1. The quick list
2. Best for podcasts
3. Best all-rounder
4. Best USB mic overall
5. Best for value
6. Best for ease of use
7. Best budget option
8. Best broadcast mic
9. Best for design
10. Best USB-C option
11. Best for iOS
12. Best compact mic
13. Best high-end mic
14. Best for vintage style
15. Buying advice
16. How we test products
If you've been keeping an ear on the music and audio production scene, you've probably noticed the remarkable ascent of USB microphones. Buying a microphone used to mean also needing to buy either a mixer or an audio interface, but nowadays the market is teeming with outstanding USB microphone options from the industry's leading brands. The reason? The best USB microphones are, at their core, incredibly user-friendly. This accessibility has opened doors to entirely new demographics of individuals who might not have previously considered investing in a high-quality microphone.
In the age of streaming, vlogging, podcasting and video conferencing, USB microphones have gone beyond being a cheap and cheerful alternative to ‘proper’ microphones. The technology has evolved to the point where exceptional results can be achieved by people who may have never held a microphone before. In this guide, we'll introduce you to some of the best USB microphone choices available today, shedding light on why they've gained such widespread popularity.
We've included some in-depth buying advice at the end of this guide, so if you'd like to read more about the best USB microphones and what to know when buying one, then click the link. If you'd rather get to the products, then keep scrolling.
Best USB microphones: Quick list
Want to get to the good stuff without reading walls of text? Well, here you'll find a round-up of all the best USB microphones, with links to read more if you like what you see.
The Rode Podcaster has an in-built pop filter to capture those nasty plosives, and we liked the addition of a low-cut filter to nullify any low-frequency rumbles that might ruin a take. A tripod would have been nice but, overall, this is a superb microphone.
The Shure MV7 offers both USB and traditional XLR connectivity, so it will work both with audio interfaces and direct into your computer and retains that simplicity of operation that users demand. We are big fans of the bundled software, which gives you fine control over a variety of settings, with a few presets to keep things easy.
The Blue Yeti has been synonymous with the rise in popularity of streaming and vlogging. And for good reason; the Yeti is easy to use, and is extremely versatile thanks to its four pickup patterns. We’ve seen them used for podcasts, for recording musical instruments and for all manner of different studio applications.
The Rode NT-USB is relatively small and unobtrusive, but the results gained from the cardioid condenser capsule are quite phenomenal. We liked the included carry case and six metre USB cable, and the removable pop shield further enhances its speech credentials.
This is a superb, low-cost choice for anyone after a simple way to elevate their streams or vlogs. It's nicely designed, with an included plastic pop filter that does a decent enough job at cutting out harsh plosives. We paired it with the accompanying Joby boom arm for a highly usable, cost-effective pairing.
This is a sturdy, all-metal dynamic mic which isn’t going to win any awards for recorded sound quality, but it might just save you in a number of different situations. We can see these being extremely popular as back-ups, thanks to the extra versatility offered by both USB and XLR.
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These unassuming plug-and-play mics have grown in popularity with the broadcast crowd on account of their ease of use, great sound quality and native support for Apple mobile devices. The iRig Mic HD offers that winning combination of simple operation, low price and high performance.
The Beacn Mic offers high quality sound, a tonne of helpful digital smarts and some of the sleekest product design in this category. We loved the high quality sound it delivered, and the complementary software made it easy to tweak and finesse our sounds.
The EM-USB has a few neat touches, including an onboard mute button – handy for those mid-sentence sneezes – and it’s nice to see a USB-C connection included too.
MV51 is geared towards iOS users above others, who can use the accompanying MOTIV app to gain quick access to useful tone-shaping tools and presets. For speech applications, this is a superb package and worth the price alone.
A small, unobtrusive mic which is ideal for desk-based setups. Interestingly they’ve opted for a super-cardioid pickup pattern, whereby the axis for capturing sound is reduced slightly and the area which rejects ambient noise is increased. This is perfect for streamers, but also for podcasters where the user will largely be in a static location.
In addition to high level audio quality – 24-bit/98kHz – the jewel in the HypeMic’s crown is its on-board compressor, which gives you three levels of compression to help tame dynamic voices for that radio-style consistency. If pristine audio is a deal-breaker for you, and you have the cash, then it’s well worth your consideration.
If a microphone is going to take centre stage in your vlogs or streaming sessions, then it doesn’t hurt for it to look interesting. The AKG Lyra is perhaps the most visually striking mic we’re recommending, but it also has a huge amount of versatility going on under its vintage exterior.
The best USB microphones available today
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Here you'll find full write ups for all of the best USB microphones. We test the products featured in our guides extensively, so that our recommendations deliver for your specific needs.
Best for podcasts
Rode is arguably one of the better-known brands in recording microphones, particularly in the broadcast world, and in the Rode Podcaster USB mic there is the perfect example why. As a sister product to the Rode Procaster, the Podcaster has clearly been designed by people who understand the requirements of broadcast users and have included all that know-how in one simple package.
