USB Microphones are one of the best mics in terms of portability and ease of use. They are popularly used mostly for podcasting, interviews, and most of the remote stuff.
USB Microphones are easy to carry around, with no connectivity issues, budget-friendly and that makes them more comfortable as well.
There were many USB Microphones in the suggestion of some of the best microphones in our other list. But there is no dedicated list of the best USB Microphones, that’s why this post is going to cover all the USB microphones.
For now, we will stay within the budget of $100. Later on, I will be posting the overall best USB Microphone post as well.
In this post, I have shared the top 7 best USB Microphones under $100 with features, pros, and cons and with a proper buyer’s guide as well.
Which Are The Best USB Microphones Under $100?
| Image | Product | Feature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Top Pick
|
Blue Snowball ICE
| Best USB Microphone Pick | Check On Amazon |
Runner Up
|
Samson Meteor
| Best Runner Up Microphone | Check On Amazon |
Budget
|
Fifine K669
| Best in budget and best for gaming, streaming, etc. | Check On Amazon |
Versatile
|
Samson GO Mic
| Best in terms of versatility | Check On Amazon |
For vocals
|
CAD U37
| Best USB Microphone for vocals and singing | Check On Amazon |
Easily Portable
|
Blue Snowball
| Best USB Microphone for podcasts, meetings, calls, etc. | Check On Amazon |
For Streaming
|
Audio Technica ATR2500
| Best USB Microphone for streaming | Check On Amazon |
Let’s check every microphone in detail.
Blue Snowball iCE
Blue is one of the most popular microphones amongst content creators, social media influencers, and podcasters. Most of their products are bestsellers on every platform and they are focused on making the best and budget-friendly microphones.
Blue Snowball iCE is the best pick microphone on our list because of the overall rounder performance of the microphone.
It is also one of the most budget-friendly mics on this list as well.
Blue Snowball iCE is the Cardioid Condenser USB microphone which is one of the bestseller microphones on Amazon and other platforms.
This mic does have a unique design with an adjustable stand that makes it easily portable. It is quite easy to use. The built quality of Snowball iCE is impressive and durable even if not that much metal construction is done.
Snowball iCE is one of the best USB microphones for PC. It does have a frequency response of 40Hz to 18KHz which is best for all work. In terms of noise cancellation, it is good enough but I expected it a bit more perfect. (Works best in quite rooms)
The sound quality of the microphone is smooth, crispy, and a bit louder as well. The one that is needed for interviews, podcasts, etc.
If you are looking for a versatile USB microphone with the best portable options at a low price then Blue Snowball iCE is one of the top picks that you can choose.
Samson Meteor
Samson is a very popular name amongst the whole tech industry. They are popular for other products such as TV, gadgets, etc. Samson is a well known and very reputable company that focused on most consumer-centric products.
If you were looking for the perfect professional USB microphone then Samson Meteor might catch your attention. Samson Meteor is one of the most recommended USB microphones by most experts and users.
Samson Meteor is a large-diaphragm cardioid condenser microphone that is known as one of the best professional USB microphones.
Meteor does not attract that much in terms of design as it is the very antique combination of the classic and retro look. It comes with a table stand. It is made of chrome-plated body and it has adjustable legs.
The frequency response of Samson Meteor is 20Hz to 20KHz which is really best for any USB microphone. It does have a recording resolution of 16-bit, 44.1/48KHz. It does have a maximum sound pressure level of 120dB.
Meteor can easily capture any kind of sound in the most natural way. It produces the natural sound without any noise at all. You can record vocals, podcasts, or even the instrumentals (with some exceptions like drums or other high sound sources).
Meteor is also my favorite pick in this whole list as it is the best microphone for your studio setup or anything.
If you are looking for a professional USB microphone then Samson Meteor can be the best choice even if you want it for your studio or for portability as well.
Fifine K669
Fifine has made their name quite popular with some latest microphones. They have produced the microphones which are needed for the current consumers, that is with better and new technology at reasonable pricing.
Fifine K669 is one of the most talked-about microphones in the community, forums, and groups. If you are looking for the most budget-friendly USB microphone, then Fifinal K669 is the cheapest USB microphone on our list.
Fifine K669 is a USB Podcast Condenser Microphone that is best for recording on your laptop or PC. It does not require any sound card interface or phantom power supply (almost all USB mics do not).
