7 Best Noise-Cancelling Earbuds Under $100 for Students (2026 Tested)
My roommate freshman year practiced his trombone at 8 AM. Not occasionally. Every. Single. Morning. And our dorm walls were basically cardboard with paint on them.
That's when I discovered that cheap noise-cancelling earbuds aren't just nice to have—they're straight-up essential for surviving college. The thing is, most "budget ANC earbuds" lists are either written by people who've never actually used them in a noisy dorm, or they're recommending stuff that costs way more than broke college students can afford.
I've tested like 15 different pairs of budget ANC earbuds over the past two years. Some while studying in the loudest Starbucks you've ever seen. Some in my dorm during what I'm pretty sure was an illegal party next door. Some in the library during finals week when everyone's "whispering" at full volume.
Here's what actually works when you need to block out noise but you've got maybe $50-100 to spend. No BS, no "technically under $100" options that cost $99.99, just honest picks that'll help you actually focus.
⚡If You're in a Hurry
Best overall under $100: EarFun Air Pro 4 ($50-75) – crazy good ANC, sounds way more expensive than it is
Best for super tight budgets: JLab Go Pods ANC ($25-35) – shockingly decent for the price, perfect backup pair
Best battery life: Soundcore Liberty 4 NC ($55-65) – lasts forever, solid ANC
Best if you have an Android phone: Nothing Ear (a) ($80-100) – unique design, great ANC, awesome app
ANC vs Passive Noise Isolation: What's the Real Difference?
🎧 Let Me Break This Down Without the Tech Jargon
Okay so everyone talks about "noise-cancelling earbuds" like it's all the same thing. It's not, and understanding the difference will save you from wasting money.
Passive noise isolation is just... physics. You stick something in your ear (the earbud), and it physically blocks sound from getting in. Like sticking your fingers in your ears, but less weird-looking. Every earbud does this to some extent just by existing in your ear.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is the high-tech stuff. Your earbuds have tiny microphones that listen to the noise around you, then they play the exact opposite sound wave through your earbuds to cancel it out. It's like if someone's talking and you talk back at them with the exact opposite voice—they both disappear. (Don't actually try this in real life, people will think you're weird.)
Here's what you actually need to know for studying:
- ANC is amazing for: Constant background noise like AC units, traffic, that annoying hum in coffee shops, dorm hallway noise, library HVAC systems
- ANC is pretty good for: People talking, music from other rooms, keyboard typing, general chatter
- ANC kinda sucks for: Sudden loud noises like doors slamming, someone dropping books, your neighbor's bass-boosted music (it'll reduce it but not eliminate it)
- Passive isolation helps with everything, especially high-pitched sounds that ANC misses
The best budget earbuds use both—good ear tip seal (passive) plus decent ANC (active) = you can actually study in peace.
Pro tip: You don't need music playing for ANC to work. I study in complete silence all the time—just earbuds in, ANC on, no audio. It's honestly life-changing when you discover this.
What Actually Matters in Budget ANC Earbuds
Before I start recommending specific earbuds, let me save you from the mistakes I made when I started researching these.
Not all ANC is created equal. Some cheap earbuds have "ANC" that basically does nothing. Like, technically it's there, but you can't tell the difference. Good budget ANC should noticeably reduce background noise—you should feel the difference when you toggle it on and off.
Fit is everything. If the earbuds don't seal properly in your ears, even the best ANC won't help. Look for multiple ear tip sizes. Try them all. The right fit makes a massive difference.
Battery life needs to survive a study session. Minimum 5-6 hours per charge, ideally more. You will forget to charge the case. Get something that won't die during a marathon study day.
Comfort for long sessions. Can you wear these for 3+ hours without your ears hurting? If not, move on. Studying already sucks, don't make it worse with uncomfortable earbuds.
Alright, here are the actual earbuds.
1. EarFun Air Pro 4
EarFun Air Pro 4 - Best overall value under $100
These are my top pick for most students, and I'm not just saying that because they sound good on paper. I actually use these regularly when I'm at coffee shops.