The Rode Podcaster has an in-built pop filter to capture those nasty plosives, and we liked the addition of a low-cut filter to nullify any low-frequency rumbles that might ruin a take. A tripod would have been nice but, overall, this is a superb microphone.
Read the full Rode Podcaster review
Best all-rounder
You can generally tell when a new product segment is being taken seriously when the respected brands get in on the act. Shure has been content to wait to release its flagship USB mic, and the results are well worth it. The Shure MV7 offers both USB and traditional XLR mic connectivity, so it will work both with audio interfaces and direct into your computer and retains that simplicity of operation that users demand.
We are big fans of the bundled software, which gives you fine control over a variety of settings, with a few presets to keep things easy for the uninitiated. It’s a step up, price-wise, from some of the other models on this list but you can’t go far wrong putting your trust in Shure to get it right. The Shure MV7 is a real success, and we can see it going on to dominate the field for years to come.
Read the full Shure MV7 review
Best overall
Perhaps the first and last word in USB microphones for many users, the Blue Yeti has been synonymous with the rise in popularity of streaming and vlogging. And for good reason too; the Yeti is easy to use, and is extremely versatile thanks to its four pickup patterns. We’ve seen them used for podcasts, for recording musical instruments and for all manner of different studio applications.
One thing it doesn’t have in its favour is portability. Beast by name, beast by nature. But, providing it’s being bought with studio use in mind, the Blue Yeti is still the mic to beat.
Read the full Blue Microphones Yeti review
Best for value
For podcasts, voiceovers or other speech-driven formats, the Rode NT-USB is well worth a look. It’s relatively small and unobtrusive, but the results gained from the cardioid condenser capsule are quite phenomenal.
We liked the included carry case and six metre USB cable, and the removable pop shield further enhances its speech credentials, however we’d advise upgrading to a more substantial tripod for longer term use.
Read the full Rode NT-USB review
Best for ease of use
More of a name in the world of videography than music, the Joby Wavo Pod is nonetheless a superb, low-cost choice for anyone after a simple way to elevate their streams or vlogs. The Wavo Pod is nicely designed, with an included plastic pop filter that does a decent enough job at cutting out those harsh plosives, although we weren’t all that enamored with the multifunction gain and volume control.
We paired it up with the accompanying Joby boom arm in our test and found that the two make a highly usable, cost-effective pairing that would suit anyone looking to upgrade from their laptop’s built-in microphone.
Read our full Joby Wavo Pod review
Best budget
We’re not going to go too deep in debating the relative merits of USB and XLR microphones, which is just as well seeing as the Audio-Technica AT2005USB offers both connections. For a shade under $/£80 you get a sturdy, all-metal dynamic mic which isn’t going to win any awards for recorded sound quality, but it might just save you in a number of different situations.
We can see these being extremely popular as back-ups, thanks to the extra versatility offered by both USB and XLR, while the on/off switch – never guaranteed at this level – is a nice feature to have. Just remember to turn it on before you go live…
Read the full Audio-Technica AT2005USB review
Best broadcast mic
If you ever find yourself in the presence of a broadcast news reporter, there’s a high chance you’ll see an IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2. These unassuming plug-and-play mics have grown in popularity with the broadcast crowd on account of their ease of use, great sound quality and native support for Apple mobile devices.
Now in its second iteration, the iRig Mic HD offers that winning combination of simple operation, low price and high performance. Well worth your time.
Read the full IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 review
Best for design
As a fairly new brand trying to penetrate a now-established market, Beacn knew it had to offer something special from its debut mic offering. The Beacn Mic does - mostly - live up to the hype, offering high quality sound, a tonne of helpful digital smarts and some of the sleekest product design in this category. We loved the high quality sound it delivered, and the complementary software made it easy to tweak and finesse our sounds.
It is relatively expensive, compared to others on the list, but we saw enough in our time testing the Beacn Mic to say anyone who opts for it won’t come away feeling shortchanged.
Read the full BEACN Mic review
Best USB-C option
Anyone with an interest in home studios and recording has likely come across Mackie on their travels. The American brand specialises in producing cost-effective gear to get beginner and intermediate studios up and running, and in the Mackie EM-USB has now expanded its focus to meet newer demands.
The EM-USB has a few neat touches, including an onboard mute button – handy for those mid-sentence sneezes – and it’s nice to see a USB-C connection included too.
Read our full Mackie EM-USB review
Best for iOS
Great things can happen when dedicated, optimised hardware and software packages come together. The Shure MOTIV MV51 is a great example, working with the accompanying MOTIV application in perfect harmony. Which is handy, because the MV51 is geared towards iOS users above others, who can use the app to gain quick access to useful tone-shaping tools and presets.
For speech applications, this is a superb package and worth the price alone. For music, however, we’d perhaps look to other, more specialist options.
