May 29, 2024 10:00 AM

The Best USB Microphones

Looking to boost your audio quality on Zoom, YouTube, TikTok, or while gaming? Try some of these mics.

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Good content starts at the source. If you want to sound your best for coworkers, fans, or teammates, the mic you have built into your headphones, laptop, tablet, or smartphone likely won't do the job. I've spent close to a decade with various USB microphones for podcasting, gaming, and even music recording, and I have to say up front: We're living in a golden age of easy-to-use options. These days it's not hard to find a great microphone with simple software for very little money. So we've rounded them up! These are the best USB microphones around.

While you're at it, be sure to check out our guides on How to Start a Podcast and How to Upgrade Your Home Audio, as well as our lists of the Best Home Office Gear to kit out your space further.

Updated May 2024: We've added new mics from AKG, Audio-Technica, and Steelseries.

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Photograph: Blue
Best Overall
Blue Yeti
This iconic USB mic will probably look familiar to anyone who has spent more than an hour on YouTube. It has a sturdy base and an easily adjustable volume knob that sticks out like R2D2's belly button. This mic sounds completely fine for the money, and the mute button on the front makes it easy to ensure nobody is listening. It's essentially plug-and-play with most computers, but you'll want to download Logtech's software for the most up-to-date drivers and to make further customizations.
The more expensive Blue Yeti X ($170) offers performance similar to the standard Yeti but has a better front button and more polar patterns (see below to learn what those mean). Most folks don't need this functionality, so you can stick with the standard Yeti. There's also the Yeti Nano ($80), which has similar recording quality but in a smaller footprint. It can only record in cardioid (for solo recording) and omnidirectional, which records all the sounds around you. If you're never going to record with someone sitting across from you, it's cheaper to stick with the Nano.
Comes with a Mini USB to USB-A cable. The Yeti X and Nano come with a MicroUSB to USB-A cable.
$100 at Amazon
$100 at Target
$110 at Walmart
Photograph: Blue
Best Budget USB Mic
Blue Snowball Ice
Looking to up your sound for as little money as possible? This compact microphone from Blue is an easy and reliable way to make sure your voice comes through well. I like the included tripod, which can fold up to easily fit in a backpack. The design looks like a classic radio microphone, and it'll make you sound better than if you are stuck with microphones on your laptop or smartphone. It has only a cardioid polar pattern, which will pick up sound only from the front of the microphone.
Comes with a Mini USB to USB-A cable.
★ An alternative: The JLab Talk Go ($31) is another solid (and slightly cheaper) option than the Snowball. It has great legs and is equally easy to set up and use. It comes with a USB-C to USB-A cable and has two polar patterns: cardioid and omnidirectional, the latter of which can pick up sound from all directions.
$47 at Amazon
$50 at Target
$49 at Walmart

Photograph: HyperX
Best for Streamers
HyperX Quadcast S
This microphone from HyperX (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has nearly the same great sound quality you'll get from other options on this list, but it boasts some pretty rad-looking LEDs that'll make it stand out on your Twitch streams. The touch-sensitive tap-to-mute button at the top cuts off the LEDs so you know it's properly muted, which is a nice touch, and the gain knob sits on the base and makes for an easy way to increase the mic's sensitivity. The QuadCast S comes with a shock mount, which keeps it stable during hard typing or angry kicks of the desk when you lose a game. It has four polar patterns: stereo, omnidirectional, cardioid, and bidirectional.
Comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable.
$118 at Amazon
$130 at Target
Photograph: Shure
Best Upgrade
Shure SM7B
You've probably seen this microphone on many podcasts and YouTube videos, and it's even used by professional broadcasters in radio studios. It's also a reported favorite of many of the world's most famous pop singers in studios. All for good reason. The Shure SM7B sounds fantastic, comes with an internal shock mount so it doesn't get ruffled, and lasts forever. It makes your vocals sound truly professional.
The downside? This mic uses a traditional XLR microphone connector, which means you'll need to buy a USB audio interface to make this a USB mic. You can snag a relatively affordable one like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 ($170) to do the job, and it'll open you up to higher-quality recordings using pro-level recording software like Pro Tools, Audacity, Logic, Studio One, and Ableton. Once you get an interface, you can also use any other XLR mics you want.
Comes with an XLR cable.
$399 at Amazon
$399 at B&H
$400 at Best Buy

