Open-Ear Earbuds · The rankings
Best open-ear earbuds under $100: the ones with a real sweat rating
Cheap open-ears are everywhere. Cheap open-ears with a published IP rating from a maker you can name are not. These seven are, at list prices under $100 on the maker's own store when we checked.
By Mike M.Updated Spec-checked, not worn by us
#adReader-supported: we may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never decides a ranking. How we rank · Disclosure
Quick picks
The rankings at a glance
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Baseus Bowie MC2 IP67, 5.1 g, 11.5 to 13 hours per charge and 55 to 60 with the case, Bluetooth 6.0 with multipoint and LDAC. On paper the best-rated budget clip-on by a distance. | Best overall under $100Open-ear clip-on | 8.6 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 2 |  Soundcore V20i The cheapest open-ear hook worth naming: IP55, four adjustable positions, 8 hours per charge, 16 mm drivers, multipoint. It's a budget set with a real sweat rating. | Best ear-hook under $100Open-ear hook | 7.7 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 3 | JLab JBuds Open Sport 2 IP55, Bluetooth 6.0 with three-device multipoint and 45 hours total for about the price of a gym month. The cheapest sport hook that still carries a jet-spray sweat rating. | Cheapest IP55 hookOpen-ear hook | 7.6 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 4 |  Creative Outlier Free Pro IPX8, 10 hours, 8 GB of onboard MP3 storage and Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint for well under $100. The budget bone conduction set that can also swim. | Best bone conduction under $100Bone conduction (neckband) | 8.3 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 5 | Mojawa Run Plus IP68, 29.6 g, 32 GB of storage and a 5-minute quick charge in the under-$100 band. A swim-capable neckband that undercuts Shokz on paper. | Best swim-capableBone conduction (neckband) | 8.2 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 6 | Shokz OpenMove The cheapest way into Shokz: IP55, 29 g, 6 hours, USB-C. You give up quick charge and two generations of driver, but the neckband fit is the same idea. | Cheapest ShokzBone conduction (neckband) | 7.4 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 7 | JLab Flex Open Earbuds A clip-on cuff with IP55, multipoint and 21-plus hours total for the price of a takeout order. The budget answer if you want the cuff style without the Bose bill. | Cheapest clip-onOpen-ear clip-on | 7.2 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
#ad · Prices are set by Amazon and change often, so we don't print them. Scores are ours, built from published specs and cited independent reviews, not our own wear tests. Photos are illustrative stock. Tap a row for the full write-up.
The one rule for cheap open-ears
Below $100 the open-ear category fills up with pairs that have no maker website, no published IP rating and a name that changes every season. We didn't list any of them. Every pick here has a product page on its maker's own site with an IP rating on it, and that page is linked from every spec. That rule alone removed most of what Amazon shows for this search.
Prices are not printed on this site because Amazon changes them daily. “Under $100” here means the maker's own list price was under $100 when we read it on September 21, 2026. Check the current Amazon price through the button; it may be lower, and occasionally higher.
The table
| Evidence | Baseus Bowie MC2 | Soundcore V20i | JLab JBuds Open Sport 2 | Creative Outlier Free Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fit system | Open-ear clip-on | Open-ear hook | Open-ear hook | Bone conduction (neckband) |
| Water & sweat rating | IP67 | IP55 | IP55 | IPX8 (Creative: run, cycle and even swim) |
| Weight | About 5.1 g per earbud; about 52 g with case | — | — | 31.5 g / 1.11 oz |
| Battery | About 11.5 h (bass boost on) or 13 h (off) per charge; 55 to 60 h with case | 8 hours; 36 hours with case | 45 hours total with case | Up to 10 hours per charge |
| Bluetooth | 6.0; 38 ms low-latency mode | — | 6.0 | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | Yes | Yes | Multipoint-3 (up to three devices) | Yes |
| Score | 8.6/10 | 7.7/10 | 7.6/10 | 8.3/10 |
| Evidence | Mojawa Run Plus | Shokz OpenMove | JLab Flex Open Earbuds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fit system | Bone conduction (neckband) | Bone conduction (neckband) | Open-ear clip-on |
| Water & sweat rating | IP68 (fully submersible) | IP55 | IP55 |
| Weight | 29.6 g | 29 g | 12 g for the pair (about 6 g per earbud); case 36.8 g |
| Battery | 8 hours; standby up to 10 days | 6 hours listening | 21+ hours total with case |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.4 |
| Score | 8.2/10 | 7.4/10 | 7.2/10 |
What you give up under $100
- Buttons. Every hook and clip on this list is touch-controlled. Wet fingers will misfire them. The two bone conduction picks and the OpenMove use buttons.
