A pair of cheap earbuds is a compact alternative to over-the-ear headphones , but let’s be clear, just because these earbuds are affordable, it doesn’t mean they skimp on features. Two of the best earbuds we’ve tested are nearly $300 — Apple AirPods Pro costs $249.95, and Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds come in at $299 — but we’ve found models for even less. You don’t need to spend $300 on a pair of great earbuds; in fact, you don’t even need to spend $100. Among all the earbuds we’ve tested, which is an extensive list , these are the best budget earbuds. What’s considered budget? Budget is a relative term, so for this list, we’re looking at earbuds under $200, but mostly under $100. Our top pick is the EarFun Air Pro 4, which have a list price of $79.99, and have the noise cancellation of a much more expensive pair of earbuds. Going the budget route might mean making compromises, but not sacrifices. For under $100, you can still get active noise cancellation and self-charging cases. We do include a couple of models closer to $200, which we get isn’t exactly everyone’s idea of budget-friendly. For those models, the Bose QuietComfort earbuds and the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC, we consider them budget pairs, relatively speaking. Compared to premium options, the Bose QC earbuds offer an awfully similar experience for significantly cheaper. In the case of Apple, AirPods’ entire line runs at higher price points than most of the consumer audio market. That’s why we recommend the AirPods 4 both with and without ANC for folks who want to stay in the Apple ecosystem, enjoy AirPods’ quality sound, but aren’t quite ready to make the jump to the Pros. Currently testing Another pair of earbuds that are currently in consideration for this list are the CMF Buds 2. We’re currently testing these earbuds and will update this guide once complete. Other models we’ve tested The models on this list are pulled from our extensive testing here at Mashable. Our previous top pick on this list was the Apple AirPods 3; however, the AirPods 4 have replaced them, making them more expensive, and they also lack great Android compatibility. Another pair of headphones we considered for this list were the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds with sound by Bose. We tested these buds , and while they’re pretty good for $100, they have a bad case design and just aren’t that comfortable compared to other models on this list — plus, the $100 introductory price went up to $129.99.