: Soul Emotion

Soul emotion cheap true wireless earbuds on a windowsill.

If you’re looking for sleek, compact, and stylish cheap true wireless earbuds, the Soul Emotion is for you.

Reasons to consider the Soul Emotion:

  • Sleek earbud design
  • Compact charging case

Best connectivity: Jam Ultra

The Jam Ultra cheap true wireless earbuds resting against the charging case.

A cloth-like wrap encases the charging case and earbud housings, giving it an unique look.

Reasons to consider the Jam Ultra:

  • Unique cloth-wrap design makes the earbuds and case easy to grip
  • Reliable connectivity
  • Bass lovers will enjoy the exaggerated low-end in lieu of crystal clear reproduction
For greater detail, read the full article; it includes excellent alternatives and more information regarding how we chose and tested the awardees.

What you should know about the cheap true wireless earbuds

  • None of these options afford high-quality Bluetooth codecs, but the validity of streaming quality may be suspect anyway.
  • Standalone battery life with truly wireless earbuds is generally subpar, and the cheaper options are no exception.
  • Water-resistance, while not as prevalent as with workout earbuds, is an occasional feature in cheap true wireless earbuds.
  • Cheap true wireless earbuds won’t typically don’t outperform their more expensive counterparts when it comes to sound quality, but that can be mitigated by a good fit and with proper ear tips.

Why you should trust SoundGuys

Working at SoundGuys is a full-time job for each team member, and every writer has multiple years of experience when it comes to reviewing audio products. SoundGuys is constantly checking the pulse of the rapidly evolving world of audio, allowing the team to understand what consumers what and what they deserve.

Adam wearing the Samsung Gear IconX, which are too expensive to be cheap true wireless earbuds.

The SoundGuys team tests as many audio products as possible through both subjective and objective measures.

We want our readers to be happy with their purchases, and none of our writers may benefit from recommending product X over product Y. To greater understand how the site operates, visit the SoundGuys ethics policy page.

Affiliate disclosure: We may receive compensation in connection with your purchase of products via links on this page. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics or posts made in this blog. See our disclosure policy for more details.


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