- Dual drivers. Budget open-ears are single-driver, and open-ear bass is thin to begin with. The Baseus and V20i have larger drivers (11 and 16 mm); the Baseus adds LDAC.
- Published detail. Soundcore doesn't list the V20i's weight or Bluetooth version; JLab hasn't published per-bud battery for the JBuds Open Sport 2. A dash in our table means exactly that.
- Track record. Baseus and Mojawa have fewer independent reviews than Shokz. We only cite their own spec pages for them, and say so.
In detail
The picks, in full
Rank 1
Stock photoBest overall under $100
Baseus Bowie MC2
IP67, 5.1 g, 11.5 to 13 hours per charge and 55 to 60 with the case, Bluetooth 6.0 with multipoint and LDAC. On paper the best-rated budget clip-on by a distance.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Open-ear clip-on. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IP67 |
| Weight | About 5.1 g per earbud; about 52 g with case |
| Battery | About 11.5 h (bass boost on) or 13 h (off) per charge; 55 to 60 h with case |
| Bluetooth | 6.0; 38 ms low-latency mode |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | 4-mic AI call clarity |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Driver / tech | 11 mm dynamic, 20 Hz to 40 kHz |
| Extras | Detachable air cushions in M/L/XL |
How the 8.6 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 8
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 10
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 9
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 7
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 7
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 10
- Value (5%)
- 10
What the spec sheet supports
- IP67 at a budget price: the best water rating of any clip-on here
- Lightest clip-on at 5.1 g
- Battery figures nobody else in the category matches
- Three cushion sizes for fit
Where it falls short
- Less brand track record and fewer independent reviews than Bose, Shokz or Soundcore
- Baseus's battery figures are at 50% volume
Skip this if…
…you want a known name with a long warranty history; Shokz and Bose cost more for that reason.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Baseus Bowie MC2
Rank 2
Stock photoBest ear-hook under $100
Soundcore V20i
The cheapest open-ear hook worth naming: IP55, four adjustable positions, 8 hours per charge, 16 mm drivers, multipoint. It's a budget set with a real sweat rating.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Open-ear hook. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IP55 |
| Battery | 8 hours; 36 hours with case |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 1 hour |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | 4 mics with AI algorithm |
| Controls | Touch control |
| Driver / tech | 16 mm drivers with titanium-coated domes |
| Extras | Four adjustable hook positions |
How the 7.7 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 8
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 8
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 9
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 6
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 6
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 7
- Value (5%)
- 10
What the spec sheet supports
- IP55 at a fraction of the Shokz price
- Adjustable hook, the same idea as the AeroFit 2
- Multipoint and four mics at this price is unusual
Where it falls short
- Soundcore doesn't publish weight or Bluetooth version on the product page
- 10-minute charge only buys an hour
- Touch controls
Skip this if…
…sound matters; single-driver budget open-ears are thin, and the JLab Epic Open Sport adds LDAC for a bit more.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Soundcore V20i
Rank 3
Stock photoCheapest IP55 hook
JLab JBuds Open Sport 2
IP55, Bluetooth 6.0 with three-device multipoint and 45 hours total for about the price of a gym month. The cheapest sport hook that still carries a jet-spray sweat rating.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Open-ear hook. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IP55 |
| Battery | 45 hours total with case |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 |
| Multipoint | Multipoint-3 (up to three devices) |
| Extras | Sport ear hooks; JLab 2-year warranty |
How the 7.6 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 8
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 8
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 9
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 5
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 6
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 8
- Value (5%)
- 10
