10 Most Comfortable Earbuds that You Barely Feel 2023

We tested and wore 192 headphones. Here are:

• The most comfortable earbuds for sensitive ears that you barely feel
• Our hands-on experience
• Tips on how to get the best comfort out of your earbuds

All earbuds on our list are evaluated based on 9 key factors (Sonic9Score).  But the main criteria we looked at to pick the top earbuds are comfort and fit, including weight, size, ergonomics, and eartip options. See our testing and ranking methodology.

Do earbuds hurt your ears? You have sensitive ears?

Then this list of the softest and best-fitting earbuds is for you. If the models here don’t feel comfortable to you, then your only other option are custom-made earbuds.

Comfort is different for many people. This is why we decided to combine our own testing with general feedback from others to come to a good conclusion. One pair of earbuds can fit one person perfectly but feel weird to someone else.

You don’t like in-ears? Check out the best classic earbuds and the most comfortable headphones.

Most Comfortable Earbuds

1. Apple AirPods Pro 2

In our opinion, Apple AirPods Pro 2 are the most comfortable Bluetooth earbuds you can buy, despite having a stem that hangs out of your ear.

AirPods Pro 2 are some of the most comfortable wireless earbuds on the market. The secret lies in the silicone eartips. The proprietary solution only hangs in front of the ear canal without creating any pressure.

AirPods Pro 2 have a relatively balanced frequency response, with a slight boost in the upper midrange and treble. The latter is great for understanding vocals.

The audio company that makes AirPods Pro 2 hardly needs any introduction. These are sleek-looking noise canceling earbuds with iconic white housing and a stem extension that dangles out of your ears.

AirPods Pro 2 also have many features like active noise cancellation, Transparency mode, Dolby Atmos, great microphones, an H2 chip, good Bluetooth connection, IPX4 sweat resistance, and more. The second-gen even has volume control. For more ANC earbuds, see this.

Original Apple AirPods Pro have an identical design to the new AirPods Pro 2, so the comfort remains the same. Check our detailed review.

Most Comfortable Earbuds under $200

2. 1MORE Evo

1MORE Evo are the most comfortable earbuds under $200 we’ve tested. They offer excellent comfort and great active noise cancellation – 1MORE Evo review.

They feel as if they’re molded for human ears. These are comfortable thanks to their ergonomic and lightweight design. And they also look stunning.

You get 5 pairs of tips, changing slightly in size for optimal fit. Surprisingly, even without ear fins or hook, the 1MORE Evo easily stay in your ears during workouts.

1MORE Evo true wireless earbuds have an overall good sound but are a tad too shimmery in the treble. Of course, that largely depends on how you tune them inside the app.

Check the 1MORE Evo sound test:

On top of that, earbuds offer an IPX4 rating, protecting them from excessive sweat and light rain. Expect up to 8 hours of battery life on a single charge. The Qi wireless charging case holds another 28 hours.

If you’re looking for great earbuds under $200 that feel amazing in the ears, check the 1MORE Evo.

Most Comfortable Earbuds for Small Ears

3. 1MORE ComfoBuds Mini

1MORE ComfoBuds Mini are the most comfortable small earbuds we’ve tested. These fit tiny ears and have great stability during activity, even without ear wings – 1MORE ComfoBuds Mini review.

Earbuds stand out because of their design. These are probably the smallest earbuds on the market and one of the comfiest. They’re so small it takes extra effort to place them in your ear canal.

Furthermore, eartips create a good seal, necessary for good sound quality and active noise cancellation performance. Strangely, passive isolation isn’t impressive.

1MORE ComfoBuds Mini are balanced and full-sounding, apart from a slight bass boost and midrange recession. This makes them great to listen to all music genres.

Check the 1MORE ComfoBuds Mini sound test:

You also get a companion app with customizable controls, battery percentages, firmware updates, and a SoundID feature for personalized EQ. See our review for further details.

If you have small ears and it’s hard for you to find earbuds that fit, check the 1MORE ComfoBuds Mini.

Most Comfortable Activity Earbuds

4. Jabra Elite 7 Pro

Jabra Elite 7 Pro are the most comfortable earphones for active use we’ve tested. They have an ergonomic design and IP57 dust and water protection. – Jabra Elite 7 Pro review.

These offer ergonomic comfort with a long nozzle and pressure-reducing eartips. Their size is suitable for most ear sizes. Detachable ear wings ensure stability during exercise.

