Best Noise-Canceling Headphones Under $100 for 2024
Our experts tested noise-canceling headphones to find the best pairs that won't break the bank. Here are our favorites.
Our Experts
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What to consider
How cheap?
Design
Comfort
Durability
Return policy
Our Picks
What are the best budget noise-canceling headphones overall?
Not everyone has a big budget to spend on a good set of noise-canceling headphones. A blessing and a curse is that there are so many options on the market. While this makes it great to have some options and variety, it does make it more difficult to sort through which pairs are worth it. Our stand-out picks include the Edifier 820NB Plus and 1More SonoFlow with a few unique features.
I've tested hundreds of pairs over 20 years of evaluating headphones, and I've used all the models on this list. I'm highlighting only models that cost less than $100 -- one even comes in under $50 -- that have decent sound and performance along with a comfortable fit. If you're looking for the best ANC headphones regardless of price and style, check out our list of the best noise-canceling headphones overall. And we also have a list of the best noise-canceling true wireless earbuds for those looking for earbuds -- there aren't any earbuds on this list. We update all these lists regularly.
Best cheap noise-canceling headphones for 2024
Edifier makes some good-sounding PC speakers and true-wireless earbuds and it's done a nice job with its W820NB noise-canceling headphones, now on their second-gen version, the Edifier W820NB Plus. The first thing you'll notice about them when you put them on is that they're comfortable -- Edifier has upgraded the ear pads with higher-grade memory foam -- and the headphones fit snugly on your head. They also sound good for their price, offering slightly improved audio quality from the originals, thanks to what appear to be upgraded drivers (also, they now support the LDAC audio codec for Android devices). You get a bit more clarity and slightly better bass definition. Their sound didn't necessarily blow me away -- they lack a bit of openness -- but it's very good for what the headphones cost. Like their predecessor, they're pleasant-sounding headphones -- and even a bit more so now.
Other features include an ambient mode that lets outside sound in and a low-latency gaming mode. The noise canceling has been upgraded slightly and they're decent for voice calling. Battery life is pretty impressive with up to 49 hours of battery life on a single charge at moderate volume levels (and noise canceling off).
A couple of things are still missing. There's no carrying case or headphone jack, though you can connect them to your computer with the included USB-C to USB-A cable. But the 820NB Plus headphones are still a good value.
Best performing budget noise-canceling headphones
1More SonoFlow
The design of 1More's SonoFlow headphones reminds me a little of some earlier Sony headphones and also the newer Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 4. They're a bit generic looking but sleek enough and more importantly, comfortable to wear. They also feature very respectable sound quality. While it doesn't quite measure up to the sound quality of what'll get with more premium models like the Momentum Wireless 4, it isn't that far off. The SonoFlow headphones deliver smooth sound with good clarity and relatively well-defined bass (they're just not quite as rich or dynamic sounding as those premium models I mentioned). They also have support for the LDAC audio codec.
The noise canceling is a step down from what Sony and Bose models offer but it does a decent job of muffling ambient sound and there is a transparency mode. Voice-calling performance is similarly solid but unspectacular. Note that you can use this in wired mode with the included cable but the noise canceling only works in wireless mode, which is an issue for frequent flyers who like some noise canceling when plugging into an in-flight entertainment system.
Best cheap on-ear noise-canceling
JLab Audio Studio ANC
There aren't too many on-ear noise-canceling headphones. Beats' Solo Pro was one of the best, but it's been discontinued. Meanwhile, these cheap noise-canceling headphones, the JLab Studio ANC, cost a lot less and deliver solid all-around performance for a budget model with decent sound quality, noise canceling and battery life (28 hours with ANC on). While they may not be stellar for making calls, they do work well as a headset -- callers said they could hear me clearly, even with some outside noise around me. A carrying pouch is included.
The Studio ANC headphones are reasonably comfortable for an on-ear model (I prefer over-ear), but those with bigger heads may feel it clamps a little too tightly.
Best noise-canceling headphones for around $90
OneOdio A10
The OneOdio A10s deliver more than you'd expect for their relatively modest price. They're not only built better than you think they would be for around $90 and are pretty comfortable to wear. They have a dual-hinge design and feel sturdy, weighing in at 395 grams. They sound surprisingly decent and have reasonably good noise canceling with a transparency mode (which has a slight audible hiss, however). The headphones also have very good battery life.
No, they're not as comfortable as Bose's and Sony's models (they do feel a tad heavy) and their sound lacks that extra bit of clarity, bass definition and depth that more premium headphones tend to deliver. But they did exceed my expectations and come with a decent carrying case, even if the OneOdio logo splayed across it is a bit garish.
Best value noise-canceling headphones from Anker
Soundcore by Anker Space One
Available in three color options, the Soundcore Space One are Anker's latest noise-canceling headphones. They're a good value for around $100, offering a strong feature set along with good sound quality and performance. They can't quite compete sound-wise with many of the premium noise-canceling models, but you don't feel like you're giving up that much on the sound front to save a good deal of money. They lack a bit of that natural, refined quality you look for in a great set of cans, but the Space One sound respectable, with decent clarity and bass definition and measure up well to the more expensive Soundcore Space 45.
Noise-canceling and voice-calling performance are also good for headphones in this price range, though the transparency mode is only OK. Anker has developed a version of Sony's Speak-to-Chat feature -- Anker calls it Easy Chat -- that automatically pauses your music and enters a transparency mode when you walk up to someone and start a conversation. The headphones are equipped with wear-detection sensors, a feature not usually found at this price, and include a carrying pouch. LDAC audio codec support is available for Android users.
I found them comfortable to wear, but they do look a bit bulky compared to more premium models.
