Over the past few years, Bluetooth headphones have become increasingly common, to the point where it's now harder to find headphones with a wire than headphones without one. While many people are looking for Bluetooth headphones due to their phones not having an audio jack, many others just like the idea of ditching cumbersome cords that can get in the way and become tangled. Helpful features like active noise cancellation (ANC) and companion app support, which were once only available on premium-priced headphones, have found their way into impressively decent Bluetooth headphones you can find for under $100.
We've tested more than 805 headphones, and of those, 480 pairs are wireless headphones; below are our recommendations for the best Bluetooth headphones under $100. If you're looking for earbuds specifically, check out our recommendations for the best wireless earbuds under $100 and the best wireless earbuds under $50. If you want wireless headphones for gaming or watching TV, see our recommendations for the best wireless gaming headsets and the best TV headphones.
The best wireless headphones under $100 we've tested are the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless. Whether you need headphones for your commute, the office, or just casual music listening, these outperform other options in this price range and are usually available for well under $100. They have a fantastic ANC feature that you can use in different modes to suit different situations. When set to 'Transport' mode, it effectively blocks out a wide range of noise, including rumbling engines.
They support multi-device pairing, meaning you can stay connected with your phone and computer, and they have a long continuous battery life of 44 hours that will get you through a few days of work or long flights. Out of the box, they have an excited sound profile that delivers intense rumble, punch, and boom while voices and elements are bright. This sound is well-suited for genres like rock and pop, and if you prefer something different, you can customize it with a graphic EQ and presets.
However, you'll notice a difference in sound quality with the ANC on versus off. When it's off, audio sounds more hollow and less full-bodied. These headphones also leak quite a bit of audio, so your music might bother people in quiet environments. If that's a concern, you might prefer the Wyze Noise-Cancelling Headphones Wireless, which leak much less audio. They also have a more neutral default sound profile, which you might prefer, but with a shorter battery life and worse ANC performance.
If you want headphones for video calls or online meetings, the JBL Tune 760NC Wireless are the best Bluetooth headphones for calls under $100 we've tested. Although their price fluctuates a lot, and our top pick is better for most cases, they're still worth considering if you can get them for a deal, thanks to their mic performance. Their integrated mic better captures your voice and makes you sound clear and natural on the phone. It has decent noise handling, so moderate background noise won't interfere with your call. However, they won't do great with loud noises like bus engines.
Their sound profile adds a bit of extra rumble and punch in the bass range, but the rest of the range is neutral, so instruments in music and voices over the phone sound clear and accurate. Unfortunately, unlike the pricier headphones recommended here, they don't have a companion app with presets or an EQ to help customize their sound. They have a solid 40 hours of continuous playback time, so you can easily use them for your commute and workday without recharging. They aren't uncomfortable headphones, but they clamp tightly on the head, which can get annoying over time.
If you've been annoyed by audio syncing issues watching videos on your phone, you might be looking for the Razer Opus X Wireless. Their ANC feature is less effective than the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless'. However, unlike other picks on this list, they have a dedicated 'Gaming Mode' to help lower latency over Bluetooth, whether playing a mobile game or video chatting. They have a comfortable fit, and their control system allows you to adjust calls and music on the fly. If lime green isn't your color, you can pick them up in a pink or white colorway.
They have a somewhat neutral sound profile out of the box, although a bump in their high-bass adds boom and warmth to mixes. Their companion app offers EQ presets to help you change their sound to your liking. Thanks to their ANC system, they can reduce ambient chatter and the whirl of standing fans, but they struggle to cut down car engine rumbles, so they won't be ideal for commuting or traveling. The manufacturer advertises them to last 30 hours with their ANC on, but we measured over double that, ensuring you have enough power to get you from point A to B without needing a recharge.
If you're on a budget but still want to listen to high-quality music, the best headphones we've tested are the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless. These headphones are the next generation of the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless. While they perform less well in some ways, they support LDAC, which is a proprietary codec for streaming higher-resolution audio over Bluetooth. Their sound profile is more bass-heavy than neutral, but it's not as boomy as the Q30's, so mixes aren't as muddy out of the box. Better still, you can customize their sound to your liking via the graphic EQ and presets in the companion app.
