Short answer: the best workout earbuds are the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 ($249.95): earhooks that don’t budge, noise cancelling, a built-in heart rate sensor and 10 hours of battery. They’re Tom’s Guide’s top running pick. If you prefer smaller buds, the Beats Powerbeats Fit ($199.95) are NBC Select’s top pick. iPhone owners should look at the AirPods Pro 3, runners who want to hear traffic at the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, and the JBL Endurance Race 2 are the best value under $100.
Check the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 on Amazon →
How we put this together: this guide is based on manufacturers’ specifications and published reviews from testers who run and train in these earbuds (linked below). It is not based on hands-on testing by iTech Level. Prices are list prices at the time of writing and change often. See how we choose products.
Best workout earbuds compared
| Earbuds | Best for | Fit | Battery (buds) | Water / sweat | List price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 | Best overall | Earhook | Up to 10 hr | IPX4 | $249.95 | Check price |
| Beats Powerbeats Fit | Compact and secure | Built-in wing tip | Up to 7 hr | IPX4 | $199.95 | Check price |
| Apple AirPods Pro 3 | Best for iPhone | In-ear | Up to 8 hr (ANC on) | IP57 | $249 | Check price |
| Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 | Best for Android | Mini wing tip | 8 hr (ANC on), 12 hr off | IP54 | $229 | Check price |
| Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 | Outdoor running, hear traffic | Open-ear band | Up to 12 hr | IP55 | $179.95 | Check price |
| JBL Endurance Race 2 | Best under $100 | Wing tip | Up to 12 hr | IP68 (buds) | Under $80 | Check price |
| JLab Go Sport+ | Cheapest earhook | Earhook | 8–9+ hr | IP55 | About $30 | Check price |
Specs from the manufacturers, NBC Select and Tom’s Guide. Battery figures are rated, not measured.
How to choose workout earbuds
- Fit first: earhooks (Powerbeats Pro 2, JLab) are the most secure for running and HIIT. Wing tips (Powerbeats Fit, Pixel Buds Pro 2, JBL) are smaller and still stable. Plain in-ear buds like the AirPods Pro 3 work if they fit your ears well.
- Sweat and water rating: IPX4 handles sweat and splashes. A rating like IP55 or IP57 adds dust protection and stronger water resistance, and IP68 is the toughest here. None of these are made for swimming.
- Hear the world or block it out: noise cancelling helps in a loud gym, but outdoors you want a transparency mode or open-ear headphones so you can hear traffic. See our best open-ear earbuds for more.
- Heart rate: the Powerbeats Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 have built-in heart rate sensors, useful if you don’t wear a fitness tracker.
- Buttons vs touch: physical buttons, like those on the Powerbeats Fit, are easier with sweaty fingers or gloves than touch controls.
The best workout earbuds in 2026
1. Beats Powerbeats Pro 2: best workout earbuds
Tom’s Guide‘s running writer, a 13-time marathoner, ran 150 miles in the Powerbeats Pro 2 before launch and names them the best running headphones, praising their comfortable, secure fit, good battery life and “dynamic, pulsing bass”. NBC Select calls them some of the most secure workout headphones it has tested. They’re slimmer and lighter than the originals, and add active noise cancelling, a transparency mode, physical controls, heart rate sensors in the earbuds and a wireless charging case. Battery life is up to 10 hours, or 45 with the case, and they’re rated IPX4.
Good to know: the charging case is large, and both reviewers found the heart rate sensor a little finicky to sync with workout apps.
Check the Powerbeats Pro 2 on Amazon →
2. Beats Powerbeats Fit: best compact workout earbuds
The Powerbeats Fit are the updated version of the popular Beats Fit Pro, and they’re NBC Select‘s top pick because they’re “supremely comfortable, secure and easy to use”. A small built-in wing tip holds them in place during runs, rides and gym sessions, and they’re far more compact than earhook models. You get noise cancelling and a transparency mode, physical buttons that work with gloves on, IPX4 sweat resistance and four ear tip sizes.
Good to know: battery life is shorter, rated at up to 7 hours, and there’s no wireless charging or multipoint.
Check the Powerbeats Fit on Amazon →
3. Apple AirPods Pro 3: best for iPhone
The AirPods Pro 3 aren’t sports earbuds, but they’re excellent for the gym if you have an iPhone. They added built-in heart rate sensors, so you can start a workout on your iPhone and track heart rate and calories without a watch, and an IP57 rating for dust, sweat and water. NBC Select praises their noise cancelling and a transparency mode good enough for full conversations, and Tom’s Guide picks them as the best everyday running headphones. Battery life is up to 8 hours with ANC on.
