The 6 Best USB Microphones for Video Calls, Podcasting, and Gaming

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Every work-from-home starter kit must include a sturdy desk, a quality keyboard, and a powerful computer—those are a given. Maybe you'll upgrade with the new MacBook air M3 for working while you travel, or an under-desk treadmill for traveling while you work. For us, after the essentials our next step would be to add a high-quality USB microphone to the setup. Your calls and Zoom chats will be transformed by the crystal-clear audio. You’ll sound amazing when you confidently say, “Nothing from me,” at the end of your third successive meeting.

In addition to upgrading the sound of your video chats, a USB microphone is essential for those who want to livestream, do voice overs, or start a podcast. Hey, everyone has a podcast, so you may as well have one too. The beauty of the best USB microphones is they’re plug and play. You simply plug it into your computer, select the microphone in the settings, and you’re ready to go. Hence, plug and play. It’s so easy, even your tech-illiterate boss can figure it out.

Thanks to work from home culture and the popularity of content creators, there are more fantastic USB microphones on the market than ever before, and there's a variety of price points to suit every budget. Whether you’re podcasting, streaming, or hopping on yet another work call, a USB microphone can significantly improve your audio quality. So, ditch the cheap mic in your headphones and elevate your sound game with the best USB microphones below.

Yeti X

The standard Blue Yeti has been a longtime favorite among podcasters and streamers. The Yeti X is the upgraded model, and our pick for the best overall USB microphone. It raises the bar by offering an excellent balance of sound quality, features, and ease of use, making it an excellent choice for beginners and professionals.

The standout feature is its four-capsule array, allowing you to quickly switch between different pickup patterns, including cardioid, omnidirectional, bidirectional, and stereo. This ensures you capture audio exactly how you want, whether you’re recording solo, interviewing someone, or capturing a group discussion on one mic. The included LED ring around the volume knob, along with a solid ring embedded in the knob itself, gives you instant visual feedback on your microphone level, preventing audio clipping or recordings that are too quiet.

The Yeti X is on the larger side, but the extra bulk translates to high-end build quality and impressive sturdiness. Despite its larger size, the mic is easy to use and provides users with a professional audio experience.

Seiren Mini

Despite a compact and high-end design, the Razer Seiren Mini microphone stays budget-friendly at under $50. This makes it a great choice for budget-conscious users just looking to improve their Zoom calls without breaking the bank or going too deep into the vast options of USB microphones.

Razer’s mic sits on a heavy-duty stand with a ball head that allows you to find the perfect angle. While we love the space-saving size, its shorter stature means you may have to hunch down to ensure it captures your voice clearly. We found placing it on a few books was a good solution, and though it’s not the most elegant solution, you can't complain at this price. For a more permanent fix, consider picking up a microphone boom arm.

Wave Neo

Elgato has become a favorite among content creators, and the brand is attempting to capture everyone else’s attention with a new consumer-friendly lineup. The Wave Neo is a more streamlined USB microphone that anyone can pick up and use. Simply plug it into your computer and you’re ready. We found it was a great option for those day-to-day work calls.

It has a sturdy stand you can make taller with an additional riser. The mic itself is tilt-able and there’s a convenient tap-to-mute button on the front. Meanwhile, it supports replaceable pop filters and features a clip on the stand that helps keep cables in check. Finally, it works with Elgato’s optional Wave Link software, which allows you to adjust the volume of audio channels all in one interface.

Quantum Stream Studio

Geared toward gamers, the JBL Quantum Stream Studio boasts a flashy RGB lighting scheme that complements gaming setups. A conveniently placed tap-to-mute button illuminates red when muted, providing clear visual feedback. Gain and volume adjustments are made with a textured knob on the front, while a separate button cycles through the four available polar patterns.

Beyond the gamer aesthetic, the mic excels in audio quality, delivering impressive results straight out of the box. User-friendly controls allow for quick adjustments to settings, making it simple to operate. While it’s technically made for gaming, the JBL Quantum Stream Studio’s versatility extends to video calls, voice-overs, and various other use cases.

Profile

You and a friend might (and everyone else on the internet) think you have a "million dollar podcast idea." Doesn't matter how good the idea actually is, it deserves a quality audio. The Sennheiser Profile is an excellent place to start. The brand has a reputation for making some of the best audio equipment money can buy, and it’s trusted by podcasters, YouTubers, and content creators alike. This model is another plug-and-play option that gives you everything in a low-maintenance package.

The basic edition of the Sennheiser Profile comes with a desk stand, or you can opt for the Streaming Set, which comes with a boom arm for a more professional experience. Either way, the mic itself features several easy-to-use knobs for adjusting gain and mix, plus a soft-touch mute button with an LED ring to indicate when it’s engaged. It’s the perfect starter if you’re finally ready to take your podcasting ambitions seriously.

MV7+

Shure is another brand that’s synonymous with podcasters and content creators. The brand’s MV7+ is a versatile mic that’s well-suited for all use cases. It features USB-C and XLR outputs, allowing you to connect it to a computer or professional audio interface. A built-in headphone jack with direct monitoring allows you to hear your voice in real-time.

The MV7+ boasts several useful features, including a customizable LED touch panel, auto-level mode, and a digital pop filter. These features combine to deliver professional-sounding audio with minimal background noise. It has a high-end price, but in return you get a high-end experience that’s great for beginners and pros.

What to Consider When Buying a USB Microphone

Sound - Yes, how the microphone sounds is, indeed, important. After all, the goal here is to upgrade the sound you get from your laptop, tablet, and headphones. The mic needs to sound clean without any background noise or distortion. You want your voice to come through crisp and clear, just like you’re in the same room with the person you’re talking to.

Of course, online shopping for microphones can be tricky. While companies offer audio samples, these recordings might be optimized for specific, ideal environments. Your own space will have unique acoustics that can significantly impact the microphone’s performance. We tested these microphones, and can confirm high-quality audio in all of them. If you want to do your own research, focus on established audio brands known for quality and prioritize retailers with generous return policies.

Controls - Microphones generally come with basic controls to fine-tune your audio experience. These include a headphone level control, which adjusts the volume of your own voice in your headphones so you can hear yourself clearly while recording or on calls. A recording level control acts like a volume knob for your voice, ensuring it’s heard clearly without distortion. Finally, a mute button can cut off the microphone, so your colleagues don’t have to listen to your sneezes and coughs during a meeting.

Stand or boom compatibility - Most USB mics come with a basic stand, so you can place it on your desk or other work surface. Some options offer compatibility with a boom arm, which lets you extend the microphone over your keyboard or desk and then move it out of the way when it’s not in use.

Polar patterns - This might seem technical, but it’s important to know. A mic’s polar pattern simply tells you which direction(s) it picks up sound from most effectively. Cardioid is the most common, picking up sound from directly in front of the mic. This is great for office use for video calls. There’s also bidirectional (good for two people) and omnidirectional, the latter of which picks up sound from all directions, making it a good option for group discussions.

Why Trust Esquire?

At Esquire, video calls are a regular occurrence. Looking our best with a high-quality webcam is priority, but sounding our best is equally important. This has led us down a path of exploring countless USB microphones in our quest for the absolute best audio quality for our conversations. Maybe it’s an obsession, but we simply have a passion for finding the best tech available.

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