Best value feature-packed headphones from Anker
Anker Soundcore Life Q30
As far as sound, comfort level and build quality go, you'd be hard-pressed to do better than Anker's Soundcore Life Q30 for the money. It doesn't have quite the clarity or bass definition as some of the top premium models, but it's less than a third of the price and gets you about 75% of the way there in terms of sound. It's well balanced overall, with punchy bass, and there's an app that allows you to tweak the sound. Noise canceling is good for the price, though certainly not up to the level of the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones. Battery life is rated at an impressive 40 hours with USB-C charging.
The only area where the Q30 falls a little short is for voice calls. It picks up your voice fine in quieter environments but it just doesn't reduce background noise all that well.
Compared to the Q20 (see below), the Q30 does offer improved sound (it's not a huge difference, but it definitely is a notch up) and a more premium design. There's also the newer
Best noise-canceling headphones for around $40
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Plus
Anker's Soundcore Life Q20 Plus is among the best values in noise-canceling headphones. Not only do these budget noise-canceling over-ear headphones sound quite decent for around $40, they're also comfortable to wear thanks to their puffy ear pads. Compared to the earlier Life Q20, this Plus model adds app support and USB-C charging (instead of Micro-USB) for $10 more.
No, the Life Q20 Plus doesn't sound nearly as good as premium Bluetooth headphones such as the Sony WH-1000XM5, but the audio quality sounds pretty good, which is all you can ask for noise-canceling headphones at this price. It's fairly well balanced with a reasonable amount of clarity and plump bass that's not bloated or muddy (there's a bass boost or BassUp mode if you want an extra helping of bass with your music). Also, the noise cancelation is acceptably effective at noise reduction and blocking out ambient sound and it's decent enough as a headset for making calls. Battery life is good at 40 hours. A simple carrying pouch is included.
Best budget ANC headphones from JLab
JLab Audio Studio Pro ANC
JLab makes the cheaper Studio Pro headphones, which don't have active noise canceling, and this model, which does. They look very similar.
The lightweight headphones have a bit of a retro vibe, and they're comfortable to wear with decent noise canceling and voice-calling performance. There are two levels of noise canceling to choose from along with a transparency mode and the headphones have multipoint Bluetooth pairing so you can pair them simultaneously with a smartphone and computer.
Like I said about the Studio Pro, don't expect these to deliver the clarity and definition of higher-end headphones, but the bass has some punch to it and there's an acceptable amount of detail. You can choose between three sound modes -- JLab signature sound, balance and bass boost. There's no companion app (so no firmware upgrades).
Other budget noise-canceling headphones we tested
Wyze Noise-Canceling Headphones: Wyze is known for its value security cams, but it also made a pretty decent pair of budget noise-canceling headphones for less than $75. They used to be on this list but have been discontinued.
Factors to consider when buying budget ANC headphones
How cheap?
Budget active noise canceling (ANC) headphones tend to range in price from $50 to $100. The question you'll have to ask yourself is whether you're looking for the cheapest ANC headphones or are willing to spend closer to $100 -- and there usually is a significant difference between a set of ANC cans that cost $40 to $50 and ones that cost $80 to $100, particularly when it comes to build quality.
Design
Budget headphones tend to be a little bulkier than more premium models and can also look and feel a little, well, cheap. All our picks on this list offer a reasonably good design (at a minimum), but some are more appealing than others. Finding a design that's appealing to you is obviously important.
Fit, aka comfort
It's key that the headphones you buy fit your head well. They should offer a comfortable fit that's snug, yet not too snug. Ideally, you want headphones you can wear over the course of a day with minimal breaks. Budget headphones can offer a comfortable fit, but more premium headphones tend to feature better memory foam and more ergonomic designs.
Durability
You want headphones that hold up well over time, so look for models that we note have sturdy build quality.
Maximize performance and features for your budget
You want the best-sounding headphones with the best noise canceling, call quality and features for whatever you're able to spend.
Return policy
It's critical to buy your headphones at a retailer that has a good return policy, in case you have buyer's remorse. Some people who are having trouble deciding between two models sometimes buy both, try them out for a few days, and then return one.
How we test wireless headphones
We test wireless headphones based on six key criteria: design, sound quality, noise-canceling performance, voice-calling performance, features and value.
- Design: We assess not only how comfortably the headphones fit (their ergonomics) but also their build quality and how well the controls are implemented. With wireless headphones and earbuds, we'll note if they're water-resistant, but only a few full-size headphones have water- and dust-resistance ratings.
- Sound quality: We evaluate sound quality by listening to a set playlist of music tracks and comparing headphones to top competing products in their price range. Sonic traits such as bass definition, clarity, dynamic range and how natural the headphones sound are key factors in our assessment.
- Noise-canceling performance: If the headphones we're testing feature active noise canceling, we evaluate ANC performance by wearing the headphones in the same spot indoors near a noisy HVAC unit to see how well they do at muffling lower frequencies. Then we head out onto city streets to test the headphones in a real-world environment where we see how they do at muffling not only street noise but also people's voices.
- Extra features: Some great-sounding headphones and earbuds aren't loaded with features, but we do take into account what extra features are on board. These include everything from quick-access awareness to transparency modes (your music pauses and the headphones open up to the outside world so you can have a conversation) to special sound modes to ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off your ears. We also take a look at the companion app for the headphones if there is one and how user-friendly it is.
- Voice-calling: When we test voice-calling performance, we make calls on noisy city streets and evaluate how well the headphones or earbuds reduce background noise and how clearly callers can hear our voice.
- Value: We determine value after considering the strength of the headphones against all these criteria and what they're able to deliver compared with other models in their price class.