Best External Microphones According to 348 Experts

Updated Mar 6, 2026

Best for most
HyperX QuadCast 2 S USB Microphone
HyperX

QuadCast 2 S

$122

critic score
86
based on 11
critic reviews
Upgrade pick
Rode NT1 5th Gen Microphone
Rode

NT1 5th Gen

$260

critic score
88
based on 5
critic reviews
Low cost
DJI Mic Mini Transmitter
DJI

Mic Mini Transmitter

$17

critic score
89
based on 7
critic reviews

All external microphones

Rode VideoMic Pro Rycote Camera Microphone
Rode

VideoMic Pro Rycote

$256

critic score
91
based on 5
critic reviews
AKG C114 Microphone
AKG

C114

$229

critic score
91
based on 4
critic reviews
Neumann U 87 Ai Condenser Microphone
Neumann

U 87 Ai

$3,695

critic score
90
based on 6
critic reviews
Warm Audio WA-8000 Microphone
Warm Audio

WA-8000

$1,299

critic score
90
based on 3
critic reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Austrian Audio OC18 Cardioid Condenser Microphone Studio Set
Austrian Audio

OC18

$899

critic score
89
based on 4
critic reviews
Shure KSM42 Large Dual-Diaphragm Microphone
Shure

KSM42

$934

critic score
89
based on 3
critic reviews
Shure SM7B Dynamic Vocal Microphone
Shure

SM7B

$635

critic score
88
based on 11
critic reviews
Shure MV88+ Video Kit
Shure

MV88+ Video Kit

$149

critic score
88
based on 3
critic reviews
Rode VideoMic GO II Microphone
Rode

VideoMic GO II

$189

critic score
87
based on 16
critic reviews
Rode VideoMic NTG On-Camera Shotgun Microphone
Rode

VideoMic NTG

$270

critic score
87
based on 9
critic reviews
Rode NT-USB+ USB Condenser Microphone
Rode

NT-USB+

$190

critic score
87
based on 15
critic reviews
Audio Technica AT2035 Cardioid Condenser Microphone
Audio Technica

AT2035

$190

critic score
87
based on 10
critic reviews
Shure SM57 Dynamic Instrument Microphone
Shure

SM57

$125

critic score
87
based on 12
critic reviews
Shure Beta 57A Dynamic Microphone
Shure

Beta 57A

$159

critic score
87
based on 4
critic reviews
Rode NT1 Signature Series Condenser Microphone
Rode

NT1

$350

critic score
87
based on 12
critic reviews
HyperX QuadCast 2 USB Microphone
HyperX

QuadCast 2

$122

critic score
86
based on 19
critic reviews
SteelSeries Alias Microphone
SteelSeries

Alias

$144

critic score
86
based on 23
critic reviews
Rode VideoMic Pro+ On-Camera Shotgun Microphone
Rode

VideoMic Pro+

$300

critic score
86
based on 10
critic reviews
Rode Wireless Me Compact Microphone System
Rode

Wireless Me

$169

critic score
86
based on 8
critic reviews
Razer Seiren V3 Mini USB Microphone
Razer

Seiren V3 Mini

$34

critic score
85
based on 9
critic reviews
Rode PodMic Dynamic Microphone
Rode

PodMic

$130

critic score
85
based on 31
critic reviews
DJI Mic Mini
DJI

Mic Mini

$79

critic score
85
based on 24
critic reviews
HyperX QuadCast S RGB USB Condenser Microphone
HyperX

QuadCast S

$86

critic score
85
based on 24
critic reviews
Fifine t669 USB Condenser Microphone Kit with Boom Arm Stand
Fifine

t669

$40

critic score
85
based on 11
critic reviews
Shure MV7+ Podcast Microphone
Shure

MV7+

$299

critic score
85
based on 16
critic reviews
Shure MV6 USB Gaming Microphone
Shure

MV6

$169

critic score
85
based on 19
critic reviews
Shure MV88 iOS Stereo Condenser Microphone
Shure

MV88

$178

critic score
85
based on 17
critic reviews
PreSonus Revelator USB Microphone
PreSonus

Revelator

$119

critic score
85
based on 12
critic reviews
Neat King Bee II Microphone
Neat

King Bee II

$25

critic score
85
based on 6
critic reviews
Blue Yeti USB Microphone
Blue

Yeti

$75

critic score
84
based on 34
critic reviews
Rode Lavalier GO Microphone
Rode

Lavalier GO

$60

critic score
84
based on 11
critic reviews
Blue Yeti Nano USB Microphone
Blue

Yeti Nano

$90

critic score
84
based on 19
critic reviews
MOVO VXR10 Universal Video Microphone
MOVO