It does have the unidirectional polar pattern which captures the sound from the front side of the mic only. The microphone is unique and attractive in terms of design, it represents and makes your setup look more attractive.
K669 is durable with and it has the best-built quality with all the metal construction.
Fifine K669 has a frequency response of 20Hz to 20KHz which is impressive to have in that budget. It does have the signal to noise ratio of 78db.
The sound quality of the mic is perfect for interviews, podcasts, voiceovers, etc. I won’t recommend this mic for vocals or instrumentals.
If you are looking for a cheap USB microphone with the best sound quality, design and performance then Fifine K669 should be your final choice.
Samson GO Mic
Samson does give you many options in the same category as they know that people always look for the options. That’s why you will always see many different variants of Samson products.
Samson Go Mic is one of the most versatile with more features USB microphone on our list. It is the USB Condenser Microphone for Recording and Streaming on computers.
Samson Go Mic does have a unique and movie-like look which looks pretty different. The built quality of the mic is quite nice.
It does have multiple polar patterns as a cardioid polar pattern which picks the sound from only the front side and the omnidirectional polar pattern which picks the sound from all the directions equally. You can switch to whichever you want when needed.
Samson GO Mic does have a frequency response of 80Hz to 18KHz which I think is good for streaming and recording sounds in your room. It won’t be perfect for vocals or instrumentals. It does have a max SPL of 121 dB.
The mic is pretty easy to use. You don’t need to install any drivers on your pc. It is just plugged and play microphone. Much easy for beginners as well.
Samson GO Mic is perfect for those who are more into live streaming, Facebook lives, YouTube lives, etc.
If you are looking for a microphone that is versatile in terms of features and performance for your streaming or recordings then the Samson GO mic is one of the best choices for you.
CAD U37
CAD Audio is a very old company that is on the market since the year 1931. They don’t have a vast amount of products like other companies but whatever they have is the professional products with the best quality.
Most of the above-mentioned USB mics were not recommended for vocals, that’s why this is the professional USB mic for vocals.
CAD U37 is the best USB Microphone for vocals and singing in the budget.
CAD U37 is the professional USB Studio Condenser Microphone which is one of the best USB mics for vocals and singing on our list.
CAD U37 has quite a nice design which looks more professional and new modern as well. It comes with the 4 ports USB 2.0 hub which makes it super handy for multiple uses.
U37 does have a frequency response of 20Hz to 20KHz which is because it is a condenser microphone with professional features.
It produces naturals and a bit crispy sound. The mic is best for a studio-like environment when you can record singing or vocals.
U37 mic works best with gaming, streaming as well. This will suit well for any studio setup or any room. It does the best job at noise cancellation, perfect for singing vocals.
If you are looking for a professional USB microphone for vocal and singing at budget-friendly pricing then CAD U37 is the one where you should keep your eyes on.
Blue Snowball
Blue microphones do have many features that make them more convenient and more versatile. Getting those features in the budget is the best thing for beginners or for those who do not want to spend much on stuff like this.
Blue Snowball is another mic by Blue company that is knowns for its portability. It is the most easily portable microphone on our list.
Blue Snowball iCE and Blue Snowball look almost similar, thus make sure which one you are seeing. It is also the best alternative to Blue Snowball iCE as well.
Blue Snowball is a USB microphone that has multiple polar patterns as a cardioid polar pattern and omnidirectional polar pattern.
The design of the Snowball mic is similar to Blue Snowball iCE and the build quality is also good enough. The mic is pretty easily portable and easy to carry around as well.
Blue Snowball does have a frequency response of 40Hz to 18KHz and it does have a sample rate of 44.1KHz/16-bit.
Snowball mic is best for podcasting, interviews, streaming, etc. If you are a YouTube, Vlogger, or someone who does travel often, then this is best in terms of portability.
The sound quality of the mic is crispy and a bit dense as well. It does a good enough job of noise cancellation.
If you are looking for an easy to carry microphone then Blue Snowball is the one that you can check out.
Audio Technica ATR2500
Audio Technica is the brand that you will see in almost every top microphones list. They have a variety of mics in each category. The Audio Technica mics are much of professional mics with natural and smooth sound quality and extra features which makes them versatile.
