Honest Review: the Best Microphones Under $100

My main microphone costs just over $100.

But there are plenty of very good mics for less than that. 

The key is knowing how to properly record music from home.

If you do know what you’re doing, you can totally record really good music with an affordable mic.

So here are the best microphones under $100. 

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How Much Does a Good Recording Microphone Cost?

Let me just say, “good” is relative when it comes to microphones. 

It depends on your budget. It depends on what you’re recording. And it depends on your recording space. 

So you’ll want to look for versatile mics that work for home studios.

In general, the more you spend, the better quality you’ll get. 

One of the best vocal microphones I’ve researched is the Shure SM7B, which is about $400. That’s the next mic I want.

But right now, I use the Audio-Technica AT2035 for guitar and vocals. It’s very good, and it was just over $100. 

At the same time, you can find some very good mics for an affordable price. 

Hence, this blog post on the best microphones under $100.

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Best Condenser Microphone Under $100: Audio-Technica AT2020

The AT2020 is like the AT2035’s little sibling. It’s a small-diaphragm mic with a cardioid pickup pattern. 

Possibly the best cheap condenser mic out there.

And engineers respect Audio-Technica because they deliver.

The reputable and professionally written review by Sound On Sound praised it.

“Despite its low cost,” they write, “This mic actually delivers a very mature, believable sound both on vocals and on instruments.”

According to SOS, it gives you a “mid-range warmth” and “clarity” on vocals. And on acoustic guitar, it has a “well-balanced sound” and “depth and clarity.”

The level of self-noise is a bit higher than average, but not enough that it’s distracting.

Overall, this is a high-quality mic that works in pretty much any home studio setup. 

Best for:

• Vocals
• Acoustic guitar

Best USB Microphone Under $100: Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone

A USB mic simply means you plug it directly into your computer. 

No audio interface needed. And it comes with a little mic stand so it can sit on your desk. 

And as far as USB mics go, the Blue Snowball beats them all. 

It has a switch on the back that changes the pickup pattern — a cardioid pattern, a cardioid pattern with -10 dB, and an omnidirectional pattern. 

You don’t need to download any additional drivers, and you can use this mic on Mac OS X and Windows XP.

The downside to USB mics is that they record in 16-bit resolution, which is lower quality than the recommended 24-bit.

You can still get a good sound with the Snowball, but you’ll have to turn the mic up louder. 

“…The Snowball works well for close-up vocals or speech,” says SOS. “While the pattern switching system gives a choice of two very usable tonalities.”

Definitely the best budget USB microphone on the market.

Best for:

• Podcasting
• Vocals

Best Dynamic Microphone Under $100: Shure SM57

I can say with confidence that every engineer knows and respects the Shure SM57.

It’s basically the same thing as the SM58, which people know as the industry-standard stage mic.

The main difference is that the SM57 doesn’t have the metal grill on top. That makes it more fragile, which means it’s better suited for studio use.

And you can use it on pretty much anything. 

It’s a dynamic microphone, which means it can handle loud sound sources and still capture good audio. 

Here are some things audio engineers on Gearslutz have said about it:

“This mic is legendary.”

“The SM57 has an uncanny way of capturing sounds naturally as they were in the real world…”

“The SM57 is the best mic in the world.”

The main downside is that it sounds good on lots of stuff rather than sounding amazing on a certain type of sound source.

But for the price point, it’s a great option.  

Best for:

• Snare drum
• Acoustic guitar

Best Microphones Under $100: Honorable Mentions

Still looking for more options? Here are some runner-up mics to check out…

sE Electronics X1

The X1 is a quiet and sensitive large-diaphragm condenser mic. 

According to Sound On Sound, it captures audio similar to the AT2020, but the X1 is a bit airier. 

This is good news for recording vocals, especially because of the -10 dB low-cut filter switch on the mic as well as the cardioid pickup pattern.

Many mics that sound good on vocals also sound good on acoustic guitar. And that’s true of this mic.

Best for:

• Vocals
• Acoustic guitar
• Percussion 

Behringer B-1

This large-diaphragm condenser mic has a cardioid pickup pattern, making it great for vocals. 

Like the X1, the B-1 has a -10 dB low-frequency roll-off switch. This helps you bring out the airiness of the sound source. 

Here’s what an audio engineer on Gearslutz said about it…

“Every time I used this microphone on voice work, I’d have jealous friends with comments like ‘I want your mic.’”

Best for: 

• Vocals
• Acoustic guitar

What Is the Best Microphone Under $100?

Honestly, if you have $100 or less…

I’d recommend the Shure SM57 if you’ll be recording acoustic guitar or percussion.

And I’d recommend the Audio-Technica AT2020 for recording vocals. 

It just depends on what you need to record. 

The main takeaway is…

You can definitely record high-quality music with a cheap mic.

And these are the best microphones under $100. Any one of them will get the job done.