There's the old adage that says, "You get what you pay for," and that certainly applies to earbuds. Even the best cheap true wireless earbuds won't have the uncompromising sound quality and effective active noise cancellation received with premium earbuds like the Sony 1000XM5s. It all comes down to how much you're ready to spend. However, if you're okay with tempering your expectations a bit, there are options. You'll even find earbuds with Bluetooth 5.2, ANC, and surprisingly good fidelity — for the price, that is.

Unfortunately, there's a sludge of sub-par earbuds out there, many of which are churned out of the same factory. And these products often use gibberish brand names meant to trick you into thinking you're making a good choice. But don't worry. Junk aside, this list includes many solid picks worthy of your wallet and ears.

  • jabra elite 3 earbuds angled white background
    Jabra Elite 3
    Best overall

    You can use the Jabra Elite 3 for everything, whether on a commute, on an exercise bike, or at a desk. They’re incredibly versatile thanks to an IP55 water-resistance rating, solid audio quality, and extended battery life. Plus, they come filled with features like Spotify Tap Playback, Alexa Assistant support, and, especially for Android users, Google Fast Pair. Like all Jabra models, these strike a fantastic balance between performance, price, and features.

  • melomania touch 1 Plus earbuds, front view
    Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch
    Premium pick

    Cambridge Audio is a well-regarded brand in the audiophile market, and they've even made a pair of premium yet affordable earbuds. The Melomania Touch produce a well-articulated bass, and the 7mm drivers keep music distortion-free. There's also passive noise isolation, which minimizes background noise. Plus, with a simple tap, you can activate Melomania's transparency mode to tune in to your surroundings. Their 9-hour battery life can extend up to 41 hours when paired with the included charging case.

  • Donner Dobuds ONE white background
    Donner Dobuds ONE
    Best value

    Donner may be known for their below-average guitars, but don't let that deter you from the Dobuds One earbuds. Its duo 12mm dynamic drivers and balanced armature driver produce an even, distortion-free sound, and the bass is more than adequate. Should you need your buds for phone calls and Zoom meetings, the four mics help limit background noise. Then there's the ANC, 8-hour battery life, and IPX4 water resistance to consider. That's a lot of features for the price.

  • JBL Endurance Peak 3 earbuds white background charging case
    JBL Endurance Peak 3 Wireless Headphones

    Though the JBL Endurance Peak 3 are among the pricier options on this list, they’re quite affordable. These earbuds with wrap-around ear hooks and an IP68 rating can handle just about any workout you throw at them, whether rock climbing or jogging. They also come with a transparency mode, so you can hear your surroundings. And, while those ear hooks can get a bit uncomfortable after long periods, these are as good as any earbuds for an active lifestyle.

  • Pixel Buds A series charcoal white background
    Google Pixel Buds A-Series

    You’re not going to find flagship features on the Google Pixel Buds A-Series. There’s no ANC or wireless charging, and the battery life is a smidgen shorter than other options. However, they have a comfortable fit, good audio quality, and some great first-party features for anyone using a Pixel phone, including Fast Pair and hands-free Google voice assistant support.

  • edifier w240tn black charger case white background
    Edifier W240TN

    The Edifier W240TN earbuds offer impressive audio quality and long battery life at a low price. The buds only support the SBC codec (no AAC), but their dual-driver setup still delivers surprisingly strong sound, given the price of admission. They're also IP55 certified, so they can survive all the rain and sweat you might throw at them. ANC is middling at best on the W240TN, but considering the earbuds' impulse-buy price tag, that might be an acceptable compromise.

  • One Plus Nord Buds charger case white background
    OnePlus Nord Buds

    The OnePlus Nord Buds cost just $40, but they still manage to be decent true wireless earbuds. The sound out of the Nord Buds is crisp, clear, and closer to what you'll get out of high-end earbuds than you might think. They also last seven hours on a charge, but that figure is without ANC—the Nord Buds don't have it. The bass could be a little stronger, too. Still, at this price, these are very minor complaints.

  • Audio Technica ATH-SQ1TWBK in black white background
    Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TWBK

    The Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW looks awesome, thanks to its unique square shape and interesting colorways. The buds also have audio quality to match. While there’s no ANC on hand, the HearThrough mode and the low latency mode for gaming make up for that. Plus, they’re less than $100.

  • Sony WF-C700N white background pair
    Sony WF-C700N

    Even if you’re on a budget, you can get great ANC and sound quality. If you need proof, look at the Sony WF-C700N. The ANC is probably best-in-class for anything $120 or less. The audio quality has a clarity that makes these sound more expensive than they are. The battery life in the case is surprisingly weak, and they don’t have all the features of their pricier brothers, but they still have multipoint connectivity, fast charging, and Google Fast Pair.

  • Anker Soundcore Liberty, angled view on a white background
    Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds

    While the ridiculous 10-hour battery life on a single charge might be the most unique feature here, the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC has a lot going for it, especially considering its $99 price tag. They sound great, support LDAC for the audiophiles among us, and have adaptive ANC, though its implementation is a bit underwhelming.

  • EarFun Air Pro 3 earbuds on a white background
    EarFun Air Pro 3

    For less than $100, you get many of the same features that come on earbuds costing twice or three times as much. The EarFun Air Pro 3 is effective for calls and exciting for music and movies. Their ANC also does a great job of making sure you’re not distracted by outside sound. Tack on long battery life and wireless charging, and what more could you really want?

Finding the best true wireless earbuds for a reasonable price

As you can see, there are quite a few affordable earbuds, but the top choice has to be the ever-reliable Jabra Elite 3. They may not have ANC, but the noise isolation can minimize outside distractions. The IPX55 water resistance prevents sweat or rain from interviewing with your runs, and the 7-hour battery life is impressive, too, especially at $80. Even better, the Elite 3 is usually on sale for less than that.

Since this list is all about value, even our premium pick, Cambridge Audio's Melomania Touch, is wallet-friendly. Its long-lasting battery is dwarfed only by the Touch's excellent and balanced sound, so if you're an audiophile on a budget, these are great. Now, if you're comparing the Touch with a pair of the best wireless earbuds, you might be disappointed. But at $100, you can't go wrong.

Those looking for a budget buy that doesn't sacrifice audio quality should check out the Donner Dobuds. They use two drivers to deliver sound that's reserved for more expensive earbuds, and they're comfortable for all-day wear as well. While the ANC is sub-par when measured against $200 models, the Dobuds perform admirably. However, the ANC is a battery-sucker, so it will cut your juice in about half, roughly 4 hours.

As long as you keep an open mind and accept trade-offs with features like battery life, bass levels, and ANC, you'll find a decent pair of earbuds. Paying for less doesn't necessarily mean you're settling for less. It just means you're frugal. And that's not a bad thing.