Photograph: Parker Hall
A Studio Mic Without an Audio Interface
Audio-Technica AT2040USB
The Audio-Technica 2040 is a home studio standard that retails for around $100 on its own, which is why it's absurd that you can get that same microphone with USB integration for just about 50 bucks more. This classic dynamic mic has a forward-facing cardio polar pattern (you speak into the top of the mic rather than the side), and it works great for podcasting and streaming, where you really want a directional mic.
I like that it has a built-in mount that makes it easy to use with any desktop mic stand and that all the adjustments for the mic (high pass filter, gain, headphone volume) are located on the far side of the mic, so it very much looks like you are just using the standard classic.
$149 at Amazon
$149 at Sweetwater
Photograph: Tula
Best for Travel
Tula USB-C Microphone
WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu and I have both enjoyed our time with this flip-up mic. It's designed to look like a vintage ribbon microphone, but it has all the features you need in the modern world. You get excellent noise reduction for recording voices; cardioid and omnidirectional polar patterns for recording either in front or all around the mic; and utterly fantastic sound quality.
I've taken it with me on vacations and thrown it in my pocket on hikes for quick field recordings. I even used it to record everyone's speeches at my wedding, where it worked wonderfully even in a noisy and somewhat large outdoor space. I love that the stand is built in, so you can just flip it up and use it. The 8 gigabytes of internal memory should be plenty of space for your files before you need to dump them into a computer, and it'll last for 12 hours on a single charge. The company says an app is in the works, which should expand functionality even more.
Comes with a USB-C to USB-A cable.
$259 at Amazon
$259 at Tula

Photograph: Shure
A Shotgun Microphone for Smartphones
Shure MV88+ Video Kit
I have been using this little microphone kit from Shure to make videos of myself bumbling about music for years. It comes with a nice tripod that can hold both the mic and your phone, and it includes cables for USB-C and Lightning ports, so you can use it with Android phones and iPhones with ease. I really love that Shure's included mount is designed to slide into a camera's hot shoe so you can use it with a DSLR. It also has a 3.5-mm output for headphone monitoring.
If you get longer USB cables, you can clip it on any normal mic stand during a performance or recording session (even turn it into a boom mic). Just make sure you use the supplied windscreen outside, or you'll have a lot of wind noise on your first recordings like I did (whoops!).
Comes with USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to Lightning cables.
$249 at Amazon
$250 at Apple
$249 at B&H
Photograph: Rode
A Versatile Mic for Interviews
Røde Wireless Go II
If you're doing a lot of field interviews and your camera is going to be further than what a shotgun mic can handle, then go with a wireless system. These tiny clip-on mics from Australian mic brand Røde do an exceptional job according to WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu, who has filmed a great many videos for WIRED with the original Wireless Mic Go and the current model. Connect the receiver to your camera via the 3.5-mm jack or to your smartphone using a headphone jack adapter (Chokkattu uses this one for iPhones and this for Android). You can also use them with a lavalier if you don't want the boxy shape dangling off of your outfit.
The batteries last several hours, and they're all rechargeable via USB-C. There's an app you can use to customize settings, but it's not necessary. Instead, just rely on the tiny screen on the receiver to make sure everything is going OK while you're out recording.
Comes with three USB-C to USB-A cables.
★ An alternative: The AnkerWork M650 ($200) is a newer entry in the wireless microphone space from a reputable mobile accessory maker, Anker. We haven't spent a ton of time with this set, but early impressions are positive. There are two transmitters, so you can clip them to two people, plus a transmitter that comes with a USB-C or Lightning adapter for quickly plugging into a smartphone (or camera with an included 3.5-mm cable). All of this packs neatly into a charging case that carries extra battery power to extend battery life from six to roughly 15 total hours. Judge how it sounds in this video!
$285 at Amazon
$299 at B&H
$299 at Best Buy
$299 at Moment

