Top 5+ Best Budget Microphones for Streaming in 2025
Komal Gulab
Linkedin.com/in/komalgulab is a Participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, An Affiliate Advertising Program. As An Amazon Associate, We Earn Affiliate Commissions From Qualifying Purchases.
When it comes to streaming, there's a lot of equipment you need to create the best content for your audience. Aside from a powerful PC, the most important thing is a capable microphone, but you don't need the most expensive one on the market to get high-quality audio.
That's why we've picked out the best budget microphones we could find and rated them for you. So sit back, relax, and let us help you decide which one is best for you.
Today we're going to be looking at some of the top best budget microphones for streaming in 2025.
1. Blue Yeti best Microphone for Streaming
The Blue Yeti is a near-legendary microphone for streaming and gaming and there's a very good reason why it has such an esteemed reputation.
For someone who's new to content creation. It's incredibly simple to set up and requires no additional software once it's plugged in.
However, even seasoned content creators can appreciate its high reliability and lovely design, making it an equally good choice for those who've been streaming for a while and want a high-quality microphone at a great price.
The Blue Yeti delivers consistently high audio quality while providing a number of convenient features to make your life much easier while streaming.
This includes four different audio pickup patterns and the ability to mount it on almost any microphone stand to ensure it's always in the best position to pick up your voice while streaming.
There are a few downsides to this model, however, including the fact that the Blue Yeti can occasionally pick up any keyboard sounds or background noise if you're in a particularly noisy environment thanks to its high sensitivity.
Bumps or movements around your desk are likely to be picked up without careful adjustments, but this is to be expected given the lower price of this microphone.
2. AKG C22 ARA Microphone for Streaming
AKG has been in the audio industry for over 75 years. It's one of the audio giants that defined what we would consider high-fidelity audio and remains one of the leading experts in the audiophile world today.
If you know anything about microphones, then you've heard of AKG. So it's no surprise that the C22 ARA won us over with its beautiful audio sound and blend of modern and vintage design.
Its easy-to-use plug-and-play feature means it will work with a Mac, PC, Android, and even iOS (Lightning adapter not included), making it extremely versatile.
Inside the box you'll find the AKG ARA microphone, a 1.80m USB-C to USB-A cable, a 5/8 to 3/8 threaded microphone stand adapter to connect to a boom arm, and all the documentation, including an activation code for Ableton 11 Lite.
Not only was sound quality a priority for AKG when building this microphone, but build quality as well. It's made entirely of metal with a matte navy and silver color scheme. Both control dials are on the front.
The top one allows you to change polar patterns between front-only and front and back. The bottom dial acts as the volume knob for the headset pass-through as well as the mute button.
Changing these settings, as well as clicking the mute button while streaming, will be very audible to your audience, so make sure you have them set before you start streaming.
Moving on, the yoke and base are made from the same material as the rest of the microphone.
And, if you take a look at the bottom, you'll find the USB-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack used for pass-through monitoring.
The yoke screws into the base, which is weighted and has a soft pad that acts as a grip and protector for your desk.
You can easily unscrew the base and use the 3/8 threaded adapter or screw it directly onto a 5/8 threaded boom arm.
Despite being so affordable, we were surprised by how crisp, warm, and full-bodied it sounded. This microphone uses exceptional anti-clipping technology and has a built-in pop filter and windscreen.
While this microphone sounds best when you're just a few inches away from it, it does a great job of picking up voices even from a few feet away. But you should ideally keep it close, especially if you want that deep, authoritative voice.
This microphone only has a couple of downsides. One is the fact that there's no control knob for gain and the other is that it's a desktop microphone.
But with the money you'd save compared to the Elgato Wave:3, Blue Yeti, or HyperX QuadCast, you can easily afford a boom arm to give your stream that professional sound quality.
3. SteelSeries Alias Best Microphones on a Budget
No other model on this list offers the same level of style as the SteelSeries Alias, a premium gaming microphone from renowned peripheral manufacturer SteelSeries.
Its attractive design is extremely appealing and is sure to enhance the look of your streaming setup. The microphone features an incredibly useful LED display that indicates the current gain level.
It flashes red when it goes above the desired level, making it easy to stay in range and deliver the best possible audio experience to your viewers.
It also provides a helpful visual indicator to show when the mic is muted, controlled via a handy touch-sensitive button on the front of the capsule, offering added peace of mind.
Elsewhere, you get a small RGB lighting ring and an easily accessible gain dial. All of this comes in materials that feel extremely sophisticated, and the audio quality delivers a good performance to match.
While the Alias’s clear, clean sound is comparable to some of the cheaper models on this list (like the Blue Yeti after some software tweaking).
It’s able to deliver right out of the box with such a fantastic presentation that we think it more than justifies the extra cost.
If you have the cash to invest in a premium option, this is one of the best out there.
4. HyperX SoloCast Best Budget Microphones for Streaming
Now, let’s take a look at the Hyperx SoloCast. It’s compact, rugged, extremely affordable, and works across multiple platforms. While it may not be the perfect microphone, it definitely strives to look like on.
The only thing we would have liked to see is for it to come with a boom arm. But even without a boom, it does an outstanding job anyway.
Inside the box, you'll find the pre-assembled HyperX SoloCast microphone and stand, a user guide, and a rubberized USB-C to USB-A cable. The cable isn't braided, but it appears to be well-made.