The ANC on the Air Pro 4 is legitimately impressive for $50-75. Like, I was skeptical until I tried them. They block out most coffee shop noise, dorm hallway conversations, and that constant low hum you get in libraries. Not perfect—nothing under $100 is—but way better than they have any right to be at this price.
Battery life is nuts. I got like 8-9 hours on a single charge with ANC on, and the case gives you another 40+ hours. That's basically a whole week without charging for normal use.
Sound quality is really good too. They support fancy codecs like LDAC and aptX if you're into that, but honestly they just sound clear and balanced even if you don't know what those mean. Bass is present without being obnoxious, mids are clean, and they don't sound tinny like a lot of cheap earbuds.
The app is actually useful—you can adjust ANC levels, mess with EQ, customize controls. Most budget earbud apps are trash, but this one's solid.
Comfort is good for long sessions. I've worn them for 4-5 hours straight studying and my ears didn't hurt.
🏆 Best budget ANC earbuds for college students
Check Today's Price on Amazon →✅ Pros:
- ANC is shockingly good for the price
- Insane battery life (50+ hours total)
- Sound quality rivals $150+ earbuds
- Actually useful app with customization
- Comfortable for hours
- Multiple ANC modes
❌ Cons:
- Case is kinda bulky
- Touch controls can be oversensitive
- Not the best for phone calls
- Design is pretty basic
2. JLab Go Pods ANC
JLab Go Pods ANC - Best ultra-budget option
Okay, real talk—I didn't expect these to be good. They're usually like $35. How could $35 earbuds with ANC possibly not suck?
But they... don't suck? They're actually pretty decent?
The ANC isn't gonna compete with $100+ earbuds, but it definitely works. It's like the difference between studying in a quiet room vs. a silent room. Not magical, but helpful. Cuts down coffee shop chatter and dorm noise enough that you can focus.
Sound quality is fine. Not amazing, but totally acceptable for podcasts, lectures, and background music while studying. Bass is a bit weak, but that's fine for studying anyway—you don't need thumping bass to read textbooks.
Battery life is solid—about 5-6 hours with ANC on. Not the best on this list, but workable.
The real benefit? These are so cheap you can treat them as a backup pair or lend them to friends without worrying. Lost an earbud? Sucks, but it's $35, not $200.
They're also stupid small and light. Easy to throw in any pocket.
💰 Best deal for broke students: Can't beat this price for actual working ANC → Grab them on Amazon
✅ Pros:
- Insanely cheap for working ANC
- Perfect as backup earbuds
- Small and portable
- Decent battery life
- Good enough for studying
❌ Cons:
- ANC is basic (but it works)
- Sound quality is just okay
- Build feels cheap (because it is)
- Case is small but flimsy
- No app support
3. Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC - Battery life champion
If battery anxiety is real for you (it is for me), these are your answer. The Liberty 4 NC has the best battery life I've tested in budget ANC earbuds.
We're talking 10 hours per charge with ANC on. TEN. And the case holds like 40+ more hours. I literally went a week and a half without charging these during finals. Just kept using them, and they kept going.
ANC is really good. Soundcore (made by Anker) has been doing this for a while and they know what they're doing. It's got adaptive ANC that automatically adjusts based on your environment, which actually works unlike some gimmicky implementations.
Sound quality is solid—maybe not quite as good as the EarFun Air Pro 4, but still way better than most budget options. The app has a good EQ if you want to tweak things.
They're comfortable too, with these oval-shaped ear tips that fit really well. I can wear them for hours without discomfort.
The case is a bit bulky, which is annoying, but I'll take that tradeoff for the battery life.
🔋 Longest battery life in budget ANC earbuds
See Current Amazon Price →✅ Pros:
- Incredible battery life (50+ hours total)
- Strong adaptive ANC
- Good sound quality
- Comfortable oval ear tips
- Useful app with EQ
- Multipoint connection
❌ Cons:
- Case is bulky
- More expensive (closer to $100)
- Touch controls are finicky
- Transparency mode is just okay
4. Nothing Ear (a)
Nothing Ear (a) - Best for Android users
These look cool. Like genuinely cool. The transparent design actually matters if you care about that stuff (I kinda do).
