The best Bluetooth speakers under $100 (2024)

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

Bluetooth wireless technology has become a game changer in how we consume audio. We are no longer limited by the available ports in our audio devices or beleaguered by a tangle of RCA and AUX cords.

We can literally carry our speakers with us, and with our smartphones, listen to whatever, whenever. And when we don’t want to spend too much, there are plenty of affordable Bluetooth speakers out there.

There are so many out there, in fact, that it becomes difficult to really pick the best Bluetooth speakers. However, we’ve done the legwork for you, poking through reviews and price variations to find the cream of the crop.

There may still be some contention among fans of certain brands, but having that price constraint does limit things a little bit—but not that much.

Are these the best Bluetooth speakers in existence? Probably not. But they are the best Bluetooth speakers under $100.

Find the best Bluetooth speakers under $100 for you

When choosing the best Bluetooth speaker under $100, there are certain features you’ll want to focus on more than others.

If you’re on a budget, you’re not going to get the best audio quality from your Bluetooth speaker that’s available. However, that doesn’t mean audio shouldn’t be a priority.

Many of the best affordable Bluetooth speakers still output decent audio, but you may have to sacrifice connectivity options, waterproof rating, and so on.

Before choosing the best Bluetooth speaker, decide on what’s important to you. You may find investing a little more money might not put too much of a squeeze on your wallet, but could change the tide of your audio enjoyment.

JBL Flip 5 – Best overall

The JBL Flip 5 isn’t the newest model in the line of JBL Flip speakers, but it is the one that’s under $100. And for that price, you’d expect something to sound cheap, but this speaker doesn’t.

It carries sound better than many much more expensive speakers, and is IP67 waterproof rated to boot.

While it doesn’t have a cover for the charging port, it’s not really intended to be used submerged in water so that’s not a huge deal.

It’s very portable and very lightweight, so you’ll have no problem toting it around wherever you need to go. Since it’s Bluetooth, the JBL Flip 5 will work with pretty much any streaming device.

Sony SRS-XB100 – Best value

While the Sony SRS-XB100 loses its Bluetooth connection when you walk out of range, that’s a small price to pay for a very affordable speaker.

The sound quality is good for what it is, but lacks true depth of sound and strong bass. But it’s a Bluetooth speaker, so that’s hard to come by in this price range anyway.

With its carry strap and IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating, it’s a great speaker for on-the-go listening. Plus, it’s got 16 hours battery life, which is great for any speaker.

Overall, the Sony SRS-XB100 might not be the best Bluetooth speaker out there, but it certainly is one worth the money.

JBL Go 3 – Best budget

The JBL Go 3 is literally the take-it-anywhere Bluetooth speaker. Because it fits in your pocket, purse, or laptop bag.

The battery life is only 5 hours, which is both good and bad. Especially when the battery starts to degrade. But for this price, you could just purchase another one.

Like many other Bluetooth speakers, this one is also IP67 waterproof and dustproof. So no matter how dirty your pockets and hands are, the speaker will be unaffected.

The overall sound quality of the JBL Go 3 is akin to an Alexa or other home speaker, which isn’t too bad considering the portability and price.

DEWALT 20V MAX – Best rugged

Coming from a familiar tool brand, the DEWALT 20V MAX is super rugged. Like, it can sure take a beating. Drop it, whack it, kick it across the room. It’ll be fine. But don’t drip your sweat on it.

Oddly it’s not waterproof. But it does have a place to store your phone while in use.

The bass reflex port keeps low-frequency sounds clear of distortion, and it delivers a fairly clear stereo sound. And unlike many other Bluetooth speakers, you’ve got up to about 100 feet before you’re out of range.

That’s exceptional for a Bluetooth speaker, especially one as affordable and rugged as the DEWALT 20V MAX.

Soundcore Motion 300 – Best for camping

About the size of a mass-market paperback, the Soundcore Motion 300 is a very well-reviewed little speaker.

It delivers a big sound in a small package, including nice punchy bass. Its adaptive technology adjusts to direction to deliver as immersive a sound as possible.

The speaker is only IPX7 rated, which means it’s waterproof and can handle submersion, but isn’t dustproof. That’s kind of a bummer as it is intended for outdoor use, but that’s fine. Just don’t bury it in dirt.

Mostly, what you get with the Soundcore Motion 300 is surprisingly great sound from such a small speaker.

Tribit Wireless Portable Speaker – Best powerbank

The Tribit Wireless Portable Speaker is great for travel and outdoor adventures, but the reason it’s not in that category is because of the internal powerbank.