It's made from sturdy matte black plastic with a black metal grille, and the microphone sits comfortably on the stand when you're using it on your desk.
To attach it to a boom arm, all you need to do is pop it off the stand and screw it in. It has 3/8 and 5/8 metal threads, so it's sturdy and will fit most boom arms.
The stand is very adjustable. Not only can you tilt it 90° forward and backward, but you can also rotate it in 45° increments. This is impressive for such a lightweight and modest stand.
Another cool feature of this budget microphone is a tap-to-mute button on the top. The button is touch-sensitive and requires no force to activate, so you can silently mute your audio while streaming if you need to.
Plus, there's an LED light on the front to indicate whether or not it's muted. When muted, it will flash red; otherwise, it will remain off.
Whether you're gaming on a PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, or even a Mac, the SoloCast can work with all of them.
Plus, it's Discord and TeamSpeak certified and works with all major streaming platforms like Streamlabs OBS and Xsplit, making it perfect for streamers on a budget.
Thanks to its high performance and low cost, you're getting a great deal if you buy the HyperX SoloCast. It uses a cardioid pattern that narrows the focus of the pickup directly in front of the microphone and helps eliminate sounds behind it.
That makes it perfect for streamers, as it helps reduce the sound of typing on the keyboard. It doesn't completely eliminate sound, though.
Every keystroke sends vibrations through your desk, which will be picked up by the SoloCast because there's no shock mount on the stand like you'd see on the HyperX QuadCast, with its strap, or the Seiren V2 X built into the stem.
When placed on your desk, the HyperX SoloCast sounds great, but it all depends on the position. The further away it's placed, the more you'll need to turn up the gain.
This can result in unwanted background noise being picked up. However, the cardioid pickup pattern really does its job because the loss of quality is barely noticeable. And surprisingly, pops weren't an issue.
As with any streaming mic, the closer it is, the better, but there's always a sweet spot you need to find. You don't want to be constantly shouting to be heard, and you don't want to swallow your mic, either.
That's why most streamers use a boom arm so they can adjust the mic to the exact position they want for the best results.
HyperX offers an impressive two-year warranty on many of its products, including microphones.
This warranty covers any manufacturing errors or faulty components, but does not cover any physical damage not related to manufacturing.
This is a great microphone for streamers who are just starting out and are on a very tight budget.
You can always upgrade to a more robust model later, but the HyperX SoloCast will get you off to a good start.
5. Rode X XCM-50 Best Microphones for Streaming
The Rode X XCM-50 is part of Rode’s gaming range and is therefore a microphone specifically designed for streamers and gamers.
It delivers clear, detailed audio for both your audience and your teammates, and when paired with the accompanying Unify software, grants an extra degree of control over overall audio levels.
Its compact design is also very small, saving you space on your desk and helping to create a cleaner-looking setup than most.
The sensitivity of the microphone also means that you don't need to get too close to ensure rich, clear audio.
The desktop tripod that the microphone ships with is incredibly easy to set up and will likely fit any transmitter if you don't have access to a boom arm.
However, despite the small size of the microphone itself, the tripod is quite large, so it's worth bearing in mind if you're only considering the Rode X XCM-50 due to its low-profile design.
The Rode X XCM-50 is also more expensive than many alternative USB microphones this is one we'd recommend to professional content creators rather than those just starting out.
6. HyperX DuoCast Best Budget Microphones for Streaming
The HyperX DuoCast is one of the most eye-catching microphones on the market, thanks in large part to the highly customisable RGB ring around the base of the microphone.
As well as looking good it sounds great and delivers clear, high-quality audio alongside a host of convenient features like a quick mute button, which can be a real lifesaver in the middle of a stream.
There's also a handy gain control dial to help you fine-tune your settings while you're streaming.
Along with a tabletop shock mount (to help prevent unwanted noise) and boom arm accessory, you're buying a complete setup rather than just a microphone, which should substantially reduce your need to spend on other accessories.
Whether all this justifies the $99.99 / ￡99.98 / AU$179 price tag will depend on your budget and preferences, but, if you're just buying a microphone with good RGB lighting, this is one of your best options right now.
What type of microphone is best for streaming?
You have two options when it comes to the best microphones for streaming: USB and XLR. The former is usually cheaper and easier to use with its plug and play functionality, however, the latter offers a higher overall sound quality closer to true studio sound.
All of the microphones in our roundup sound good, but if you want the best for streaming, you can find high-quality USB and XLR models around the $100 mark that won't let you down.
What is the best budget streaming microphone?
In our eyes (or ears), the Blue Yeti Nano is the best microphone for streaming if you're on a budget. It can usually be found for under $100 / ￡100 and offers incredible sound quality for that price.
It's no slouch in terms of features either, as it has zero-latency monitoring, mute functionality, and can switch between omnidirectional and cardioid modes.
One of the underrated qualities of this microphone is that it also has a great bass response. Basically, the Blue Yeti Nano gives you much of the quality and features of the more expensive Yeti X, without breaking your budget in the slightest.
Conclusion
These were our picks for the top ten best budget microphones for streaming in 2025. We hope you have a good idea of what these budget microphones are all about.
Each of them has their strengths and weaknesses. But on their own, they are all good microphones, so it will all depend on your personal preferences.
Lastly, if you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out to us via the comments section below. We would be happy to help you out. We love hearing from you!
As An Amazon Associate, We Earn Affiliate Commissions From Qualifying Purchases.