These are the best podcasting microphones we've tested. All models are aimed at serious podcasters seeking professional audio quality. Even if you're just podcasting for fun, starting with high-quality sound will help you separate yourself from podcasters using gaming headsets or AirPods. Although those work in a pinch, nothing can replace a high-quality podcasting mic — you'll boost the listening experience and grow your audience with a good-quality podcasting mic.
All the picks in this guide to the best podcasting microphones are dedicated USB or XLR options. Whether you're a novice or podcasting pro, making the switch to the right microphone for your needs could make a difference. Read on to see which podcast microphone is right for you.
The best podcasting microphones you can buy right now
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Best podcasting microphone overall
The PodMic is small, but overflowing with high-quality recording capability. While serious podcasters should always fine-tune their recordings before publishing, one of the best things about the PodMic is that it doesn’t take much setup to get it to sound crisp and clear in the first place.
Not in the pure audio sense, anyway; you will need to buy a stand separately, and the XLR cable won’t simply plug into any laptop or PC. But the microphone itself is cheap enough that you can spend more on stands and interfaces, with the ultimate result of superior sound quality to that of many more expensive USB microphones. If you chose a USB mic like the Blue Yeti (our number two choice), you'll likely find yourself eventually upgrading to the Rode PodMic to take your podcast to the next level.
- Read our full Rode PodMic review
Best value podcasting microphone
The JLab Talk has stuck around the sub-$80 mark for a while now. If this holds, it’s a fantastic deal on what was already a solid USB mic when it launched at $99. Like the Blue Yeti, it’s child’s play to set up and use, and you even get the same four recording patterns to play with.
We also like the adjustable tripod stand and the combined gain/volume dial, which glows blue or green depending on which level you’re adjusting. If you need to buy multiple microphones for guests and co-hosts, the Talk is an extremely cost-effective choice.
- Read our full JLab Talk review
Best premium podcasting microphone
Wherever there’s a discussion of outstanding microphones, the Blue Yeti is never far away. We rate this user-friendly mic highly for just about anything that involves voice recording, and it’s just at home on a podcast as it is on a gaming stream or Skype call. And while it's now part of the Logitech for Creators brand, the Yeti is still the same great mic that's really the best for most people.
In addition to working well in cardioid mode — that’s when the mic only records the area directly in front of it — the Blue Yeti also offers bidirectional, omnidirectional and stereo recording patterns. These can give you some extra flexibility with your podcast formats, as you could record interviews or panel discussions with a single microphone.
- Read our full Blue Yeti review
Best podcasting microphone for pro users
While it's now the Logitech for Creators X instead of the Blue Yeti X, this is still the same great podcasting mic: a bigger, upgraded version of the crowd-pleasing Yeti. Among the improvements are front-mounted gain controls, so you don’t need to reach around the back to make adjustments, and an onboard level meter that makes it much easier to check your settings are how you like them.
These might not sound like major differences, considering how much cheaper the standard Blue Yeti is, but in a live recording situation, these extra tools can help you make on-the-fly corrections. This, in turn, could save you editing time later. So if you have a bit more room in your budget, consider the X over the standard Yeti microphone.
- Read our full Blue Yeti X review
Best alternative podcasting microphone for pro users
The Elgato Wave: 3 is neither a dedicated podcaster’s mic nor a true generalist like the Blue Yeti or JLab Talk. How, then, is it one of the best podcasting microphones? For starters, it’s a very good-sounding cardioid mic, with an almost retro look that fits in well with any studio space.
More importantly, its streaming focus could actually translate into podcast effectiveness. It’s designed to work in conjunction with the Elgato Stream Deck, a multi-button console used by streamers to make sound adjustments while they’re live; you could easily adapt this setup to work for podcasting, with the Stream Deck simplifying your mic controls so that you can focus on discussions and banter.
- Read our full Elgato Wave: 3 review
Best budget podcasting microphone
The UM700 is another solid all-rounder. It’s a more affordable take on the Blue Yeti formula, though build quality hasn’t suffered for it, and you can flick between different recording patterns should you need to record a group conversation without multiple microphones.
Sound quality is fine — you may need to touch up recordings when editing, but that should be normal practice if you want your podcast to sound professional. You get a full set of onboard controls too, including a mute button and a gain dial. Give the UM700 a shot if you want a Yeti-style design at an even lower price.
- Read our full Movo UM700 review
Best podcasting microphone for gamers
Like the Wave: 3, the QuadCast S’s podcasting credentials could be considered a happy accident: whereas the Elgato mic was built for streaming, HyperX’s is primarily concerned with gaming. As if the light-up RGB grille wasn’t enough of a giveaway.
Even so, there’s plenty here for regular podcasters. The QuadCast S sounds great with minimal setup, can be easily mounted to a boom arm or other custom stand and includes some handy bonus features that could save you money on accessories. These include a shock mount, which quietens down any accidental bumps the mic might take while recording, and a built-in pop filter for cleaner-sounding speech.
- Read our full HyperX QuadCast S review
Also tested
What to consider when selecting the best podcasting microphone for you
Audio quality
Recording quality is a vital quality for any type of microphone, but it’s easily the most important attribute of any podcasting mic. You could probably get away with a bit of fuzziness or gain imbalance for the odd gaming session, but in a voice-only medium like podcasting, you should only demand the best.
Even then you should be prepared for some audio editing once your recording session is complete. But by choosing one of the models above you can at least minimize the effort required in the post-production stage.
Recording patterns
Consider also the format of your podcast, and how your recording hardware will need to fit. If you’re only recording yourself speaking to remote-connecting guests, all you need is a mic with a cardioid recording pattern; this is also fine, if not ideal, for in-person group recordings where everyone has the luxury of their own microphone.
If you can only budget for a single mic, you’ll need one that can record in wider patterns. Bidirectional modes let you record one person directly in front and one person directly behind the mic, so it’s suited for one-on-one chats. An omnidirectional pattern should be used when there are multiple speakers encircled around a single mic, while a stereo pattern is ideal when several speakers are lined up in front of the mic. This won’t record everyone at equal volume, hence requiring some editing later, but you’ll get a sense of where individual speakers are positioned.
Contributions from: James Archer, Marshal Honorof
How we test the best podcasting microphones
We test microphones using similar methods to how you’d record and produce a podcast: speaking into the mic, using different recording patterns if there are any, and listening back to hear how it sounds and whether any post-production editing would be required.
To get to the recording stage we also need to set up and configure each microphone, which again reflects what their owners will eventually need to do. We’ll let you know in each mic’s full review, all of which are linked above if this process is particularly easy or difficult.
Once we complete our testing, we rate Bluetooth speakers based on our five-point system (1 = worst, 5 = best). If a product is truly exemplary, it's awarded an Editor's Choice.
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