What the spec sheet supports
- IP55 at the lowest price on this site for an open-ear
- Three-device multipoint on Bluetooth 6.0
- 45 hours total
Where it falls short
- JLab hasn't published per-earbud battery, weight or driver size for this model yet
- Budget single-driver sound
Skip this if…
…you want a published spec sheet before you buy; JLab's Epic Open Sport has one, and LDAC.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to JLab JBuds Open Sport 2
Rank 4
Stock photoBest bone conduction under $100
Creative Outlier Free Pro
IPX8, 10 hours, 8 GB of onboard MP3 storage and Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint for well under $100. The budget bone conduction set that can also swim.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Bone conduction (neckband). Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IPX8 (Creative: run, cycle and even swim) |
| Weight | 31.5 g / 1.11 oz |
| Battery | Up to 10 hours per charge |
| Charging | Magnetic charging cable |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Storage | 8 GB built-in memory |
| Extras | Silicone and titanium memory alloy frame; plug-in microphone for underwater use |
How the 8.3 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 9
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 10
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 10
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 4
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 6
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 8
- Value (5%)
- 10
What the spec sheet supports
- IPX8 at a budget price: the cheapest set here you can take in the pool
- 10 hours beats the Shokz OpenMove by four
- 8 GB MP3 player for swimming or phone-free runs
Where it falls short
- Heavier than the Shokz OpenRun models at 31.5 g
- No dust rating (the X in IPX8 means dust wasn't tested)
- Magnetic charging cable rather than USB-C
Skip this if…
…you want the best sound at this price; bone conduction bass is thin across the board and the sealed JLab Go Sport+ sounds fuller for less.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Creative Outlier Free Pro
Rank 5
Stock photoBest swim-capable
Mojawa Run Plus
IP68, 29.6 g, 32 GB of storage and a 5-minute quick charge in the under-$100 band. A swim-capable neckband that undercuts Shokz on paper.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Bone conduction (neckband). Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IP68 (fully submersible) |
| Weight | 29.6 g |
| Battery | 8 hours; standby up to 10 days |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 90 min |
| Charging | Magnetic induction, 1 hour to full |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Storage | 32 GB built-in |
| Extras | Full titanium construction |
How the 8.2 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 9
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 10
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 10
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 4
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 6
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 8
- Value (5%)
- 9
What the spec sheet supports
- IP68 and 32 GB at a price the Shokz OpenSwim Pro doesn't approach
- Lighter than the Creative and close to the Shokz OpenRun
- Quick charge, which the Shokz OpenMove lacks
Where it falls short
- 8 hours is two short of the Creative Outlier Free Pro
- Magnetic charging cable
- Fewer independent reviews than Shokz; we cite only Mojawa's own specs
Skip this if…
…you want the brand with the deepest review record and the widest accessory support; Shokz has both.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Mojawa Run Plus
Rank 6
Stock photoCheapest Shokz
Shokz OpenMove
The cheapest way into Shokz: IP55, 29 g, 6 hours, USB-C. You give up quick charge and two generations of driver, but the neckband fit is the same idea.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Bone conduction (neckband). Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IP55 |
| Weight | 29 g |
| Battery | 6 hours listening |
| Quick charge | None |
| Charging | USB-C, 2 hours to full |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | Dual noise-canceling |
| Controls | Physical buttons |
| Driver / tech | 7th-gen bone conduction (PremiumPitch 2.0) |
| Launched | September 2020 |
How the 7.4 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 9
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 8
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 10
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 4
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 6
