In-ear headphones are much smaller and easier to carry than over-ear headphones. Popular wireless models also offer many of the same features as their over-ear counterparts, including active noise cancelling, built-in mics, and sound customization. However, some people find an in-ear fit uncomfortable, especially if they have smaller ears. If that's a concern, check out our recommendations for the best earbuds for small ears. Where wireless models offer versatile performance, wired in-ear monitors (IEMs) typically put more emphasis on sound quality. For a more detailed breakdown, see our article on the differences between earbuds and IEMs.
We've tested over 385 pairs of in-ear headphones, and we've split our recommendations below into wireless in-ears and wired IEMs. If you're specifically shopping for cable-free options, check out the best wireless earbuds. If sound quality is your main priority, see our best-sounding wireless earbuds.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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Best In-Ear Headphones
TravelOffice WorkNoise Isolation - Full RangeSound SignatureWarmFrequency Response ConsistencySee all our test resultsRecording QualityThe best in-ear headphones we've tested are the Sony WF-1000XM6: the next generation of the Sony WF-1000XM5. The combination of their memory foam ear tips that sit inside your ear canals and Sony's ANC technology means they can provide a top-tier noise isolation performance that's rivaled only by the Apple AirPods Pro 3. With the in-ear tips seated snugly, these make light work of noisy environments, such as aircraft cabins and bustling urban intersections, so you can enjoy your audio without external distractions. But unlike the AirPods, the Sony offer broad cross-platform support, so Android and iOS users can both access their sound customization features. That said, they can pop out of your ears if you have smaller ears.
On the plus side, the built-in mic captures your voice clearly and separates it well from background noise, though the earbuds aren't as well-built as some of our other picks and can pop out if you have smaller ears. Their default sound profile delivers a healthy dose of bass and balanced mid- and treble-range reproduction, making these buds a great fit for rock, pop, and hip-hop. They last for a little over eight hours with the ANC enabled, which should be enough for a workday or long-haul flight. Plus, there are two extra charges contained in their case, so you can top up as needed.
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Best Mid-Range Wireless In-Ear Headphones
TravelOffice WorkNoise Isolation - Full RangeSound SignatureWarmFrequency Response ConsistencySee all our test resultsRecording QualityLooking for a broad feature set from in-ears that don't break the bank? The Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro are some of the best in-ear wireless headphones we've tested. They come with five different sizes of silicone ear tips, so you can find a size that's perfect for you. Once you do, these form a good seal with your inner ear, which helps them block out almost as much noise as the Sony WF-1000XM6. Their waterproofing and removable stability fins also make them an excellent choice if you're looking for in-ears for working out, as they'll stay in your ears during vigorous movements while repelling rain and sweat.
Their 6.9-hour battery life is a little shorter than the Sony WF-1000XM6's eight hours, but they're much more affordable. The default sound profile features a very boosted bass range that injects boom and rumble into big room kicks, but you can always adjust this to your taste via the graphic EQ in the companion app. The built-in mic will do the job for casual calling, as it renders your voice in an understandable way, while also providing plenty of separation from busy backdrops to keep your voice as the focal point. They even support three-way multi-device pairing. That means they can stay connected to three devices at once, which is useful if you regularly switch between a phone, laptop, and tablet.
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Best Budget Wireless In-Ear Headphones
TravelOffice WorkNoise Isolation - Full RangeSound SignatureWarmFrequency Response ConsistencySee all our test resultsRecording QualityIf you want to spend less than the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro above, the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless are a comfortable budget option that come with multiple ear-tip sizes to help you get a good seal. That fit is part of why they offer such amazing noise isolation performance at the budget price: they do an excellent job blocking out the sound of chatty coworkers or bus engine rumble. By default, the Anker have a warm sound profile that works well for genres like rock and jazz, but their audio lacks low bass, and voices and instruments are missing some detail. Still, you can use a graphic EQ and presets in their companion app to adjust the sound to your taste.
These in-ears last a little over eight hours with ANC, and their case holds four extra charges. They also support multi-device pairing with up to two devices. That said, the mic is the main compromise: voices sound distant and sibilant, and your voice can sound distorted if you take calls in noisy environments. If call quality matters more than maximum noise isolation, consider the cheaper Anker Soundcore P31i. Their mic captures voices more naturally than the Space A40 and does a great job keeping speech understandable in busy places like cafes or open offices. They also have adaptive ANC, but it doesn't block out as much noise as the Space A40's system, and the 7.3-hour battery life is a little shorter.