They provide stable fit for everyday activities and light exercises, but may not be ideal for intense workouts or running on uneven terrain, where their grip can fail. This makes them a great comfy choice moderate activity.

The Jabra Elite 7 Pro earbuds offer a balanced audio signature with an immersive soundstage and don’t suffer from sibilance. They’re ideal for casual listeners. Their bass is smooth and controlled, adding warmth to music like hip-hop, the vocals are clear and detailed.

The Jabra+ app allows some custom EQ adjustment. Overall, the earbuds provide a broad soundstage and accurate imaging, creating an engaging listening experience. They are well-suited for everyday use, especially for those who value a non-intrusive sound during activities like commuting.

Check the Jabra Elite 7 Pro sound test:

They are made of hard plastic and silicone texture for a premium feel, offering IP57 waterproofing. However, their grease-attracting surface and less durable case require careful handling.

With impressive battery life of over 8 hours per charge and 22 additional hours in the Qi wireless charging case, they’re ideal for long usage and travel.

The Jabra Elite 7 Pro come with the Jabra+ app. It offers MyFit feature for optimal ear seal, MySound for personalized audio profiles, and MyControls for gesture customization. The earbuds deliver clear microphone audio in quiet settings, this makes them versatile for personalized listening and clear calls, though less ideal in loud surroundings.

If you’re looking for versatile and incredibly comfortable earbuds that you can use for activity, see the Jabra Elite 7 Pro.

For more water-resistant options see the best waterproof Bluetooth headphones.

Most Comfortable Earbuds under $100

5. EarFun Free Pro 3

For under $100, EarFun Free Pro 3 are the top pick we’ve tested. If you want robust true wireless headphones with amazing sound quality and even better comfort – EarFun Free Pro 3 review.

Their comfort is excellent, as you barely feel them in your ears. They gently hang in your ears, so you can wear them for hours without irritation or hurting your ears.

I once forgot I had the Free Pro 3 in my ears. They’re that comfortable.

Sadly, stability is mediocre. It makes them unsuitable for exercising (despite having ear fins and an IPX5 rating). But if you want comfy buds for daily use, these are a top recommendation for less than 100 bucks.

By using our custom EQ settings (in review), you change their initial V-shaped sound into a much more natural and dynamic musical experience. They sound quite faithful to the original recording, with a touch more treble sparkle. They work well with all music genres.

Check the EarFun Free Pro 3 sound test:

Listening sessions can be around 5 hours long on a single charge, with an impressive 27 hours waiting inside the charging case.

They also come with ANC and ambient sound mode and support an aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec for Android devices.

For good-sounding and feature-rich earbuds under $100, that you can wear for whole days, check out the EarFun Free Pro 3.

Most Comfortable In-Ear Monitors

6. TRUTHEAR x Crinacle Zero:Red

TRUTHEAR x Crinacle Zero:Red are fantastic, comfortable wired in-ear earbuds tuned by the king of IEMs – TRUTHEAR x Crinacle Zero:Red review.

Despite their size, they sport an ergonomic fit that will remain comfortable for hours. IEM’s surface is smooth, so it doesn’t cut into your skin.

Furthermore, thanks to the over-the-ear cable, the weight is better distributed, so you barely feel it. Even cable noise is minimal, providing “listening comfort” as well.

Now, let’s discuss how good these in-ear monitors sound. They have a close-to-neutral sound signature with just a little bass boost. You can further add it by using the included Bass+ adapter.

Check the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle Zero:Red sound test:

ZERO:RED look like a classic IEM, with big resin housing and a beautiful red plate that will attract many eyes. Find more details in our review.

If you’re looking for comfy IEMs that sound and feel equally great, get the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle Zero:Red.

Runner-Up Choices: 5 Other Earbuds Worth Considering

7. Bose Sport Earbuds

8. TOZO OpenBuds

9. Edifier TWS1 Pro 2

10. EarFun Air S

11. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2

How We Tested and Picked the Models?

We objectively measured each pair of earbuds in our list by weighting them, and then tested them in real life in different situations. While it’s extremely hard to objectively measure comfort, there are a couple of things we could look at. Weight, size, ergonomics, and eartip options.

Lighter, more shapely (ergonomic) earbuds with more ear tips to choose from have generally better comfort.

