Best Bluetooth speakers under $100

You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a great Bluetooth speaker, so we’ve rounded up what we believe are some of the best Bluetooth speakers under $100 to help save you money. So whether you’re looking to pick up a speaker to listen to music, play your favorite podcasts by the pool, or stream music from your phone, there are plenty of great affordable options available.

Our top pick as the best overall Bluetooth speaker on a budget is the Tribit XSound Mega for its excellent sound quality and fun bonus features. If you’re looking for a specific form factor, keep reading. We’ve rounded up tip-top choices in every category.

At a glance

Best overall

With the Tribit XSound Mega, you get one of the best speakers to take with you to a party. A ring of lights surrounds the 30W bass-heavy drivers, which can be synced to provide a pretty awesome experience. Tribit also knows that you might not always be taking this with you to a party, so there’s a hardware button on the top to switch between the three different EQ modes. If you want even further customization, you can play around with the in-app equalizer.

Battery life is the name of the game here, and Tribit’s latest speaker doesn’t disappoint. Thanks to the 8,000mAh battery, you’ll get up to 20 hours of music on a single charge while also taking advantage of fast charging via either the USB-C or USB-A port on the back. But the XSound Mega takes things a step further as it also doubles as a portable charger to keep your phone topped up.

Despite its design, the XSound Mega is not actually a speaker that offers 360 degrees of sound. That’s something that many might be looking for in an outdoor speaker, but you still won’t be disappointed if you pick one of these up. It may be slightly heavy, but you get comfy shoulder straps in the box to take care of that problem. You also get an AUX cable if you want to use the speaker’s 3.5mm audio port and a Type-C charging cable.

The Tribit XSound Mega has no business sounding this good, which is why it is our top pick for speakers in the sub-$100 price bracket.

Best floatable

The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 previously held the title of best Bluetooth speaker under $100, but it has since been supplanted by its successor. The WONDERBOOM 3 still features IP67 water resistance, and astonishingly great sound quality, but also adds 14 hours of battery life. The speaker also has multi-directional sound, and you can even pair two speakers together to create a stereo effect (although you can only pair it with other WONDERBOOM speakers).

The versatility here makes the WONDERBOOM 3 stand out from the pack. You can take it to the pool without worrying about water getting into the innards as long as the micro-USB port is covered, and you can even submerge it in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes without any issues. Since this little oval of joy floats, you won’t have to worry about submersion.

The design is rugged enough — it’s rated to withstand tumbles from five feet — so you don’t have to worry about long-term durability issues. While the WONDERBOOM 2 and WONDERBOOM 3 look strikingly similar, the latter is now made from a “two-tone fabric” comprising more than 30% recycled plastic. All of this was done without making sacrifices to the durability and water resistance rating.

The UE WONDERBOOM 3 used to be our top pick for budget Bluetooth speakers, but we just can’t get over the severely outdated micro-USB port. That combined with the lack of an EQ gives the Tribit XSound Mega an edge over the WONDERBOOM 3. Still, this is the best portable sound solution if you want an affordable speaker.

Best small

It’s not the most powerful speaker you can find for the price, but the JBL Clip 5 makes up for it with its excellent portability. The carabiner built into the top makes this the perfect speaker to grab on your way out the door. Since you don’t need a special pocket or worry about tying the speaker to your bag, the Clip 5 is one of the most versatile Bluetooth speakers you can get. For example, a construction worker can clip it to their toolbelt throughout the week or to their backpack for a hike on the weekend.

The battery life is pretty decent at up to 12 hours, although it’s worth keeping in mind that playing it a full blast makes that more like six to seven hours. On top of that, you can use the Playtime Boost feature to add three more hours of playtime. Luckily, it’s equipped with USB-C, so if you have a battery pack for your Android phone, you can also use it to keep the music going.

When it comes to sound quality, the JBL Clip 5 is impressive for its size but won’t match the above WONDERBOOM 3 when it comes to bass. Even so, the sound from the 10W speaker is rich and clear enough to enjoy the music. This speaker is also available in multiple colors, so if you want to buy a couple, you don’t get them mixed up.

Best hi-res

Soundcore is an Anker brand, but it has its own identity with its Soundcore Bluetooth headphones and speakers. The Motion 300 speaker has two drivers capable of up to 30W of power, which is plenty to fill a room or even for outdoor listening. There’s a focus on bass with a BassUp option to help the bass pop a bit more. This is helped by the speaker’s support for LDAC, a high-resolution Bluetooth audio codec.

Physically, the speaker is built well with rubbery silicone bumpers on the edges to protect the speaker if dropped. It’s also IPX7-rated for water resistance, making it a good pick for the beach, pool, or boat. Just be sure that the USB-C charging port is covered before taking it around water.

There’s a strap on one end that makes it easy to attach to something like a backpack for hikers or bikers. As a PC Mag review pointed out, the bass can sound too thin when this speaker is run at max volume, but that’s the reality of driving bass with a speaker this small. If you need more power, though, you can pair two of these speakers together for double the power.

Best boombox

Tronsmart makes some of the most durable and fun-looking portable Bluetooth speakers on the market today, including this “special edition” version of the Tronsmart Bang. Right off the bat, the Tronsmart Bang SE speaker provides 40W of sound. It’s also water resistant thanks to the IPX6 rating, and Tronsmart has cleverly added a handle to help you carry this heavy speaker.

This is one of the few speakers under $100 that includes Bluetooth 5.3, which provides a faster and more reliable connection. To help get the party going, there are three different customizable LED modes that you can tinker with. The speaker can double as a power bank in a pinch and you get up to a stunning 24 hours of playback out of it.

You can also go so far as to pair two Tronsmart Bang SE speakers together if you’re looking to fill the room with your favorite playlist. And unlike some of the other speakers on this list, you can finally ditch the micro-USB cable, thanks to the USB-C charging port found on the back.

Best soundbar

If you’re looking for a sleek and elegant audio solution for your TV or PC setup, look no further than the Edifier MF200 soundbar. The speaker offers outstanding sound from a relatively modest package, all thanks to the audio tuning from Edifier. You get a premium aluminum build with touch controls, which is incredible considering the price tag.

Sure, it doesn’t have an IP rating for water and dust resistance, but you’ve got to keep in mind that this thing isn’t meant for the outdoors. Edifier designed this good-looking Bluetooth speaker to be an extension of your laptop, Chromebook, television, or PC. You can connect your phone or computer to the Edifier MF200 via Bluetooth or use an AUX cable instead.

You won’t get booming bass from this cheap soundbar, and there’s no companion app with an EQ either. Nonetheless, it is a versatile audio accessory for home and office use that doesn’t break the bank.

How to choose

There are plenty of great picks to choose in the sub-$100 segment

Ultimately, choosing the right Bluetooth speaker comes down to what you’re looking for. There’s no shortage of great products in this category, and it is up to you to decide if you want the latest connectivity specs, robust water resistance, or the best sound quality. Think of your use case when making your decision. For instance, a boombox definitely isn’t going to be a wise choice if you’re planning on taking your Bluetooth speaker with you on hikes or runs.

If we had to choose one as the best overall Bluetooth speaker under $100, it would be the Tribit XSound Mega. This speaker is a fantastic option for listening in the shower or at the pool, and the sound quality, combined with the funky lights and shoulder straps, makes it the best choice in the affordable Bluetooth space. But if you’re looking for an even cheaper option, you can always consider the best Bluetooth speakers under $50.