But more importantly, they sound good and the ANC works well. Nothing has been making surprisingly solid products for a relatively new company, and these are no exception.
ANC is strong—definitely in the top tier of budget options. Blocks out most background noise effectively. The transparency mode is really good too, which is nice when you need to hear announcements or talk to someone briefly.
If you have an Android phone, these are extra appealing. The app is really well-designed (way better than most), and you get features like ChatGPT integration if you're into that. On iPhone they still work fine, you just lose some app features.
Sound quality is great—balanced, clear, good bass without being overwhelming. They sound more expensive than they are.
Battery life is decent, about 5-6 hours with ANC on. Not the best on this list, but acceptable.
Comfort is good. They're light and fit well, though the fit depends on getting the right ear tip size.
🎨 Style + substance: Great ANC in a unique package → Check Amazon pricing
✅ Pros:
- Unique, cool-looking design
- Strong ANC performance
- Excellent app (especially on Android)
- Good sound quality
- Great transparency mode
- ChatGPT integration (if you want it)
❌ Cons:
- Battery life is average
- Some app features iOS-only on Android
- Case scratches easily
- Fit isn't perfect for everyone
5. Soundcore Space A40
Soundcore Space A40 - Compact powerhouse
These are like the Liberty 4 NC's smaller sibling. Not quite as feature-packed, but still really solid for the price.
The main selling point? They're tiny. Like, the case is smaller than a pack of gum. Super easy to just throw in any pocket. If you hate bulky earbud cases, these are perfect.
ANC is good—not the absolute best on this list, but definitely effective. Reduces most background noise noticeably. They also have adaptive ANC that adjusts automatically.
Sound quality is solid. Maybe not as impressive as some others here, but totally fine for everyday use. Soundcore's app lets you EQ if you want to tweak it.
Battery life is great—about 10 hours per charge with ANC on, and the tiny case still manages to hold 40+ hours total. How they fit that much battery in such a small case, I don't know.
Comfort is good for most people, though they stick out of your ears a bit more than some options.
📦 Most portable ANC earbuds under $100
Get Them on Amazon →✅ Pros:
- Super compact case
- Great battery life
- Good ANC for size
- Supports LDAC codec
- Comfortable for most people
- Good price-to-performance
❌ Cons:
- Stick out of ears a bit
- ANC not as strong as Liberty 4 NC
- Sound is good but not amazing
- Touch controls are sensitive
6. CMF Buds Pro 2
CMF Buds Pro 2 - Best for calls
CMF is Nothing's budget brand, and these are weirdly good for the price. Like, I was surprised.
The standout feature is call quality. They have six microphones and some AI noise reduction thing that actually works. If you take a lot of calls or do group study sessions over Zoom, these are probably your best bet under $100.
ANC is solid—not the absolute best here, but definitely effective. Does a good job blocking out coffee shop noise and dorm distractions.
Sound quality is really good for $60-70. They sound balanced and clear, with good detail. The app has personalized sound tuning based on a hearing test, which is a cool feature you usually only see on more expensive earbuds.
Battery life is good—about 10 hours per charge with ANC on.
Build quality feels decent. The case has this interesting dial that lets you swap out the color, which is neat if you care about customization.
📞 Best for Zoom calls: Six mics make a real difference → Check it out on Amazon
✅ Pros:
- Excellent call quality (6 mics)
- Good ANC for price
- Personalized sound tuning
- Solid battery life
- Customizable case design
- Great value at $60-70
❌ Cons:
- App is a bit clunky
- ANC not as strong as pricier options
- Case is kinda bulky
- Fit isn't perfect for everyone
7. Skullcandy Method 360 ANC
Skullcandy Method 360 ANC - Best for workouts
These are a bit different from the others on this list—they have ear hooks, which makes them way more secure during movement.