Good to know: they work best with Apple devices, and there are no wings or hooks, so try the fit before relying on them for hard runs. They also top our best noise-cancelling earbuds guide.
Check the AirPods Pro 3 on Amazon →
4. Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: best for Android
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 added mini wing-tip stabilisers that make them far better for exercise than the originals, according to NBC Select, which picks them as the best workout earbuds for Android. They have strong noise cancelling and transparency, multipoint, wireless charging and an IP54 rating, and the longest battery on NBC’s list: up to 8 hours with ANC on, 12 hours with it off.
Good to know: they’re usually priced at $229, and IP54 is a lower rating than the AirPods Pro 3 or JBL. See our best earbuds for Google Pixel for more Android picks.
Check the Pixel Buds Pro 2 on Amazon →
5. Shokz OpenRun Pro 2: best for outdoor running
The OpenRun Pro 2 sit outside your ears instead of in them, using a mix of bone-conduction vibrations and directional speakers, so you can hear cars, bikes and other runners. NBC Select‘s editorial director uses Shokz for marathon training and races because she feels safer with her ears open. Tom’s Guide names them the best bone-conduction running headphones and notes improved sound quality. They’re rated IP55, last up to 12 hours and support multipoint.
Good to know: they don’t block any noise, so they’re a poor fit for a loud gym. The cheaper Shokz OpenRun has lesser sound and battery life.
Check the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 on Amazon →
6. JBL Endurance Race 2: best workout earbuds under $100
Tom’s Guide says the Endurance Race 2 “exceeded my expectations”, with a reliable, comfortable wing-tip fit on runs of any length and excellent battery life, all for under $80. JBL rates them at up to 12 hours, or 48 with the case, and the buds are IP68-rated, the toughest rating on this list.
Good to know: the noise cancelling is weak, the sound isn’t as good as pricier buds, and Tom’s Guide had issues with the ambient mode. The case is only IPX2, so keep it out of the rain.
Check the JBL Endurance Race 2 on Amazon →
7. JLab Go Sport+: cheapest earhook earbuds
For about $30, the Go Sport+ wrap securely around your ears and are rated IP55 for sweat and dust. NBC Select, which names them its best budget earhook pick, was surprised by their quality for quick outdoor runs, and the snug-but-not-sealed fit still lets you hear traffic. JLab rates the battery at 9+ hours (NBC lists up to 8), and the JLab app lets you adjust the sound.
Good to know: there’s no noise cancelling or wireless charging, and NBC found the sound quality only so-so.
Check the JLab Go Sport+ on Amazon →
Our verdict
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are the best workout earbuds for most people: an earhook fit that stays put, noise cancelling, heart rate tracking and long battery life. Choose the Powerbeats Fit for a smaller, lighter fit, the AirPods Pro 3 or Pixel Buds Pro 2 for one pair that also works all day with your phone, the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 for outdoor running, the JBL Endurance Race 2 under $100 and the JLab Go Sport+ for the lowest price.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best earbuds for working out?
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 for most people. Their earhooks keep them secure during runs and workouts, and they add noise cancelling, built-in heart rate sensors and up to 10 hours of battery. Tom’s Guide names them the best running headphones.
What are the best workout earbuds that won’t fall out?
Earhook designs like the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 and JLab Go Sport+ are the most secure. Wing-tip earbuds such as the Beats Powerbeats Fit, Pixel Buds Pro 2 and JBL Endurance Race 2 are smaller and still stay put for most people. Trying the right ear tip size matters as much as the design.
Are AirPods good for working out?
The AirPods Pro 3 are, especially with an iPhone. They’re rated IP57, have built-in heart rate sensors and excellent noise cancelling. They don’t have hooks or wings, though, so if they slip during runs, an earhook or wing-tip model is more secure.
What are the best earbuds for running outside?
Open-ear headphones like the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 let you hear cars, bikes and people around you, which is safer on roads. If you prefer in-ear buds, use a transparency mode outdoors.
What water resistance do workout earbuds need?
IPX4 is enough for sweat and splashes. IP55, IP57 or IP68 ratings add dust protection and stronger water resistance, which helps in rain or with heavy sweat. None of the earbuds here are designed for swimming.
