Last Updated on 02/17/2023 by Dean
How to pick the best streaming microphone for your budget
Before we move on to our top budget streaming mics for 2023, I’d like you to take a moment and consider the following before…
If you know what you’re looking for or if you’re eager to find our top picks you can skip ahead [click here]
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1. What do you expect out of your streaming mic?
If your current microphone setup (if you even have one) isn’t working for you anymore and you’re looking for an upgrade, it’s important you know exactly what you want out of this upgrade before you go ahead and purchase the first thing you see.
Just because a microphone has good reviews and comes in at an affordable price, doesn’t necessarily mean it will be the best choice for your streaming setup.
It’s unlikely you’re looking for the same kind of sound quality as you would expect from a LilyPichu or similar top-tier twitch streamer. Streamers like Lily have spent thousands of dollars in their streaming setup and set very unrealistic examples for your average new streamer.
Don’t be fooled: they didn’t start off with a fancy microphone! In fact, most Twitch streamers I’ve profiled have started out with a basic Blue Yeti or even headset microphone.
If you’re looking for a microphone that will make your stream sound more professional and get rid of any background noise or hiss your current microphone might be picking up, just about any budget microphone on this list will fit your needs.
However, if you’re looking for a budget microphone that sounds like a studio microphone, you’re going to need to get a dynamic microphone and NOT a USB microphone.
2. What is your real budget?
A lot more costs come with a streaming microphone than you initially might think. For example, I’ve recently learned (by scrolling the wonderful world of Reddit) that many new streamers buy an expensive XLR microphone (such as the wildly popular Shure SM7B) without realizing the final cost of a microphone of this caliber.
Spoiler alert: a ‘budget’ Shure SM7B setup will set you back at least $700.
Through these interesting Reddit topics, I’ve learned that many newbie streamers don’t understand that an XLR microphone doesn’t just plug into a PC as a regular USB microphone (such as the Blue Yeti) would.
And after having a chat with my girlfriend (who knows nothing about microphones) about this particular topic, she too told me that she could see herself buying the Shure SM7B without realizing that you cannot plug it directly into her pc. That’s a problem and that’s why I want you to consider the real budget of a streaming microphone first.
So when considering a microphone, take a step back and consider the actual cost of that microphone. Here’s what you should consider:
- Is it a USB microphone? USB microphones are the cheapest type of microphone you can get. They plug directly into your PC and thus you won’t have to pay for an audio interface, mixer, or preamplifier like you would a dynamic microphone such as the Shure SM7B.
- Will I need to buy a microphone stand? A microphone stand will set you back anywhere from $20 – $100. Most microphones on this list come with a table stand but for a good streaming setup, you will need to purchase a boom stand.
- Any other accessories I need to buy? What else might ramp up the cost of your microphone budget? Maybe you need a pop filter, maybe your room is too echo-y and you need to soundproof, etc.
Also useful: USB vs XLR microphones – which is best for streaming?
Top 5 budget streaming microphones under $50
Fifine K669
- [Right Out-of-the-Box] The plug-and-play gaming microphone set is no need additional plug-ins or complicated device setup steps. The USB gamer microphone for PC is compatible with Windows, Mac OS and Mac/PS4/PS5. The streaming microphone end is reversible type-c interface, no trouble to plug the right way in dim game atmosphere. The 8.3ft (2.5m) USB cable is long enough to extend from behind the host to the desktop for clear audio gaming singing recording.
The Fifine K669 is a budget microphone that comes with the USB cable attached (a little bit problematic but considering the price, we’ll let it slide). This microphone is plug-and-play and sounds amazing considering its price tag.
You will have to purchase a boom stand to properly use this microphone in your streaming setup but you can find them very cheap on Amazon (I recommend Neewer). All around, this is definitely an upgrade from any headset microphone and perfect for new streamers.