If you like to study at the gym (weird flex but okay) or you walk around campus a lot and want earbuds that won't fall out, these are solid.
The interesting thing about these is Skullcandy partnered with Bose on the sound tuning and drivers. They actually sound really good—balanced, clear, with solid bass that doesn't overwhelm.
ANC is decent. Not the strongest on this list, but it works. The ear hooks provide extra passive isolation which helps.
Battery life is great—about 8 hours per charge, and the case holds another 24 hours.
Comfort is good if you like ear hooks. If you hate them, skip these entirely.
🏃 Best secure-fit ANC earbuds under $100
View on Amazon →✅ Pros:
- Super secure fit (won't fall out)
- Bose-tuned sound quality
- Good for workouts and movement
- Decent battery life
- Tile integration (find lost earbuds)
❌ Cons:
- Ear hooks aren't for everyone
- ANC is weaker than competitors
- Case mechanism feels loose
- Bulkier than non-hook designs
💡 Stuff Nobody Tells You About Budget ANC Earbuds
Amazon prices fluctuate constantly. I've seen some of these go on sale for $20-30 less than usual. Set up price alerts or check during Prime Day, Black Friday, back-to-school sales.
The right ear tip size matters more than anything. Seriously, try all the sizes. A good seal makes cheap ANC work way better. Bad seal = no ANC magic.
Some people get pressure headaches from ANC. It's not common, but it happens. The earbuds create this slight pressure feeling. Most people get used to it. If you don't, turn ANC off or try different earbuds.
Firmware updates can improve ANC. If your earbuds have an app, keep them updated. Companies actually fix bugs and improve ANC through software updates.
You can just use ANC without music. Life-changing discovery: earbuds in, ANC on, no audio playing. Perfect for studying when you need silence.
Wind destroys ANC. Outdoors on windy days, ANC can actually make things worse by amplifying wind noise. Most earbuds have a "wind reduction" mode—use it.
Transparency mode is underrated. Lets you hear your surroundings without removing earbuds. Great in libraries when someone's trying to get your attention.
Save the box. If something breaks within warranty, you'll need it for returns. Also makes reselling easier if you upgrade.
Quick Comparison Table
| Model | Price | ANC Quality | Battery | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EarFun Air Pro 4 | $50-75 | Excellent | 52hrs | Best overall |
| JLab Go Pods ANC | $25-35 | Good | 32hrs | Tightest budget |
| Liberty 4 NC | $55-65 | Very Good | 50hrs | Battery life |
| Nothing Ear (a) | $80-100 | Very Good | 42hrs | Android users |
| Space A40 | $45-55 | Good | 50hrs | Portability |
| CMF Buds Pro 2 | $60-70 | Good | 43hrs | Phone calls |
| Method 360 ANC | $70-100 | Good | 32hrs | Secure fit |
So Which Budget ANC Earbuds Should You Actually Buy?
Look, it depends on what you need and what you can afford. But here's my honest take:
If you can swing $50-75: EarFun Air Pro 4 → Check Amazon Price
If you're genuinely broke: JLab Go Pods ANC → Check Amazon Price
If battery anxiety is real: Soundcore Liberty 4 NC → Check Amazon Price
If you have Android: Nothing Ear (a) → Check Amazon Price
If you want compact: Soundcore Space A40 → Check Amazon Price
If you take lots of calls: CMF Buds Pro 2 → Check Amazon Price
Honestly? Any of these will make studying in noisy environments way more bearable. I survived freshman year without ANC earbuds, but sophomore year with them was SO much better.
You don't need $200 AirPods Pro to block out noise. The EarFun Air Pro 4 at $80 gets you like 90% of the way there. The JLab Go Pods ANC at $35 gets you maybe 70% there, which is still way better than nothing.
Whatever you choose, make sure you:
- Try all the ear tip sizes to get a good seal
- Keep the earbuds updated if they have an app
- Check for sales on Amazon (prices change all the time)
- Save your receipt for warranty stuff
Now go actually study instead of researching earbuds for three hours like I did when I should've been writing a paper. (Worth it though.)
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