Photograph: Eric Ravenscraft
Best Headset for Gaming
HP HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless
If you hate more clutter on your desk, then stick with a wireless headset. The Cloud Alpha Wireless (10/10, WIRED Recommends) is what you want with its 300-hour battery life (you read that right). It has a classic Britney Spears-esque mic that comes out of the left ear cup, which easily provides good enough sound quality for every video game around, and it's pretty comfy. You can use a mic like this for work, streaming, or podcasting, but you run the risk of looking like a dork on camera; consider this a fair warning.
$199 at Best Buy
$200 at Target
Photograph: Parker Hall
Vintage Vibes
AKG Lyra
I really love the Star Wars droid shape of the AKG Lyra Mic, so much so that it has been sticking on my desktop longer than most uglier mics. It has a great stand that allows it to slip under other desk items with stability, and I like that the gain knob, pattern indicator (it does front, front and back, tight and wide stereo patterns), and mute button are all on the front. To change the pattern, just reach around the mic and move the selector, and the light on the front will tell you which you have selected.
I also like the audio quality of this mic, with a nice big capsule behind the thin mesh screen that seems to capture everything with ease, from Zoom calls to rough vocals in my home recording studio. AKG used to make a smaller version of this mic that I also tested, but it has been discontinued; I see why, because the larger version has a much better sound and costs only a little more.
$125 at Amazon
$125 at B&H Photo Video

Photograph: Parker Hall
Most Useful Lights
SteelSeries Alias
The Steelseries Alias is a cardioid pattern USB mic with a capsule that the company claims is three times larger than its older mics, which makes it pick up the full tone of your voice even better (especially the low end) than its other mics. I have been impressed by the sound that comes via the USB-C mic, but the thing that actually is the hook for this product, to me at least, is its clever use of LEDs. Behind the black mesh screen on the front, there is a line of lights that indicates how low the level of the mic is and illuminates in a big red X when the mic is muted. It makes it super easy to make sure you're not blowing everyone's ears out in remote meetings and to set a quick level when tracking a vocal into recording software. I also like the little downward-facing LED on the bottom of the mic, which changes colors on your desk like a cool disco strobe but never feels like a stupid toy for a 15-year-old gamer.
$179 at Amazon
$180 at Best Buy
Photograph: Anker
If You Need a Hub
Anker 5-in-1 USB-C Hub
USB microphones are plug-and-play, but you still need to make sure the mic you get can connect to your device. We've listed exactly what kind of cable comes with each microphone here. If you don't want a microphone to take up one of your precious ports all the time, then you'll need a USB hub. This USB-C hub from Anker comes with two USB-A ports, an SD and microSD card reader, a headphone jack, and an HDMI. You can find more recommendations in our Best Hubs and Docks and Best WFH Gear guides.
$35 at Amazon

Photograph: Amazon
Mount Your Microphone
Tonor Microphone Arm Stand
Most USB microphones come with a threaded 3/8-inch or 5/8-inch female socket on the base that lets you attach them to a mount. You can often remove them from their stand and affix them on any universal mic stand. (Most of these have adapters that allow them to fit either size.) Desktop clamp mounts make it easy to keep the mic out of the way when you're not using it, reducing desk clutter.
There are tons of cheap mic stands around, but I've had good experience with this one from Tonor. It moves around smoothly and can easily hold even the heaviest mics. I have tested it with everything from standards like the SM7B to the latest Universal Audio mics (which aren't small), and this stand holds them well.
$35 at Amazon
Photograph: Jack Cheeseborough/Getty Images
What Are Microphone Polar Patterns and Gain?
Mics have what's called polar patterns, which is a fancy way of saying directions of sound that they pick up and reject. Most microphones use what's called a cardioid pattern, where it picks up what is in front of the microphone, but little to the back and sides. This is great for a single person. Higher-end mics have options to switch to modes for Figure 8, where the mic picks up the front and back (perfect for two-person interviews), or omnidirectional, where it picks up all directions (good for if you need to pick up a whole room's conversation). There is usually a switch on the microphone that tells you which mode it is in, but for most folks, we recommend sticking to cardioid, except in specific instances like those above.
Another knob you might see on most mics is gain. This is the knob that adjusts the microphone's sensitivity. More gain works better for picking up quieter sounds, and you'll want less gain for louder sounds. Adjust this setting using recording software and compare results to see what sounds bests. (Some mics also have an auto-gain feature in their software, where the mic listens and adjusts to loudness automatically.)

Parker Hall is a senior editor of product reviews at WIRED. He focuses on audiovisual and entertainment products. Hall is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he studied jazz percussion. After hours, he remains a professional musician in his hometown of Portland, Oregon.

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