Top 3 Best Budget Mic Options for Podcasters & Content Creators

Best Budget Mic Options: At-a-glance

• You don’t need to spend a lot of money to record good audio these days.
• There are plenty of ultra-low-cost mics on the market.
• With that said, we don’t want to opt for low-quality.
• A budget microphone is false economy if it breaks after a short time and needs to be replaced.
• We need to consider flexibility, too. A microphone is better value when it can be used with almost any recording device.
• The three budget mic options recommended here are the ATR2100x, the Samson Q2U, and the Maono AU-HD300T.
• They’re all quite similar, but I’ll help you decide with some pricing info and sound samples.
• Read on for the full roundup…

Money can buy you a world-class microphone. But the good news is that you don’t need to spend a fortune on your gear to create world-class content. In fact, even if you can afford to pay several hundred (or even thousands) for your mic, that doesn’t mean you should.

When we dive into the world of ultra-high-end recording gear, nuances become so subtle that they go way beyond spoken-word content. The majority of listeners hear podcasts through cheap earbuds, while the sound from YouTube videos typically blasts out of phone or laptop speakers. That’s not to say you don’t want to create the best possible-sounding content. You just don’t need to do it at the expense of paying the rent.

Best Budget Mic Options: Sounding Better for Less

When we talk about the best budget mic options, it goes without saying that we’re looking for a low price. However, we still want the mic to sound like it cost a lot more than it did. We also want it to be robust and durable enough to last us a good few years. It’s a false economy to buy something at a low cost only to have to replace it on a regular basis.

Value in Flexibility

Value comes with flexibility too. Typically, a mic is either USB (plugging straight into your computer) or XLR (used via a digital recorder or audio interface). I suppose I should’ve made a “Get yourself a mic that can do both” meme for this article.

One of the major benefits of getting a dual XLR-USB (combo) mic is that it grows with you. You can start out by recording solo episodes and online calls using the mic in its USB form. In fact, for many podcasters, this will remain their setup forever. But further down the line if you fancy “going pro” and picking up a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 or a Zoom PodTrak P4, you won’t need to buy a new mic to use it.

According to the 2024 Podcaster Gear Survey, almost 20% of podcasters use a combo mic that functions as both a USB and XLR model.

But enough preamble. Let’s kick on to some actual budget mic recommendations along with prices and sound samples. A quick heads up that we use affiliate links here, so may earn a small commission, should you buy through them – though at no extra cost to yourself!

Samson Q2U: Budget Mic Option #1

According to our 2024 Podcaster Gear Survey, the Samson Q2U is the second most popular mic in podcasting. It’s also been our most-recommended mic here at The Podcast Host for at least the past ten years. As it’s a much older model than the other two, it may seem to fall behind a little on some technical specs. But it’s worth noting that a lot of these specs are largely meaningless to the vast majority of spoken-word podcasters working in “ordinary” home recording setups.

• Typically available for around $70
• Dynamic/Cardioid build
• Pricing and availability may depend on your region
• Bundle deals with additional kit are often available
• Has lowest impedance out of the three, which is beneficial for long (XLR) cable runs with minimal signal loss

ATR2100x: Budget Mic Option #2

The ATR2100 by Audio Technica is identical to the Q2U in many ways. It has long been another hugely popular podcasting mic. In late 2020, the ATR2100 got a bit of an upgrade (and a wee X added to the end of its name). It now boasts a max Sample Rate of 96kHz (massive overkill for most podcasters, but still a cool flex) and bit depth of up to 24. It’s marginally the lightest mic out of the three, which is beneficial for use as a handheld. The 2100x also uses a USB-C connection, which might make it more appealing to folks with brand-new laptops.

• Typically available for around $50
• Dynamic/Cardioid build
• Pricing and availability may depend on your region
• Bundle deals with additional kit are often available
• Lightest option
• Has the highest Sample Rate option (96kHz)
• Has a USB-C connection

Maono AU-HD300T: Budget Mic Option #3

The Maono AU-HD300T is hardly a name that rolls off the tongue, but it’s a serious competitor to the other two established heavyweights. It’s a newer model on the market from a lesser-known company, so it’s lacking the hard evidence of longevity that the other two have built up. However, the general trend in its online reviews is extremely positive. Its 40 Hz – 17 kHz frequency response covers a wider spectrum of sound compared to the 50 Hz – 15 kHz range offered by the other two, allowing for more detailed low and high-frequency capture. Like the ATR2100x, it also now comes with a USB-C connection.