ATR2500 looks more like a professional microphone. It is the USB Cardioid Condenser Microphone from the ATR series of Audio Technica.
The design of the mic is very classical and it is a bit heavy as well when compared with other USB microphones. It has an all-metal construction like other AT products which makes them more durable.
Audio Technica ATR2500 is one of the best USB microphones for streaming and live. It does have some extra controls for volume and monitoring as well.
ATR2500 has a frequency response of 30Hz to 15KHz and a signal-noise ratio of 192Hz. It does have both USB and XLR port connectivity.
The sound of the ATR2500 is very naturals which are best for vocals as well. The mic is mostly suggested for live streaming and recording. I won’t recommend this mic for those who want to record instrumentals.
This mic is popular because of its brand value. Audio Technica is one of the best microphone brands in the industry.
If you are looking for the best USB microphone for streaming, recording, voiceovers, interviews, etc. then Audio Technica ATR2500 is one of the best choices for you.
Buyer’s Guide For Best USB Microphone Under $100
Here are few things that you should see when you are buying a USB microphone for yourself. Getting a microphone doesn’t mean you just have to get the best one for yourself.
You should opt for the mic which suits your needs and the requirements.
I am listing out things that you should look at before purchasing a USB microphone.
Control
Check out how many controls and buttons you are getting with the microphone. Some mics do have switchable pads, some have options to mute, some have the option for volume as well.
Check out how many controls you are getting in the mic. The more the controls, the more versatile it is, and the more you can control the output as well.
Diaphragm
Check whether your mic does have a large diaphragm or a small diaphragm.
Large diaphragms capture more sound but it catches a bit of unwanted noise as well. While small diaphragms are ideal for high sound pressure level (SPL) applications as it can handle loud noises easily.
Choose the one which is well suited for your requirement.
Polar Patterns
This is important. Check how many and which polar patterns does your mic has.
Cardioid polar pattern picks sound from only the front side of the mic (which is good for noise cancellation from other sides), Omnidirectional mics capture sound from all the sides of the mic equally (which captures more noise as well). Figure-8 polar pattern picks sound from front and back sound of the mic (ideal for duo singing or interview).
Polar patterns affect how the mic captures the sound, noise cancellation, and much more.
Sound Quality
That’s why you get the mic. To get the best sound quality.
Some mics do produce crispy sound, some produce very natural sound and some produce smooth sounds.
For stuff like interviews, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc. crispy sound is much better. For vocals and singing, natural sound is preferred. For instrumentals, smooth sound works the best.
Portability
Almost all the above-mentioned mics are portable. Check the weight and connectivity of the microphone.
Check how easy it is to carry the mic around. I have also listed the best portable USB mic as well. If you are someone who does often travels, you need an easily portable mic.
For those who are working from home or studio, it doesn’t matter that much.
Ease of Use
If you are a nontech person who does not get into stuff like impedance, frequency response, etc. You should check how easy the mic is to operate and connect.
USB mics are often more easy to set up and use compared to the condenser mics and the dynamic mics.
Budget
As you are here on this page, you are looking for the mic in the budget. That’s good. You don’t need to extend your budget to get the mic for you.
You can always get the best mic for you in every budget you want. You might need to compromise on some functions, extra options, or brand but when it comes to the quality of the sound, you don’t need to.
Always choose the mic which is in your budget.
Brand
Check which brand you are using. You don’t need to spend extra money to get the branded microphone or other accessories.
As you can see, all the above-mentioned mics are from well-known brands. All of them are within the budget.
As there is plenty of microphone brand in the market, choose the trusted and well reputable brand.
You can read this also: Top 10 Best Microphone Brands
Features
Check out what kind of features you are getting with your mic. It will come in handy for you in many ways.
If you are paying more, then you should always get some extra features such as monitoring, switchable pads, volume control, etc.
Final Verdict
You have gone through the list of best USB microphones under $100 and the buyer’s guide for it as well. I hope, you have decided on the microphone for yourself.
If you are still confused and want my recommendation then I will suggest you pick Samson Meteor microphone as it is my favorite choice from this list. It is also a very versatile and perfect microphone for almost everything.
Soon I am going to publish the list of best USB microphones overall. You will find many premium USB mics in that list as well.
Do you need any help related to microphones? Do let me know in the comments section below.
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