If you want to hear the sound quality check out the video below.
| 0 latency monitoring? | No |
| Microphone stand compatible? | Yes |
| Mute button? | No |
| Polar Pattern | Cardioid |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz – 20kHz |
| Sensitivity | -34Dbs |
Neewer NW-7000
The Neewer NW-7000 is a budget USB microphone that comes with a streaming kit on Amazon. Inside the kit, you’ll get a condenser microphone, shock mount, boom stand, pop filter, and mic cover. This all-in-one package is plug and play so it requires no additional software to get going.
I recommend this streaming kit for smaller streamers looking for an all-in-one solution.
If you wanna hear how good this super-budget microphone sounds, check out the video below. (it also contains a comparison with the Fifine K669!)
| 0 latency monitoring? | No |
| Microphone stand compatible? | Yes (included) |
| Mute button? | No |
| Polar Pattern | Cardioid |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz – 20kHz |
Antlion Audio ModMic Uni (headset mic)
- OVERVIEW: The newly engineered attachable Antlion Audio ModMic Uni (GDL-1420) with its in-line mute switch instantly turns your favourite headphones into a quality audio communications device boasting Antlion’s new noise-cancelling microphone keeping out unwanted surrounding noise.
Ditch your headset microphone… for a better headset microphone. Why not? If you like the idea of using a headset microphone but hate the quality of your current headset microphone (let’s face it, they’re all trash) you might be excited to learn that the ModMic is an actual GOOD microphone disguised as a headset microphone.
So if for some reason you don’t want to get a bulky microphone dangling in front of your face, this is the next best thing that comes in at a budget price.
I won’t say it’s as good as some of the similarly priced microphones on this list sound quality-wise, but it’s definitely an upgrade.
Razer Seiren Mini
- Ultra-Precise Supercardioid Pickup Pattern: The Razer Seiren Mini is tuned with a tighter pickup angle, so it can focus on your voice while ensuring that background noises like typing and mouse clicks don’t get picked up.
| 0 latency monitoring? | No |
| Microphone stand compatible? | Yes |
| Mute button? | Yes |
| Polar Pattern | Super-Cardioid |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz – 20kHz |
| Sensitivity | -35Dbs |
Blue snowball Ice
- Custom Condenser Capsule: Powered By Blue’S Custom Condenser Capsule, Snowball Ice Microphone Delivers Crystal-Clear Audio Quality That’S Light-Years Ahead Of Your Built-In Computer Microphone
The blue snowball is an absolute classic and has been around for ages. Blue is a solid brand and is known for making some of the best USB microphones out there. The Snowball Ice is no different, this budget microphone is probably the best bang for your buck at this price point.
| 0 latency monitoring? | No |
| Microphone stand compatible? | Yes |
| Mute button? | |
| Polar Pattern | Cardioid/omnidirectional |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz – 18kHz |
| Sensitivity |
BEST BUDGET MICROPHONE: Razer Seiren Mini
Surprisingly, Razer, a gaming company, takes the cake with their new Razer Seiren X. For a low-budget microphone, this thing sounds AMAZING and beats out the rest of its similarly priced options. Sound-quality-wise it even beats out the Blue Snowball Ice! I’d say go for this one if you’re looking for a budget microphone to upgrade your streaming setup.
- Ultra-Precise Supercardioid Pickup Pattern: The Razer Seiren Mini is tuned with a tighter pickup angle, so it can focus on your voice while ensuring that background noises like typing and mouse clicks don’t get picked up.
Honorable mention: for an all-in-one package, the Neewer NW-7000 will do the job with an incredible amount of bang for your buck. (seriously, it’s underpriced.)
Top 4 budget streaming microphones under $100
Tonor Q9
- Excellent Sound Quality: With a large 16mm sensitive diaphragm and 20Hz-20kHz wide frequency range, Q9 is capable of capturing every detail of your voice and records high-quality sound. Adopting a cardioid polar pattern, Q9 can effectively eliminate background noise. Equipped with a metal shock mount and pop filter, Q9 prevents the impact of accidental factors on the recording as far as possible. Everything is to pursue the perfect sound quality in an imperfect environment.