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Best Wired In-Ear Monitor Headphones
TravelOffice WorkNoise Isolation - Full RangeSound SignatureWarmFrequency Response ConsistencySee all our test resultsRecording QualityThe CrinEar Reference are the best in-ear monitors (IEMs) we've tested. IEMs have long been mainstays of studio and live music performance rigs because they're designed to offer good sound with low latency. Unlike the Sony WF-1000XM6, IEMs don't offer wireless convenience or ANC, but they're a better fit if sound quality and a simple wired connection are your top priorities. The CrinEar offer a warm yet balanced sound, with vocals and mid-range instruments like guitars sounding particularly true-to-life. We tested these in-ears using the foam ear tips, which roll off some of the treble and can make sounds like hi-hats feel a touch dull. But they also come with a range of silicone tips that you can choose from based on your fit and sound preferences.
Their machined aluminum housings and high-quality audio cable, complete with swappable 4.4 mm and 3.5 mm connectors, are very well-built, but that kind of quality doesn't come cheap. They're comfortable despite their all-metal construction, and their in-ear seal does a very good job of cutting down higher-frequency noise like office chatter and humming appliances. However, they don't block much low-frequency rumble, so plane engine rumble will still come through alongside your audio.
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Best Wired Mid-Range In-Ear Monitor Headphones
TravelOffice WorkNoise Isolation - Full RangeSound SignatureBalancedFrequency Response ConsistencySee all our test resultsRecording QualityIf you're looking for a less expensive wired IEM than the CrinEar Reference, the Meze ALBA are a versatile option. They're comfortable and very stable once you've found the right ear-tip size, and their included USB-C and USB-A adapters make them particularly easy to use with modern phones, laptops, and USB hubs. You can also use their regular analog connection when you have a headphone jack.
Their balanced sound stays close to our target, with a modest low-bass boost that adds thump to kick drums. In fact, the Meze hews closer to our target in the treble than the CrinEar, which means sounds like cymbals are reproduced with a little more detail. In the mid-range, vocals and instruments are reproduced accurately.
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Best Wired Budget In-Ear Monitor Headphones
TravelOffice WorkNoise Isolation - Full RangeSound SignatureV-ShapedFrequency Response ConsistencySee all our test resultsRecording QualityThe TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO are the best budget wired in-ears we've tested. Their sound adds extra punch and thump to kick drums while keeping vocals clear and present. Their tuning isn't as even or as controlled through the mid-range as the more expensive Meze ALBA. But once you've got a good seal, their sound is also very consistent from one listening session to the next.
They're comfortable and stable, with lightweight resin shells and a cable that loops over your ears to keep them in place. Their build quality is good, but the included foam tips may wear out quickly, and the 2-pin cable connectors require some care. They also don't include the Meze's USB adapters, so they're not plug-and-play with devices without a headphone jack.
Notable Mentions
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Beats Powerbeats Pro 2:
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are sporty headphones with an ear-hook design, so they won't fall out during tough runs or workouts. This newer iteration of the Powerbeats Pro line also features ANC, although it can't quite compete with the performance offered by the Sony WF-1000XM6.
See our review -
Sennheiser IE 200:
The Sennheiser IE 200 are a less expensive alternative to the CrinEar Reference with a conventional dynamic driver design. They're less premium-feeling, but they come with a wide selection of memory foam and silicone ear tips. Their tuning is warmer than that of the CrinEar.
See our review
Recent Updates
Oct 02, 2026:
To help readers find the best in-ears for their needs, we've split this article into two sections: wireless in-ears and wired in-ear monitors (IEMs). Our wireless picks haven't changed, though the Anker Soundcore P31i is now a cheaper alternative to the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless for those prioritizing mic performance. We've also removed our upper mid-range and lower mid-range entries for brevity. For IEMs, the CrinEar Reference are our top pick, the Meze ALBA our mid-range pick, and the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO our budget pick.
Aug 04, 2026:
We've updated this article to feature the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro as our mid-range pick, thanks to their stellar ANC performance for the price. We've also added the Crinear Reference as our wired pick, as they offer a premium build quality to match their very balanced sound.
Jun 11, 2026:
We've added the OnePlus Buds 4 as a new lower mid-range pick for their amazing noise isolation performance.
Apr 24, 2026:
We've made a few updates to the article: the Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro were added to the Notable Mentions, the Nothing Ear (3) replace the Nothing Ear as the mid-range pick, and the Anker Soundcore P31i replace the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless as our cheap option.
Mar 18, 2026:
We've updated this article to include the Sony WF-1000XM6 as the new top pick, due to their superb ANC and OS-agnostic features. The Technics EAH-AZ100 are the new upper mid-range pick, with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) mentioned as an alternative. Otherwise, we've made minor changes throughout the text in this article.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best in-ears and earbuds to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you'd like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for earbuds and in-ears. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.