• Typically available for under $50
• Dynamic/Cardioid build
• Pricing and availability may depend on your region
• Bundle deals with additional kit may be available
• Offers a wider frequency response and higher sensitivity than the other two
• Has a USB-C connection

What Do Dynamic & Cardioid Mean?

I’ve mentioned that all three mics are Dynamic and Cardioid. If you’re not sure what that means or why it matters, let’s do a very quick summary:

Dynamic refers to how the mic is built and how it functions. Dynamic mics are generally more forgiving of suboptimal conditions and wonky mic technique. They tend to be more durable, too.

Cardioid refers to the areas around the mic it focuses on to “hear” sound. Cardioid mics are designed for use by one person at one time, so this isn’t the type of kit you can plonk on a table and gather your pals around (unless you’re simply saying to them, “Behold, my incredible new budget microphone!”).

The Best Budget Mic Peter Rabbit Sound Test

Pricing is an important part of any “budget” roundup. But the most important factor for judging any mic is its sound.

What better way to put a few mics through their paces than to read some Peter Rabbit? If a mic can work as both USB and XLR, then I can work at both recording sound samples for an article AND trying to up my bedtime story game.

Q2U as an XLR Mic

ATR2100 as an XLR Mic

Maono as an XLR Mic

Maono as a USB Mic

Q2U as a USB Mic

ATR2100 as a USB Mic

What Else Will I Need?

Each budget mic option comes in a box alongside the various other bits and pieces you’ll need for it. You’ll generally find both types of cable (USB and XLR), a desk stand, and some plosive protection (either in the form of a pop shield or pop filter). That basically just leaves something to plug the mic into and start recording, and, if you own any sort of computer, you’re all set.

You can record solo eps directly into a free programme like Audacity, or you might want a dedicated call recorder app for online conversations and interviews.

I mentioned desk stands to support the mic. These are totally fine for getting you started, but you might want to consider upgrading to a boom arm further down the line. Desk stands are vulnerable to picking up unwanted sounds each time you touch your desk or keyboard. Most boom arms will prevent those vibrations from actually reaching the mic. Again, check before buying a mic to see if you can get it in a bundle deal alongside a boom arm; this will save you more money in the long run.

Finally, if you want to use your shiny new budget mic in its XLR form you’ll need to get a USB audio interface, digital recorder, or mixer!

What About Editing & Publishing?

So recording your audio is a doddle, but you’ll need somewhere to edit and publish your podcast. On the production side of things, I’ve already mentioned Audacity, which is free, and has a ton of options, plugins, and features. If you’ve never edited audio before, and Audacity looks intimidating, then a better option could be Alitu. Alitu is our ‘Podcast Maker’ tool. It’s designed to make podcasting accessible to everyone.

Alitu is a tool that enables you to:

• Record solo or remote recordings
• Automatically clean and enhance your audio
• Easily edit out mistakes or fluff: you can even do this by deleting text in the auto-generated transcripts Alitu creates for you
• Easily piece together segments, transitions, music, and ads
• Publish your podcast and push it out to Apple, Spotify, and all other listening platforms

If you’d like to find out more, here’s how to make a podcast with Alitu.

Best Budget Mics: Conclusion

Here are links to the three mics I’ve covered in this roundup.

• Samson Q2U – $70
• ATR2100 – $50
• Maono AU-HD300T – $50

The Q2U lags a little on the technical specs front because it’s a lot older than the other two, but these specs are unlikely to be noticeable or relevant to the vast majority of podcasters. The bottom line is that there’s little to split what are three great budget mics. If I were in the market for one, I’d simply choose whatever was the cheapest and easiest to find. Remember, pricing and availability will differ from region to region.

And if you like the idea of a USB/XLR hybrid mic, and are prepared to invest a little more, be sure to check out our reviews of the Shure MV7+, Samson Q9U, and the Rode NT1 5th Gen.

Need More Help?

Hopefully, this guide has helped you decide on the best budget mic option. If you’re still undecided and want to shop around some more, our roundups of the Best Podcast Mics and Best USB Mics might come in handy.

Choosing a mic is a big step in podcasting, but it’s far from the only thing you’ll need to consider. In the Podcraft Academy we’ve got courses on everything from launching and editing to promotion and monetisation. On top of that, we run weekly live Q&A sessions too, so you’ll always get the support, feedback, advice, and guidance that you need!