The 7 best open earbuds stay put, sound great, and keep us aware of the world

Open-ear earbuds sit on the exterior of the ear, but they also come in many shapes and sizes, from clip models to ear hook models.

Some are specifically designed for exercise , while others are better for everyday use.

The Bose Ultra Open earbuds have long been a popular pick, and the second generation model just dropped (alongside the new Bose Sport Open earbuds ).

That said, they're also $299 and $199 respectively, which is firmly on the expensive side for this audio category.

With open earbuds' growing popularity, there are newer premium competitors from brands like Sony and Shokz .

Budget options are also becoming more prevalent, with open earbuds under $100 from brands including Soundcore, EarFun, Raycon, and CMF by Nothing.

We tested open earbuds from all price ranges to find the best of the best — these seven picks are the results of our search.

SEE ALSO: The 11 best wireless earbuds we've ever tested What are open earbuds? Open earbuds let you get as close as possible to the feeling of not wearing earbuds at all.

Unlike in-ear earbuds, which sit in your ear canal, open earbuds sit outside the ear canal and leave it completely unobstructed, or open (as the name would suggest).

Some models hold the speaker component in place with an ear hook, while others opt for an ear cuff.

SEE ALSO: We tested the top fitness trackers of 2025: See our favorite wearables and smart rings People generally opt for open earbuds for three main reasons: They provide a private listening experience while leaving you almost completely aware of your surroundings.

It's like the best transparency mode you've ever used.

For some people, not having an earbud physically in their ear is generally more comfortable.

The hooks and cuffs (along with general awareness of your surroundings) make them a great option for keeping you in place and alert while you're working out, working, or simply existing in the world.