Let’s start with my top 2 picks (both under $200) for the best USB microphone for podcasting and home recording in 2021:
Quick note: If you’re looking for a USB-C mic, you can simply get a USB-A to USB-C adapter.
Combine one of these mics with a pair of closed-back headphones that fit your budget and a microphone desk stand and you’ll be off to a great start! I favored USB mics that included headphone monitoring jacks as it’s important to listen as you record, so you might as well get used to it now. Dynamic mics will sound better in a less than perfect recording area or if you have multiple people speaking into separate mics. Condenser mics pick up more background sound and are best suited for quieter environments. One thing to keep in mind is how much background noise you will have in your recording area: computer fans, HVAC, traffic, etc. Typically, XLR mics are “more professional” but that doesn’t mean there aren’t amazing USB microphones for pretty much any budget. We don’t want to worry about that when you want to get started quickly. These will require a mixer or USB interface. You basically plug them in and start recording. USB microphones are the easiest to use when you want to start podcasting.