VXR10

$40

critic score
84
based on 3
critic reviews
Rode NT-USB Mini USB Microphone
Rode

NT-USB Mini

$128

critic score
84
based on 10
critic reviews
IK Multimedia iRig Stream Mic Pro Microphone
IK Multimedia

iRig Stream Mic Pro

$86

critic score
84
based on 9
critic reviews
Deity V-Mic D4 Mini Microphone
Deity

V-Mic D4 Mini

$50

critic score
84
based on 4
critic reviews
Audio Technica AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Microphone
Audio Technica

AT2020

$130

critic score
84
based on 18
critic reviews
RODE VideoMic Microphone
RODE

VideoMic

$250

critic score
84
based on 18
critic reviews
Samson Meteor Mic USB Studio Microphone
Samson

Meteor Mic

$115

critic score
84
based on 3
critic reviews
Shure sm7db Dynamic Vocal Microphone with Built-in Preamp
Shure

sm7db

$549

critic score
84
based on 4
critic reviews
Sennheiser MKE 600 Shotgun Microphone
Sennheiser

MKE 600

$345

critic score
84
based on 5
critic reviews
Tula USB Microphone Recorder
Tula

USB Microphone Recorder

$259

critic score
84
based on 4
critic reviews
Sennheiser E835 Vocal Microphone
Sennheiser

E835

$75

critic score
84
based on 4
critic reviews
Sennheiser MKE 400 Shotgun Microphone
Sennheiser

MKE 400

$265

critic score
83
based on 7
critic reviews
FIFINE am8 Dynamic RGB XLR/USB Microphone
FIFINE

am8

$45

critic score
83
based on 15
critic reviews
Logitech Yeti GX Dynamic Microphone
Logitech

Yeti GX

$86

critic score
83
based on 4
critic reviews
JLab Talk Go USB Microphone
JLab

Talk Go

$49

critic score
83
based on 6
critic reviews
FIFINE K688 Dynamic Microphone with Boom Arm Stand XLR USB Studio Microphone Kit for Computer with M
FIFINE

K688

$64

critic score
83
based on 11
critic reviews
HyperX SoloCast USB Microphone
HyperX

SoloCast

$31

critic score
83
based on 17
critic reviews
Samson Q9U XLR USB Dynamic Broadcast Microphone
Samson

Q9U

$150

critic score
83
based on 12
critic reviews
HyperX SoloCast 2 USB Microphone
HyperX

SoloCast 2

$50

critic score
83
based on 4
critic reviews
Rode VideoMicro II Microphone
Rode

VideoMicro II

$138

critic score
82
based on 8
critic reviews
Fifine AmpliGame A8 USB Condenser Microphone
Fifine

AmpliGame A8

$40

critic score
82
based on 7
critic reviews
Razer Seiren V3 Chroma RGB USB Microphone
Razer

Seiren V3 Chroma

$85

critic score
81
based on 14
critic reviews
Audio Technica AT2040 Hypercardioid Dynamic Podcast Microphone
Audio Technica

AT2040

$120

critic score
81
based on 11
critic reviews
Warm Audio WA-47jr FET Condenser Microphone
Warm Audio

WA-47jr

$299

critic score
81
based on 3
critic reviews
MXL Tempo USB Condenser Microphone
MXL

Tempo

$28

critic score
81
based on 4
critic reviews
Beyerdynamic FOX USB Studio Microphone
Beyerdynamic

FOX

$180

critic score
81
based on 9
critic reviews
Aston Microphones Stealth Microphone
Aston

Stealth

$275

critic score
81
based on 6
critic reviews
JBL Quantum Stream Studio USB Condenser Microphone
JBL

Quantum Stream Studio

$165

critic score
81
based on 3
critic reviews
Shure SM4-K Condenser Microphone
Shure

SM4-K

$219

critic score
81
based on 4
critic reviews
Sennheiser Profile USB Microphone Streaming Set
Sennheiser

Profile USB

$199

critic score
81
based on 3
critic reviews
DJI Mic 3 Compact Wireless Microphone System
DJI

