The Best Microphones for Podcasting

The arm keeps it off the desk. Tap the top to mute, long-press to dim the RGB, and it comes with a boom arm. It shares a USB connection with the MAONO DGM20S; the XS 1 goes with an XLR connection.

Like the MAONO DGM20S and AT2020USB-X, it has a condenser capsule, while the NW-040 uses a dynamic capsule. It is the only pick here with a tap mute control; the MAONO DGM20S has a button mute control instead. It plugs straight into a USB port and needs no interface. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the NW-040 was closest.

Its cardioid dynamic capsule gives high gain before feedback, and the metal body is solid. It needs an XLR interface or mixer. It suits podcasting, vocals, streaming and instrument recording.

Its extended frequency response gives warm, natural vocals. It shares an XLR connection with the XS 1; the MAONO DGM20S goes with a USB connection. Like the XS 1, it has a dynamic capsule, while the MAONO DGM20S uses a condenser capsule.

It shares a via interface headphone monitoring with the XS 1; the MAONO DGM20S goes with a none stated headphone monitoring. It also comes with a low price tier. XLR-only: it needs an audio interface or mixer, plus an XLR cable if one is not included.

Low-output dynamic mics may need a high-gain interface or an inline booster. When we checked, only the TONOR TC310+ cost less, and the MAONO DGM20S cost more.

It is the most complete cheap kit here. It comes with a metal boom arm and shock mount, works with PC, Mac and PS5 without drivers, and has controllable RGB. It shares a USB connection with the TONOR TC310+; the XS 1 goes with an XLR connection.

Like the TONOR TC310+ and AT2020USB-X, it has a condenser capsule, while the NW-040 uses a dynamic capsule. It is the only pick here with a button mute control; the XS 1 has an on/off switch mute control instead. It plugs straight into a USB port and needs no interface. When we checked, only the NW-040 and cheaper picks cost less, and the XS 1 cost more.

It is a handheld cardioid dynamic mic with a silent mute switch, a clip and a pouch. It connects over XLR. It has a cardioid polar pattern and ships with a mic clip and a carry pouch.

It shares an XLR connection with the NW-040; the TONOR TC310+ goes with a USB connection. Like the NW-040, it has a dynamic capsule, while the AT2020USB-X uses a condenser capsule. It is the only pick here with an on/off switch mute control; the TONOR TC310+ has a tap mute control instead.

XLR-only: it needs an audio interface or mixer, plus an XLR cable if one is not included. Low-output dynamic mics may need a high-gain interface or an inline booster. When we checked, only the MAONO DGM20S and cheaper picks cost less, and the AT2020USB-X cost more.

Mute is a capacitive touch pad. It is the only pick here with a USB-C connection; the TONOR TC310+ has a USB connection instead. It shares a condenser capsule with the TONOR TC310+ and MAONO DGM20S; the XS 1 goes with a dynamic capsule.

You get a capacitive touch mute control here, which sets it apart from the XS 1 and its an on/off switch mute control. It plugs straight into a USB port and needs no interface. Another plus: headphone jack headphone monitoring, the only one here. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the XS 1.