They're sturdy and have a comfortable fit for most people, meaning you can wear them for hours without fatigue. Their roughly 44 hours of continuous battery life means you don't need to recharge every day, and they support multi-device pairing, meaning you can stay connected with your phone and computer simultaneously. Their adjustable ANC feature has a great performance, so they can help block out a wide range of noise. If noise cancelling is a priority, the usually cheaper Q30 have better performance, especially when cutting out bass-range noise like rumbling engines when commuting or on a flight.
If you're not a fan of a total over-ear fit, then try the Sony WH-CH520 Wireless. These on-ears offer a more breathable fit than over-ears, which can trap more heat. They also have a decently comfortable fit with plush padding. In part because of their on-ear fit, they struggle to block out much background noise, so you'll hear the low rumble of bus engines and ambient chatter at the office.
Out of the box, they have a slightly warm sound profile that results in clear and detailed vocals and instruments. If you prefer a different sound, they have a companion app with a graphic EQ and presets, so you can fine-tune their sound to your liking. They last nearly 53 hours continuously and even have a standby mode to help conserve battery life when not in use. Despite their affordable price, they even support multi-device pairing, so you can simultaneously stay connected to your PC and smartphone, but you don't have ANC.
If you want noise cancelling on-ear headphones, the JBL Live 460NC Wireless are a solid option. Their ANC is alright at reducing low rumbles, but on-ears generally don't block noise as effectively as over-ear headphones, for instance, so keep that in mind. These cans are built of slightly higher-quality plastic, have Bluetooth or wired connections, and have comprehensive app support. Unlike the Sony, they have a shorter battery life and a higher price tag, though.
If you're looking for even lighter, more portable headphones, the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless are worth considering. Like most earbuds, they have a shorter continuous battery life than the over-ear headphones listed here. That said, their fantastic noise isolation performance rivals the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless. They can effectively reduce bass-range noise like rumbling engines and are even better than the Q30 at blocking out mid-range noise like ambient chatter. They have a good build quality and a decently comfortable, stable fit.
Their default sound profile lacks some low-bass, so genres like EDM will lack thump and rumble. Their neutral high-bass response helps bring warmth and body to your audio. They also work with an app that has an EQ and presets, so you can customize their sound to suit you. They last for around eight hours of continuous use with the ANC on, which is solid for truly wireless earbuds, and you can also top up the battery in the portable case, which holds about four additional charges. The earbuds also support multi-device pairing, meaning you can simultaneously stay connected to your phone and computer.
If you want something with a more neutral sound out of the box with the right amount of boom and a smooth top end, the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Truly Wireless are worth a look. They also have a slightly more stable fit, and their mic system sounds better on phone calls. Although, their ANC and battery are less effective or long-lasting than the Anker buds.
Aug 07, 2024: This article was updated to add the JBL Live 460NC Wireless as an alternative to the Sony WH-CH520 Wireless and to add the JBL Tune 770NC Wireless as a Notable Mention. Otherwise, the intro text has been lightly edited to remain current.
May 13, 2024: We've added the OnePlus Buds 3 Truly Wireless as a Notable Mention for this article as their mic recording quality is better than the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless', but they aren't as well-rounded. Otherwise, we've made no changes to our picks.
Mar 13, 2024: The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Truly Wireless were mentioned in the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless section for their sound and mic quality. Otherwise, we checked this article's picks, and they remain the same with only minor text edits.
Jan 16, 2024: We've made minor changes to the text to ensure accuracy and checked that all our picks are still in stock.
Nov 20, 2023: We've made minor updates to the text to improve its clarity and accuracy. We've also checked that our picks are still in stock. There hasn't been a change in our recommendations, though.
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the top wireless headphones under $100 for most people to buy. 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 would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for Bluetooth-enabled headphones under $100. 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.