It can charge your phone while being used for music, but that will drain the battery much quicker than you might want.

The sound on this little speaker isn’t terrible either. There’s some clean bass, and a 48mm NdFeB driver and integration of passive radiators keeps the sound clean.

It has a Bluetooth connection range of up to 120ft. So all around, the Tribit Wireless Portable Speaker has a lot to offer, even without the powerbank feature.

Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 – Best floating

The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 are cute little speaker with straps to attach them to things, and they float. So you can toss them in the pool with you and listen to tunes while you hope a bird doesn’t poop in your mouth.

The bass is fairly clean, but the highs and mids are really high. It is a Bluetooth speaker after all.

And the range on that is about 130 feet with 14 hours of battery life. That’s not too shabby for a sub $100 speaker. Especially one that floats. And aside from the IP67 waterproof rating, it’s also been drop tested up to 5 feet.

The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 is perfect for your outdoor adventures and you won’t lose it when it falls out of the canoe.

Echo Dot 5th Gen – Best for Amazon users

The Echo Dot 5th Gen brings a much-improved sound to the Amazon line of audio periphials. That’s good, because generally you need a few Echo Dots laying around to create a really good sound profile.

There is an Eero integration, but apparently it’s not that great and loses connection a lot.

Basically, the Echo Dot 5th Gen is certainly something that appeals to Amazon users, and it’s fairly cheap so it’s not a stretch to put a few around your house and ask Alexa to get the dance party started.

VAPPEBY Bluetooth speaker lamp – Best with a lamp

The VAPPEBY Bluetooth speaker lamp is one of those strange IKEA finds that you just want. Do we need a lamp with a Bluetooth speaker built-in? Perhaps. Maybe. Probably, yes, we need that.

Because we like light, and we like music. So why not together?

It’s also rainproof, but not wholly waterproof so don’t go dunking it in the ocean. But that makes it perfect for patio parties in a slight drizzle. And it has a one-touch Spotify button that will automatically play your favorites.

Other than that, the VAPPEBY Bluetooth speaker lamp is a Bluetooth speaker so it’ll work with any audio streaming service.

Apple HomePod mini – Best for Apple users

Living in the Apple ecosystem means that the Apple HomePod mini is your best bet for a Bluetooth speaker.

This is because it exclusively works with Apple streaming products, and while other speakers do as well, this one prioritizes Apple stuff. With other HomePods, you can create a home entertainment system as large as your imagination or budget.

As for speaker quality, it’s a multidirectional speaker, so it imitates surround sound as best it can. The bass is fine for such a small speaker, and the mid-ranges fit its size as well.

Overall, if you are an Apple honky, the Apple HomePod mini is your best bet for streaming Apple Music out loud.

Tribit Stormbox 2

If you’re looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker to enjoy your favorite music, audiobooks, or podcasts while basking in the green of the great outdoors, there’s much to recommend with the StormBox 2.

For starters, the sound quality is excellent, especially considering the price. Considering the reasonably modest price tag, you will reap the benefits of a great price-to-performance ratio here. For less than $70, the StormBox 2 is a bit of a steal.

The Bluetooth connection is excellent, and I didn’t experience any dips or issues in performance. It worked perfectly, and the connection never faltered.

The audio output is crisp and clear, and the XBass feature kicks things up a notch when you want a bit more body. In fact, I recommend defaulting to XBass mode most of the time since the added battery drain is negligible and adds some extra oompf.

The StormBox 2 is an excellent portable speaker, particularly for the asking price. It’s quick and easy to set up right out of the box and sounds fantastic. It’s compact and portable and ideal for outdoor gatherings this summer.

How to pick the best Bluetooth speakers under $100

Choosing the best Bluetooth speaker often comes down to price and use case. However, with all the speakers on this list coming in under $100, price is not much of a consideration unless you have a really tight budget. So it’s all about what you need the speaker for.

If you need a Bluetooth speaker for your outdoor adventures, waterproof and dustproof ratings become important. If you want one to blast bass while you break out the cardboard for a breakdance session, you’ll look for the best overall sound.

Or perhaps you just want a lamp with a speaker. That one kind of speaks for itself.

Regardless, you’ll certainly find the best Bluetooth speaker under $100 that fits your lifestyle.

Is your favorite Bluetooth speaker under $100 on this list? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• The best wireless printers
• The best TVs for console gaming
• The best drones for fun or professional use
• The best Android gaming accessories

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.