When someone has a great camera on a work video, you notice it immediately. But when someone has a great microphone on a work video, you feel it first. Good audio creates an intimacy that can make an audience feel like you are in the room with them.
For the purposes of this roundup, we considered stand mics. We excluded any headsets because we don’t think any professional wants to give ’90s call center vibes when they’re on video. We also excluded microphones with gamer-style LED lights because that look doesn’t project professionalism on a pitch call.
But with hundreds of options and reviews, it can be hard to find the right option for you. We looked at reviews from publications, forums, YouTube, and retailers to find the most often mentioned options at between $80 to $250 USD. Here are the most recommended mics according to popular reviewers.
You probably take pains to rid your background of distracting messes and unprofessional objects; you should do the same for the sound of the room. A great microphone will make you sound a lot better, but might also pick up more ambiance. If that's a problem for your space, consider a directional or cardioid microphone, or pair it with noise filtering software.
USB stand mics
Rode NT-USB Mini
The Rode NT-USB Mini offers great sound at an affordable price. This microphone is recommended by Riverside.fm, calling it a "great quality microphone" that sounds good for under $100. It gets 4.5 stars from more than 4,500 ratings on Amazon. Wirecutter recommends the larger, more expensive Rode PodMic USB instead.
Shure MV7+
The Shure MV7+ comes from a trusted name in the audio industry and can be used as a USB or XLR microphone. PC Mag praises the MV7+ for “excellent clarity and warmth.” YouTube reviewer Tom Buck calls it “what the original MV7 should have been.” PetaPixel calls it the “best studio mic for most people” Riverside.fm calls this microphone “almost perfect.” This microphone also gets praise on Reddit, Tom’s Guide, Consumer Tech Review, and The Podcast Host.
Logitech Yeti
Formerly known as the Blue Yeti, this easy-to-use microphone is praised as “the industry standard” by Tom’s Guide. It has a classic-looking capsule shape that won’t be embarrassing on a work call, and it offers four different audio pickup patterns for multi-directional use. You can often find these for under $100. The super popular Logitech Yeti USB mic gets high marks from Wired and CNET, too.
Elgato Wave:3
The Wave:3 is a condenser microphone with a secret weapon: the Wave Link software. Redditor HelixViewer calls Wave Link “a powerful force multiplier that makes the Wave 3 worth what I paid for it.” After using one for a year, The Quirky Engineer on YouTube gives a long term review that praises its “exceptional audio and software quality.” And Hardware Canucks on YouTube calls the Wave:3 “my go-to daily microphone for all types of voiceover recordings, for calls, etc.” And if you use Elgato’s Stream Deck devices, the Wave:3 integrates with it out of the box.
Wireless mics for video calls
DJI Mic 2
Wired says the DJI Mic 2 is “stylish enough that it can be visible on camera without feeling like it doesn’t belong.” Tom’s Guide gave it 4.5 stars out of 5, praising its “fantastic audio quality.” The compact DJI Mic 2 can be purchased with either two or one transmitter, and its discreet form includes noise canceling for clean audio even in rooms with ambient noise. Doubt Me Tech has a useful video on how to connect your DJI Mic receiver to your laptop so it recognizes your DJI Mic as a USB audio input.
Rode Wireless GO II
The Rode Wireless GO II is a little different from our other picks—it’s a wireless mic made for use on the go. But it also makes a great substitute for a lavalier clip-on, and you can purchase a single transmitter + receiver. It receives 4.3 stars from over 4,500 ratings on Amazon. If you have the cash, you could upgrade to the Rode Wireless Pro which is a favorite of FStoppers. Rode has a useful video on how to connect the Wireless GO II receiver into the USB port on your Mac or PC laptop.
The Complete Guide to Looking Great on Video
