Checklist · 11 picks · 3 categories
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Your laptop mic makes every episode sound like it was recorded in a bathroom. The fix is cheaper than you think: a real USB mic and a pair of closed-back headphones so you can hear yourself while you record.
All three mics here plug straight into a laptop over USB, no extra audio gear. Tom's Guide picked the best value mic and its favorite for serious podcasting, and PC Gamer backs the Shure MV6. RTINGS tried the headphones and favors closed-backs, because they don't leak sound back into your mic. A boom arm gets the mic off the desk and close to your mouth, and Digital Camera World picked the arms. A pop filter from BestReviews' list tames harsh P and B sounds. Each card shows the drawback the reviewers called out.
Who this is not for. Skip this if you're filming TikToks or vlogs on your phone; the Content Creator list has wireless clip-on mics, ring lights and tripods.
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Estimates based on typical prices, checked Oct 31, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JLab Talk | budget | $50-100 | a great-sounding first mic on a tight budget | 1 outlet |
| Shure MV7+ | splurge | $200-300 | podcasters ready to invest in a mic for the long haul | 1 outlet |
| Shure MV6 USB Gaming Microphone | mid | $100-150 | clear voice chat and streaming | 1 outlet |
Best microphonebudget pick · USB
Best for a great-sounding first mic on a tight budget
Tom's Guide's best value microphone: solid recording with clarity and depth, plus four switchable pickup modes at a bargain price.
Heads up. Can pick up background noise, and Tom's Guide found the bidirectional mode less consistent than the others
1 outlet. Tom's Guide best value microphone.
$50-100
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splurge pick · USB-C and XLR
Best for podcasters ready to invest in a mic for the long haul
Tom's Guide's best microphone for serious podcasting: voices come out deep, layered and nuanced, and the built-in denoiser rivals pro mics.
Heads up. Expensive next to other mics, and the boom arm is sold separately
1 outlet. Tom's Guide best microphone for podcasters.
$200-300
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mid pick · USB
Best for clear voice chat and streaming
PC Gamer's best microphone for gaming: small, with excellent software and auto levelling that works very well.
Heads up. The included cable is too short
1 outlet. PC Gamer best microphone for gaming.
$100-150
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sennheiser HD 480 PRO | splurge | $200-300 | long recording and editing sessions | 1 outlet |
| Audio-Technica ATH-M20x | budget | $50-100 | monitoring your voice without spending much | 1 outlet |
| Sony MDR-7506 | mid | $100-150 | catching mistakes while you edit | 1 outlet |
Best headphonessplurge pick · Over-ear
Best for long recording and editing sessions
RTINGS' best headphones for podcasting: a comfortable closed-back pair that doesn't leak much audio and keeps voices clear and well articulated.
Heads up. Sound can vary a bit between wears, so adjust the fit with care
1 outlet. RTINGS best headphones for podcasting.
$200-300
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budget pick · Over-ear
Best for monitoring your voice without spending much
RTINGS' best budget podcast headphones: a flat mid-range keeps voices clear and detailed.
Heads up. Plasticky build with thinner metal in the frame than the Sony MDR-7506
1 outlet. RTINGS best budget podcast headphones.
$50-100
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mid pick · Over-ear
Best for catching mistakes while you edit
RTINGS' best mid-range headphones for podcasting: a bright sound makes voices clear and imperfections easy to spot.
Heads up. Not very well padded, and the plastic can creak when you put them on
1 outlet. RTINGS best Mid-Range Podcast Headphones.
$100-150
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On-Stage MBS5000 | budget | $25-50 | small desks and tight dorm setups | 1 outlet |
| Samson MBA38 | mid | $50-100 | heavier mics that need a strong arm | 1 outlet |
| Rode PSA1 | splurge | $100-150 | a pro-looking setup that lasts | 1 outlet |
| Aokeo Professional Microphone Pop Filter | budget | under $15 | stopping harsh P and B pops for cheap | Limited evidence |
| Auphonix Pop Filter Screen for Microphones | mid | $15-25 | cleaner voice tracks with less editing | Limited evidence |
Best boom armbudget pick · 19.5 in reach
Best for small desks and tight dorm setups
Digital Camera World's best boom arm for small spaces: a robust, compact arm with an XLR cable already run inside it.
Heads up. Limited reach
1 outlet. Digital Camera World best boom arm for small spaces.
$25-50
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mid pick · 38 in reach
Best for heavier mics that need a strong arm
Digital Camera World's best mid-priced boom arm: internal springs and a steel body that are robust and easy to adjust quietly.
Heads up. Not the cheapest
1 outlet. Digital Camera World best mid-priced boom arm.
$50-100
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splurge pick · 33 in reach
Best for a pro-looking setup that lasts
Digital Camera World's best boom arm overall: an industry-standard arm that lets you reposition your mic flexibly and quietly.
Heads up. Not the cheapest
1 outlet. Digital Camera World best boom arm overall.
$100-150
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Best pop filterbudget pick · Clamp-on
Best for stopping harsh P and B pops for cheap
Two screens, where the second one cuts any air pressure the first one misses.
Heads up. On the heavier end, so it can be hard to keep in the same place
Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.
under $15
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mid pick · Clamp-on
Best for cleaner voice tracks with less editing
A double-mesh screen that cuts pops and hisses without dulling your voice.
Heads up. One of the more expensive pop filters on BestReviews' list
Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.
$15-25
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
A USB microphone and a pair of closed-back headphones are the essentials. A boom arm and a pop filter are nice to have. If you're filming short videos on your phone instead, our Content Creator list has clip-on wireless mics and ring lights.
RTINGS recommends closed-backs to cut the chance of your microphone picking up audio leaking from your headphones. Its top pick, the Sennheiser HD 480 PRO, doesn't leak much audio and plugs straight into a laptop without an amp.
Not on day one, but it helps you get the mic close to your mouth and move it quietly. Tom's Guide notes the Shure MV7+ has no boom arm in the box. Digital Camera World's best overall arm, the Rode PSA1, holds mics up to 2.4 lb; for heavier mics its mid-priced pick, the Samson MBA38, holds up to 5 lb.