Mic 3

$219

critic score
80
based on 5
critic reviews
DJI Mic 2
DJI

Mic 2

$111

critic score
80
based on 5
critic reviews
Logitech G Yeti GX
Logitech

G Yeti GX

$215

critic score
79
based on 4
critic reviews
FIFINE AM8 USB/XLR Microphone
FIFINE

AM8

$47

critic score
79
based on 3
critic reviews
DJI Mic Compact Wireless Microphone System
DJI

Mic

$148

critic score
77
based on 3
critic reviews
Elgato Wave Neo USB Condenser Microphone
Elgato

Wave Neo

$50

critic score
76
based on 8
critic reviews
Godox EM68G RGB USB Microphone
Godox

EM68G

$65

score pending
97
1 critic review
Deity Microphones S-Mic Moisture-Resistant Shotgun Microphone
Deity

S-Mic

$179

score pending
93
1 critic review
Shure SM58 Dynamic Microphone
Shure

SM58

$99

score pending
93
2 critic reviews
Rode NTG1 Condenser Shotgun Microphone
Rode

NTG1

$219

score pending
92
1 critic review
Sennheiser E935 Dynamic Vocal Microphone
Sennheiser

E935

$100

score pending
91
2 critic reviews
Shure SM81 Condenser Microphone
Shure

SM81

$439

score pending
90
2 critic reviews
Behringer BC110 All-in-One DYNAMIC Vocal Microphone Set
Behringer

BC110

$9

score pending
90
1 critic review
Mackie EM-91CU+ USB Microphone
Mackie

EM-91CU+

$35

score pending
90
1 critic review
Sennheiser e945 Dynamic Vocal Microphone
Sennheiser

e945

$219

score pending
87
2 critic reviews
sE Electronics sE4400 Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
sE Electronics

sE4400

$499

score pending
87
2 critic reviews
Rode Micro Wireless Microphone
Rode

Micro Wireless

$1,656

score pending
86
2 critic reviews
Fifine AM8T Gaming Microphone Bundle
Fifine

AM8T

$55

score pending
85
2 critic reviews
RODE VideoMic Me C+ Directional Microphone
RODE

VideoMic Me C+

$100

score pending
85
1 critic review
Audio-Technica ATR4650-USB Omnidirectional Condenser USB Microphone
Audio-Technica

ATR4650-USB

$37

score pending
85
1 critic review
Zoom ZSG-1 On-Camera Shotgun Microphone
Zoom

ZSG-1

$90

score pending
85
1 critic review
Mackie EM-93M Compact Microphone
Mackie

EM-93M

$45

score pending
85
1 critic review
Shure KSM42/SG Microphone
Shure

KSM42/SG

$683

score pending
85
1 critic review
Neumann BCM 104 Broadcast Microphone
Neumann

BCM 104

$1,195

score pending
85
1 critic review
Saramonic cammic Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone
Saramonic

cammic

$79

score pending
85
1 critic review
Lauten Audio LA-220 V2 FET Condenser Microphone
Lauten

LA-220 V2

$359

score pending
85
2 critic reviews
sE Electronics X1 S
sE

X1 S

$127

score pending
85
2 critic reviews
Sony ECM-W2BT Wireless Bluetooth Microphone
Sony

ECM-W2BT

$149

score pending
85
1 critic review
Marantz mpm1000u USB Condenser Microphone
Marantz

mpm1000u

$28

score pending
85
1 critic review
Trust Gaming GXT 236 Yami USB Condenser Streaming Microphone
Trust

GXT 236 Yami

$23

score pending
85
1 critic review
Sennheiser XS Lav USB-C
Sennheiser

XS Lav USB-C

$48

score pending
82
1 critic review
Insta360 Mic Air Transmitter
Insta360

Mic Air

$50

score pending
82
1 critic review
CAD Audio U29 USB Microphone
CAD

U29

$20

score pending
80
1 critic review
miniDSP ambiMIK-1 USB Ambisonic Microphone
miniDSP

ambiMIK-1

$399

score pending
80
2 critic reviews
Sony Vlogger Shotgun Microphone ECM-G1
Sony

ECM-G1

$175

score pending
79
2 critic reviews
Warm Audio WA-47JR SE Microphone
Warm Audio

WA-47JR SE

$199

score pending
78
1 critic review
Saramonic LavMicro U1A Clip-On Lavalier Microphone with Lightning Connector
Saramonic

LavMicro U1A

$29

score pending
75
1 critic review
FIFINE AmpliGame A6V USB Condenser Microphone with RGB
FIFINE

AmpliGame A6V

$55

score pending
75
1 critic review