The Tonor Q9 is a budget microphone kit available on Amazon. Inside the kit, you’ll get a condenser microphone, metal shock mount, boom stand, pop filter, and mic cover. This all-in-one package is plug and play so it requires no additional software to get going.
The microphone quality is surprisingly good (video example below) and you get some insane bang for your buck considering you get an entire streaming kit with it.
| 0 latency monitoring? | No |
| Microphone stand compatible? | Yes (included!) |
| Polar Pattern | Cardioid |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz – 20kHz |
| Sensitivity | -45dB |
HyperX Solocast
- Plug N Play audio recording with USB-C connection: Get quality audio recordings with this easy-to-use USB condenser microphone. The cardioid polar pattern is most sensitive to sound sources in front of the microphone, and reduces background noise.
The HyperX Solocast is a plug-and-play microphone by HyperX, another gaming company. It comes with a tap-to-mute button up top similar to the more expensive HyperX Quadcast, an LED indicator will let you know whether your mic is muted or not.
The tap-to-mute button design and location offers a serious plus for streaming setups and definitely makes this microphone worth considering.
| 0 latency monitoring? | No |
| Microphone stand compatible? | Yes |
| Mute button? | Yes |
| Polar Pattern | Cardioid |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz – 20kHz |
| Sensitivity | -6dBFS |
Blue Yeti Nano
- Legendary Blue Broadcast Sound – Two Custom Mic Capsules Give Your Voice Exceptional Presence And Detail For Professional-Level Recording And Streaming
Ahh.. The classic. The Blue Yeti Nano is a smaller version of the popular Blue Yeti and sound pretty much identical to its slightly more expensive brother. This microphone is very popular amongst streamers and Youtubers so it would be a real shame not to have it on the list of budget microphones.
Sound-quality-wise, I have to say this is still the best product on the market at a budget price point. No wonder its so popular. On top of that, it just looks good, has good built quality and comes from a reputable company.
The Blue Yeti Nano is a safe bet for any streamer looking to make a big upgrade to their setup without breaking the bank.
| 0 latency monitoring? | Yes |
| Microphone stand compatible? | Yes |
| Mute button? | Yes |
| Polar Pattern | Cardioid/Omnidirectional |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz – 20kHz |
| Sensitivity | -37Dbs |
Razer Seiren X
- Built-In background Noise Reduction: Utilizes a supercardiod pickup microphone to eliminate distracting noises further away from the microphone for professional-grade stream audio
The Razer Seiren X is the older brother of the Razer Seiren Mini from earlier in this article. I must say though, while it comes at double the price, it doesn’t offer double the specs and the Razer mini will definitely offer more bang-for-your-buck. That being said, this super-cardioid microphone comes with a built-in shock mount, has a headset jack for 0 latency monitoring and a mute button.
While the Razer Seiren X is definitely a good microphone, it’s not up to par with the Blue Yeti Nano which is only slightly more expensive.
| 0 latency monitoring? | Yes |
| Microphone stand compatible? | Yes |
| Mute button? | Yes |
| Polar Pattern | Super-Cardioid |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz – 20kHz |
| Sensitivity | -35db |
Rode NT-USB Mini
- Professional USB microphone with a studio-grade condenser capsule and premium components
The Rode NT-USB Mini is a great-sounding microphone that comes at the same price as the Blue Yeti and is on the same level sound-quality-wise. The built-quality of the Rode NT-USB Mini feels slightly better than the Blue Yeti Nano BUT it doesn’t come with a mute button.
Audio quality test below as well as a comparison with the Blue Yeti Nano.
| 0 latency monitoring? | Yes |
| Microphone stand compatible? | Yes |
| Mute button? | No |
| Polar Pattern | Cardioid |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz – 20kHz |