5 Best USB Microphones for Streaming Under $100

It’s no secret that a good microphone goes a long way, especially if you stream for a living. While you can get by with a run-of-the-mill microphone, a dedicated USB mic geared for your streams will make your chit-chat and interactions sound that much better. Be that as it may, you might be wondering about the best USB microphones for streaming, especially if you’re on a tight budget of say, $100. 

Well, fret not, as we have the solution to all your recording woes. Below, you will find a list of five excellent USB microphones that will help your voice stand out amongst your peers. 

But, before we get into that, you might want to read about:

• The best microphones for smartphones to record on the go.
• The best camera microphones for vloggers.
• The best ambidextrous mice under $50 to land flick shots on your streams.

With that out of the way, let’s take a closer look at some best USB microphones for streaming. 

1. Blue Snowball USB Microphone

More notably, the device comes with an adjustable desktop stand, so you can angle the microphone any way you please. Coming to the meat of the matter, the Blue Snowball comes with two custom mic capsules that can work across two different polar patterns. For the uninitiated, a polar pattern describes the way a microphone picks up sound. In the case of the Blue Snowball, the device features a cardioid and an omnidirectional pattern. 

The cardioid mode essentially picks up the sound emanating from the front of the microphone and negates the audio coming in from the back of the mic completely. This is also construed as directional audio by many and is ideal for when you’re streaming alone or recording a podcast. The omnidirectional pattern, on the other hand, picks up sound equally from all directions. As such, you can use the mic with this pattern when you want others to partake in a discussion.

You can also use the microphone’s companion Sherpa app to adjust the polar patterns, or the mic’s gain and playback level on the fly. It goes without saying, then, that the Blue Snowball has been an instant hit. To that end, buyers, as well as reviewers, can be seen singing praises of the mic. Understandably, the Blue Snowball is one of the best streaming microphones for under $100. 

Why You Should Buy It

The Blue Snowball is a reliable and affordable microphone with two polar patterns.

2. Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ Microphone

That’s partly why the microphone is considered a fantastic Blue Yeti alternative too. For one, the unit costs less and despite that, the microphone features built-in mix and volume control knobs. You can even plug in a headphone to monitor the microphone input directly.

What’s more, thanks to the aforementioned mix and volume toggles, you can hear pre-recorded audio playing on your PC as well as the microphone’s input, all at once. You can even fine-tune which audio byte you’d want to be louder, which is great.

Moving on, you should know that the microphone uses a cardioid pattern. As a result, the microphone will pick up on your voice eloquently. It will automatically muffle the sounds playing toward the back of the unit too. Unsurprisingly, buyers rate the microphone highly, with many lauding the unit’s recording capabilities. Some buyers have even used the microphone to record vocals for a song, which speaks volumes about the AT2020USB+’s range (no pun intended).

The icing on the cake is that the microphone comes with a host of accessories, including a carrying pouch, a pivoting stand mount, and a threaded adapter. All said and done, the Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ will undoubtedly level up the quality of your streams. 

Why You Should Buy It

The AT2020USB+ is an affordable USB mic with built-in knobs for mix and volume control. It also comes with a headphone input.

3. Blue Yeti USB Microphone 

That’s not all, as the mic also comes with four distinct polar patterns. These include cardioid, omnidirectional, bidirectional, and stereo polar patterns. Now, we’ve already discussed the cardioid and omnidirectional patterns in the sub-heads above. However, for those unaware, a bidirectional polar pattern is often referred to as a figure-8 polar pattern. 

As its moniker suggests, the figure-8 polar pattern picks up sounds emanating from the front and towards the rear of the microphone. In doing so, it completely cuts off the sound projected from the sides. On the other hand, the stereo pattern is useful for recording spatial audio. With the pattern enabled, the Yeti can pick up on the left and right audio channels simultaneously. 

Understandably, you shouldn’t use this mode to record podcasts or voiceovers, as your pitch would oscillate a lot if you move your head. That said, the mode is quite useful for recording musicals as it can pick up on the positioning of each instrument with the virtual sound stage. Moving on, the mic also comes with an adjustable desktop stand that should keep it anchored when you’re speaking into it.

You can even customize the audio output by using the Blue VOICE software, which features a bunch of vocal effects and advanced modulation presets. All said and done, the Blue Yeti USB microphone is among the best microphones for streaming. 

Why You Should Buy It

The Yeti comes with four distinct polar patterns and offers a ton of customization, thanks to the Blue VOICE software.

4. HyperX QuadCast USB Microphone 

While the bit-depth remains 16-bit, the mic can perform 96,000 (96KHz) samples per second. In other words, the mic can churn out a richer recording with more nuanced sounds. That’s not all, as the mic also comes with built-in controls to adjust the gain as well as the polar patterns. Speaking of which, much like the Blue Yeti, the HyperX QuadCast also features four polar patterns.

These include stereo, omnidirectional, cardioid, and bidirectional polar patterns. As prefaced previously, the stereo polar pattern can be used to record instruments or music. The omnidirectional polar pattern comes in clutch for when you want to take a conference call or invite a lot of speakers on your stream. The cardioid polar pattern can help you record podcasts seamlessly and the bidirectional polar pattern can be used for a one-on-one interview, among other things.

Naturally, buyers have left glowing reviews on QuadCast’s product page, with most users citing that the microphone exceeded their expectations. Lastly, you should know that the microphone also comes with a pop filter and a shock mount. Pool everything together and the HyperX QuadCast is a fantastic microphone that will assist you tremendously in your streaming career. 

Why You Should Buy It

The HyperX QuadCast features dynamic lighting and comes with dedicated dials to change a lot of settings on the fly. It also supports four polar patterns.

5. Razer Seiren V2 X USB Microphone 

That said, supercardioid mics can pick up audio from the rear of the microphone too. While not as adept as a bidirectional mic, they can envelop listeners in an immersive sound stage as well. Moving on, much like the Audio-Technica AT2020USB+, you can plug in a headphone to monitor the audio levels on the Razer Seiren V2 X too. What’s more, the mic ships with an integrated digital limiter, which is programmed to mitigate audio clipping. 

As a result, you need not worry about your voice weaning off when you’re speaking into the Razer Seiren V2 X USB microphone. The unit also comes with a dedicated gain control and mute button. Lastly, the device gets a built-in shock absorber, which should keep vibrations at bay. To sum up, buyers looking for a reliable USB mic for streaming will find plenty to like about Razer’s offering.

Why You Should Buy It

The Seiren V2 X is a great bundle, as it comes with a built-in shock absorber that mitigates vibrations when recording. It also features the supercardioid pickup pattern ideal for streaming.

FAQs About USB Microphones

Let Your Voice Be Heard

If you’re looking to up the quality of your streams, you cannot go wrong with a USB microphone. They are not only extremely convenient to use but also don’t cost a fortune. Rest assured, if you’re an up-and-coming streamer, you’ll want a USB mic plugged into your rig.