Best ANC earbuds under $100: top picks ranked

Shopping for noise-cancelling earbuds under $100 used to mean accepting weak ANC and muddy sound. That is no longer true. The models below, ranked by their HearWiki score, show what you can get for the money: effective hybrid ANC, LDAC support, multipoint connectivity and, in one case, over 50 hours of total battery life. The trade-offs are real, but they are not the ones you might expect.

Every product here scored 78/100 or higher in our database. Prices range from $40 to $100. We have linked each product to its full review, and you can browse the complete best ANC earbuds list or filter our ANC earbuds under $100 yourself.

The shortlist

1. Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 — 84/100, $85

These are for you if you care most about musicality and build quality. The sound sub-score is 9/10, the highest in this group, and the compact design is genuinely premium. The ANC sub-score is 7/10: it takes the edge off office chatter and traffic but does not silence a plane cabin the way Sony's does. The main compromise is dated tech: no multipoint, Bluetooth 5.1, and touch controls that can be fiddly. They are a 2020 product, so you are buying older hardware at a discount.

2. Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro — 84/100, $80

These are the best all-rounders here. The ANC sub-score is 8/10, the joint best in this list alongside the Sony, and you also get LDAC, multipoint and wireless charging. The sound is crisp and energetic, if not as refined as the Sennheiser. The compromises are the charging case, which smudges easily and has a gimmicky LED, and average battery life at 8 hours. Spatial audio is weak, so ignore that feature. For $80, the feature list is hard to beat.

3. Sony WF-1000XM4 — 84/100, $99

The ANC sub-score here is 9/10, the best in this group. If your priority is blocking out low-frequency noise like engine rumble and air conditioning, these are the ones. Sound is rich and detailed with LDAC support, and you get multipoint. The compromises are the bulky fit, no wireless charging, and a price that sits right at the top of this budget. They are also a 2021 model, so newer Sony features like the V2 chip are missing. They still beat most current budget ANC earbuds.

4. Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 — 82/100, $100

The headline here is battery life: 52 hours total with the case, which is exceptional. The ANC sub-score is 7.5/10, solid but not class-leading, and the transparency mode is weak. You get aptX Lossless support, which is rare at this price, and a warm, easy-going sound. The main compromise is that the ANC and transparency simply are not as polished as the Sony or Soundcore. If endurance matters more than absolute noise rejection, these are the pick.

5. EarFun Air 2 NC — 78/100, $70

These are the value champions. The ANC sub-score is 7/10, which is respectable at this price, and you get wireless charging, multipoint and a low-latency gaming mode. The sound is punchy and energetic but lacks fine detail, and the build is plastic. The main compromise is the codec support: SBC only, so no AAC or LDAC. For $70, you are getting features that used to cost twice as much.

What budget ANC can and cannot do

Set your expectations before you buy. Budget ANC earbuds are good at one thing: continuous low-frequency noise. Engine drone, fan hum, air conditioning, the rumble of a train. That is where the 7/10 and 8/10 ANC sub-scores in this list do real work. You will notice the difference the moment you switch ANC on in a coffee shop or on a bus.

What they cannot do is disappear voices. Human speech, especially at close range, will still come through. You might get a slight reduction in volume, but a colleague talking next to you will remain clearly audible. The same goes for sudden noises like a door slam or a dog bark. Budget ANC does not react fast enough to catch transients.

Wind noise is another weakness. Most of these earbuds do not have a dedicated wind-reduction mode, and you will hear gusts as a rumble or a hiss. If you cycle or walk in exposed areas, this matters. Finally, expect a pressure feel when you enable ANC. It is a slight suction sensation in the ear canal, and it varies from person to person. Some find it uncomfortable; others barely notice it. You cannot tell which camp you are in without trying a pair.

The practical takeaway: budget ANC is for commuting, office work and travel, not for silencing a crying baby or a noisy open-plan office. If those are your use cases, you need to spend more. If you just want to cut the hum of the world down to a murmur, these will do it.

How we picked

We ranked these models by their HearWiki score, which is an aggregate of five sub-scores: sound, ANC, battery, calls and value. Each product is tested in the same conditions: the same music library, the same simulated office and street noise, and the same call test in a busy environment. The ANC sub-score is measured with a test signal and verified by listening.

We did not weight price or brand. A $40 pair that scores 78/100 ranks below a $99 pair that scores 84/100, even if the value sub-score is higher. That is why the Sennheiser, Soundcore and Sony all sit at the top with identical scores: they are the best performers, not the best deals. If value is your priority, skip to the EarFun or the Baseus.

We also excluded any earbuds with a score below 78/100, which removes most of the sub-$50 market. And we only included models with a current street price under $100, which is why some older flagships appear here at a discount.

FAQ

Can cheap ANC earbuds block out office noise?

Partially. They will reduce the low-frequency hum of HVAC systems and computer fans, but voices and keyboard clatter will still get through. If you need to focus in a noisy open-plan office, look for earbuds with a higher ANC sub-score, like the Sony WF-1000XM4 at 9/10, and consider adding a white noise track on top.

Is ANC worth it on earbuds under $50?

Yes, but with caveats. The Baseus Bass BP1 Pro at $40 has an ANC sub-score of 7.5/10, which is genuinely useful for blocking engine noise on a commute. What you give up is refinement: weaker call quality, limited codecs and a bass-heavy sound that may not suit everyone. If your budget is strict, the Baseus is a better buy than a non-ANC pair at the same price.

Do I need LDAC for good sound quality?

No. LDAC allows higher-resolution streaming over Bluetooth, but it only matters if you are using a compatible Android phone and listening to lossless sources. On an iPhone, you get AAC, which is fine. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 2, which supports only aptX and AAC, still has the best sound sub-score in this list at 9/10. Codec support is a nice extra, not a requirement for good audio.

By Miles Archer · HearWiki