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 4
- Value (5%)
- 8
What the spec sheet supports
- Under $100 at Shokz's own list price, so the cheapest entry to the brand
- IP55 covers sweat and rain
- USB-C charging, no proprietary cable
Where it falls short
- 6 hours of battery and no quick charge
- Older 7th-gen driver: the thinnest sound of the Shokz neckbands
- Heavier than the OpenRun models despite the lower price
Skip this if…
…you run long or forget to charge: six hours with no quick charge is the deal-breaker. The Creative Outlier Free Pro costs less and lasts longer.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Shokz OpenMove
Rank 7
Stock photoCheapest clip-on
JLab Flex Open Earbuds
A clip-on cuff with IP55, multipoint and 21-plus hours total for the price of a takeout order. The budget answer if you want the cuff style without the Bose bill.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Open-ear clip-on. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IP55 |
| Weight | 12 g for the pair (about 6 g per earbud); case 36.8 g |
| Battery | 21+ hours total with case |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | 2-mic ENC |
| Controls | Touch |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Driver / tech | 12 mm dynamic driver |
How the 7.2 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 7
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 8
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 9
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 6
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 6
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 5
- Value (5%)
- 10
What the spec sheet supports
- IP55 on a budget cuff
- Multipoint and Google Fast Pair
- About 6 g per side
Where it falls short
- 21 hours total is the lowest here
- JLab doesn't publish per-earbud playtime for this model
- SBC/AAC only
Skip this if…
…you need all-day battery; the Baseus Bowie MC2 more than doubles it for a little more.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to JLab Flex Open Earbuds
Buyer's guide: spending under $100 well
Clip or hook or neckband?
Clip (Baseus, JLab Flex) if you wear glasses or want the lightest thing possible. Hook (V20i, JBuds Open Sport 2) if you jump and land. Neckband (Creative, Mojawa, OpenMove) if you want the most secure fit and the highest water ratings, and can live with bone-conduction sound. The decision page is open-ear vs bone conduction.
Battery per charge, not total
Makers headline the total with the case (45 hours! 60 hours!). The number that matters is per charge, because you won't stop mid-run to re-case them. Baseus (11.5 to 13 h), Creative (10 h) and Mojawa (8 h) publish it; JLab's Open Sport 2 doesn't yet.
When to spend more
If you want buttons, a wind rating for calls, or a brand with a deep review record, the step up is the Shokz OpenFit Air 2 or Soundcore AeroFit 2 in the main list.
How we scored this
Pairs we claim to have worn: none we haven't
Plenty of sites say they ran a hundred miles in every pair on the list. We don't say that, and we say so on every page. What we do instead: classify the retention system (hook, clip, wing, neckband), record the maker's published IP rating, weight, battery, charging, mic and control type from its own product page, cross-reference at least one independent published review where one exists, and score every pick on a public rubric. Every figure links to where it came from.
Scores are editorial judgments from that documented research, not lab results. Commissions never set a score or decide a pick. The rubric and its weights are published.
Corrections & updates
- First edition.
Questions
Frequently asked
Are cheap open-ear earbuds any good?
What is the best open-ear earbud under $50?
Is the Shokz OpenMove worth it?
Keep reading
Related on Openear Club
Receipts
Sources
- Baseus — Bowie MC2 product page, specifications (checked 2026-09-21)
- Soundcore — V20i product page (checked 2026-09-21)
- JLab — JBuds Open Sport 2 product page (checked 2026-09-21)
- Creative — Outlier Free Pro product page, specifications (checked 2026-09-21)
- Mojawa — Run Plus product page, specifications (checked 2026-09-21)
- Shokz — official product comparison table (checked 2026-09-21)
- JLab — Flex Open Earbuds product page, tech specs (checked 2026-09-21)
We haven't worn every pair on this site and we don't pretend to. Specs come from the maker's own product pages (linked on every product), independent findings are attributed to whoever published them, and Amazon prices change often, so we don't print them. Where a figure isn't published, we say so. Read the full method.