Altogether, we tested them on 9 key points: Sound quality, noise isolation, ANC, battery life, comfort, features, etc. This helped us compare and pick the top earbuds that we can confidently recommend. See our testing and scoring methodology.

So, all recommended earbuds rank among the most comfortable. We chose from all 192 headphones we tested. Then we ranked them based on the use case, type and price, cheaper towards the bottom.

Models We Considered That Didn’t Make the List:

• Apple AirPods 3: Are ergonomic and smooth-surface earbuds, but the fit is much worse than with the Pros.
• Samsung Galaxy Buds+: These are super comfy and ergonomic, but an older model that’s been surpassed by newer offers.
• Beats Studio Buds: These popular true wireless earbuds look ergonomic and do a decent job but tend to slip out for many people. That’s the reason they don’t belong at the top.
• 1MORE Aero: Are lightweight, only 4.9g per earbud, and you barely feel them. But they slide out when you start sweating. Still a solid option, but not among the best.
• SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS: These are small buds that fit nicely and comfortably in smaller ears, but they lose stability when you start moving.

What to Expect From Comfortable Wireless Earbuds

• Expect a price from $30 to $300. (Price doesn’t matter for comfort)
• High sound quality that fits all music
• The latest features like app support and active noise cancellation
• Slightly smaller design and lower weight compared to the average
• Often shorter battery life, smaller buds can’t have big batteries

Generally, they are well-designed, and high comfort doesn’t have any negative consequences for performance.

How to Know What Comfortable Earbuds Are?

Aren’t people different and have different ears? Yes, that’s true. But most ears have a similar shape, and fit in a specific size range.

It’s very hard to tell if a specific model will be comfortable for you, but the ones that fit most people and are ergonomically designed are generally the softest earbuds on the ears.

• Lighter earbuds are more comfortable
• Smaller earbuds are easier to fit comfortably
• Ergonomic design that’s shaped to fit in the ear canal creates less tension

In the end, the best way to know is to try them yourself, but since you can’t do that with every model, you can check our reviews.

The good thing about online shopping is that you can try them. See if they’re comfortable. If not, just send them back for a refund.

How to Make Your Earbuds More Comfortable?

Here are some quick tips on how to improve the comfort of your earphones.

1. Try all ear tips you can get your hands on

The best way to instantly improve the fit and comfort of in-ear headphones is to change the ear tips.

A pair of earbuds might be itchy and uncomfortable, but change the tips and: “Viola!”. You get a completely different feeling.

Thankfully, most earbuds come with at least 3 different-sized pairs. And many come with different types and shapes as well. Try them all to see how they feel for you. Here’s everything you need to know about ear tips.

Which are the best?

Generally, the most comfortable are memory-foam tips. You can find them for almost all in-ear earbuds

How to know which foam ear tips to get?

Comply is one of the most popular and quality brands. They make memory-foam tips for most earbuds. Check their compatibility guide here.

2. Clean your ear tips

Dirty tips become hard and slippery, which ruins comfort.

This is why you should clean them to keep optimal fit.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to clean earbuds and ear tips.

Generally, a brush and some soap will do wonders for cleaning silicone.

How to clean foam ear tips?

Since memory-foam tips have a slightly sticky surface, they tend to get dirty fast.

The best way to clean them is with a wet cloth. A cloth and some alcohol or hydrogen peroxide (you get in a pharmacy) are all you need for ear wax. Afterward, just wait for the tips to dry, and they’re ready to use again. More in the guide we linked above.

3. Use over-the-ear fit (Wired earbuds)

Instead of wearing wired earbuds down, the usual way, turn them around and put the wires above ears. See the image below.

This way of wearing earbuds is more stable and thus more comfortable, especially for workout headphones.

4. Get custom-molded ear tips

Custom-molded ear tips are the best but also the most expensive option.

Having custom-created tips that conform to your ear canal and shape perfectly is the best you can expect.

Generally, this can be quite expensive, but here are some affordable options.

Check out Decibullz. These are moldable earplugs you can shape yourself to fit ears perfectly.

For an even cheaper option, check out Radians custom-molded earplugs.

You have to play with it a bit, but you can create great custom-molded ear tips that will fit you better than any generic tips you can buy. Here’s a video about it:

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Above are the most comfortable true wireless earbuds that don’t hurt ears for most people. We hope you got some good ideas from our list.

If you tried any due to our recommendations, we’d love to hear which ones.