Read the full Shure MOTIV MV51 review
Best compact mic
Take a look on YouTube or Twitch now and you’ll see even the most basic streaming setups include an external USB mic. Gaming peripheral brand Razer knows this, and has branched out to include a small range of USB mics to appeal to these producers. The result is the Razer Seiren X, which is a small, unobtrusive mic which is ideal for desk-based setups.
Interestingly they’ve opted for a super-cardioid pickup pattern, whereby the axis for capturing sound is reduced slightly and the area which rejects ambient noise is increased. This is perfect for streamers, but also for podcasters where the user will largely be in a static location speaking directly into the mic. We like the look of it, with its matt black finish, making for a great low-cost option for anyone looking to buy their first USB mic.
Read the full Razer Seiren X review
Best high-end mic
A common complaint thrown at USB mics is that they can’t be as good as a regular mic, because they are comparatively cheap. While that perhaps has more to do with the demographic they’re aimed at, there is an argument that USB mics are well accepted enough now that there should be some more advanced models to choose from. The Apogee HypeMic answers this, by offering a high level of audio quality – 24-bit/98kHz – with the same levels of overall performance you’d expect from Apogee. The jewel in the HypeMic’s crown is its on-board compressor, which gives you three levels of compression to help tame dynamic voices for that radio-style consistency.
Admittedly, the HypeMic is going to be way above what the majority of users need, but if pristine audio is a deal-breaker for you, and you have the cash to spare, then it’s well worth your consideration.
Read our full Apogee HypeMic review
Best for vintage style
We might pretend it doesn’t matter, but if a microphone is going to take centre stage in your vlogs or streaming sessions, then it doesn’t hurt for it to look interesting. The AKG Lyra is perhaps the most visually striking mic we’re recommending, but it also has a huge amount of versatility going on under its vintage exterior. Four separate capsules mean you can access a variety different polar patterns depending on the situation in which you’re recording, while the audio quality is also superb.
Admittedly, the looks will put some off but if you can get past that, the Lyra is a well-priced, feature-packed USB mic with plenty to offer.
Read our full AKG Lyra review
Best USB Microphones: Buying advice
How to choose the best USB microphone for you
How to start a podcast: a beginner's guide to podcasting
USB microphones are renowned for their user-friendliness. In contrast to traditional microphones that require a connection to a mixer or audio interface, USB microphones simply require an available port on your computer, laptop or smart device. These devices handle everything internally, acting as both the microphone and audio interface, often allowing direct monitoring through headphone connections. This simplicity has contributed to their widespread popularity.
Given the straightforward nature of connection and basic operation, it's essential to focus on other key features when selecting a USB microphone to meet your specific needs. One crucial characteristic to consider is the microphone's pickup pattern, dictating the direction from which it captures sound. The most common pattern is cardioid, ideal for isolating a specific source while rejecting ambient noise from outside its axis - particularly effective for speech applications.
Alternatively, some microphones offer bi-directional or omnidirectional patterns, suitable for capturing audio from multiple angles, making them perfect for scenarios like round-table discussions.
Certain USB microphones, especially those designed for podcasting, incorporate features like low-cut (high-pass) filters to eliminate low-frequency rumble and noise, along with shock-reducing mounts to counter accidental vibrations. What matters most is finding the USB microphone that perfectly aligns with your unique requirements. The needs of a music recording studio will differ from those simply seeking to enhance their in-game video-calling, for example. Fortunately, there's a diverse range of options available, catering to various budgets and skill levels.
How we test USB microphones
Our testing process for USB microphones is a little different to our usual microphone testing process. USB mics play a very different role compared to most other recording microphones in the fact that they're more often designed to record a human voice than any type of instrument. They're also obviously designed to plug directly into a computer, so the amount (and type) of signal processing is also different to that of a regular mic.
While testing USB mics, for the aforementioned reasons, we've found it's best to focus on voice recording quality, then, often comparing these often cheaper microphones with similarly spec'd studio vocal microphones or standards in the podcasting arena.
When focusing on vocals we take into account how microphones handle artefacts like sibilance and what has been provided to cut down such an occurrence – a pop shield might well come with the microphone, either separately or built into it, for example. Podcasting mics also tend to come with other items like podcast recording software designed to get you up and running in the world of podcasting, a desktop mount to place the mic firmly next to your computer and (usually) some kind of carry case, so these are all taken into account when we look at value for money.
While podcasting mics are generally aimed at vocal recording, it's always good to stretch them a little in our tests to see whether they are any good at recording acoustic guitar or, more likely, singing. Having a flexible microphone that can be used for studio tasks as well as broadcasting your opinions can't be sniffed at, and some podcasting microphones are surprisingly adept at recording other instruments.
Obviously the final factor is price. USB mics tend to be cheaper than their studio equivalent so we take this into account with our overall findings and balance up whether it's worth paying more for a studio vocal mic and interface to get 'proper' BBC radio vocals for (sometimes) not that much more outlay.
Find out more about how we test music gear and services at MusicRadar.
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