The Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones and Earbuds Under $100

The world has changed for so many of us! Working from home with young kids playing – or teens arguing! Zoom meetings with dogs barking! The need to concentrate while the TV is on in the next room! Thank heavens for noise cancelling earbuds and headphones!

Of course, $2 earplugs will block out noise. But it’s hard to take a call and they look pretty dumb in those Zoom meetings. And the sound quality? Well, let’s not go there!

There are many reasons noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds are hot-sellers right now. They’re pretty much essential when you really need to focus on producing something. Maybe you just want to dim the background noise at the office while still being responsive. Or maybe you really do just want to relax and listen to your favourite album without distractions.

Contents

1 Can you really get good active noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds for less than $100?
2 Headphones vs Earbuds: Which one should you buy?

Can you really get good active noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds for less than $100?

That’s the question we set out to answer. How much do you really have to pay to get quality sound in and out of a headset or set of earbuds? We also considered the advantages of each – headset vs earbuds.

If you’re really, REALLY into the highest highs and deepest bass, you’ll be happy to spend $400, $500 and even $700 for a ‘top of the range’ headset. Audiophiles will and do. But most of us only need good quality speakers and an effective microphone – both using Bluetooth V5 for a strong connection.

Headphones vs Earbuds: Which one should you buy?

If you want something that is compact and portable, that stays in your ears while you’re in the middle of a sweaty exercise or workout session, you’ll probably want a solid pair of true wireless earbuds.

Headphones, on the other hand, are perfect if you are looking for the highest-quality bass sound, or simply want to tune out the noise and distraction around you as efficiently as possible.

Between the two, comparing equivalent cost options, wireless headphones tend to be better if you want the best possible sound quality and noise cancellation.

The wireless headphones we considered generally have a longer battery life than wireless earbuds. They can last for more than a day while earbuds typically only get you around 5 to 8 hours of use on a single charge. The very small size of earbuds obviously limits the size of the battery. That’s much less of a consideration to headphone designers.

The gap in battery life is something you might want to consider, depending on where and when you’re going to use your ANC unit.

Whether you’re looking for unbeatable, audiophile sound quality or budget-friendly (under $100) headphones and earbuds to save you from the distracting background noise, we’ve got you covered.

Budget-Friendly Noise-Cancelling Headphones and Earbuds

Now, let’s deep dive into our list of the best, budget-friendly noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds.

Anker Soundcore Life Q20, $49.99

The Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones and Earbuds Under $100

HROEENOI JZ02 Bluetooth Headphones, $39.99

HROEEN01 JZ02 Bluetooth Headphones $39.99

Sony Wired MDR-ZX110NC, $48.00

Skullcandy Hesh 3, $98.99

Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus, $99.99

Going down…

TOZO NC9 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds, $59.88

And for those with a bigger-budget!

For true audiophiles and those who are looking for premium noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds, there’s one popular brand that you’re surely familiar with. Maybe, it’s a bit expensive but the quality is really outstanding.