Shopping for a podcast microphone can feel daunting. You want to make the right choice for your podcast, but you can't really know if you'll like the one you choose until you pull the trigger and make a purchase (and then it's too late!).

That's why we put together this guide of the best microphones for podcasting. Every microphone on this list will make you sound like a pro so you can confidently invest in your podcast without worrying about buyer's remorse.

But before we dive into our recommendations, it's essential to understand which kind of microphone is best for your particular podcasting setup. Here are four things you should know when choosing a microphone:

XLR or USB

Every podcasting microphone you consider will capture your audio using either an XLR or USB connection.

XLR is the audio industry standard and is used by rock bands, radio stations, and podcasters around the world. When you're first starting, the main drawback with an XLR microphone is that you need to buy additional gear to capture your audio. However, once you invest in a mixer or audio interface and some XLR cables, you'll be able to use virtually any microphone.

If you have the budget to invest in your podcast, an XLR microphone setup will give you the greatest flexibility and open up more microphone options.

A USB microphone allows you to plug your microphone directly into your computer, eliminating the need to go out and purchase a mixer or USB interface. USB microphones are "plug and play," working with both Mac and Windows computers seamlessly so they make recording new podcast episodes simple and straightforward without having to be an audio engineer.

If you're recording a solo podcast or conduct all of your interviews over the internet, a USB microphone is probably your best option.

Dynamic vs Condenser

Microphones are designed to record audio in one of two ways: active listening or passive listening. Condenser microphones use active listening. Dynamic microphones use passive listening. Here are the pros and cons of each:

Condenser microphones are designed to pick up sound with great detail and accuracy. This makes them ideal for professional studio environments, but they can be tricky and problematic when used in a home or office environment since they are more sensitive to ambient background noise.

Condenser microphones also require external power, known as "phantom power," to record audio signals so you'll need a mixer or interface that can supply power to your microphone.

Dynamic microphones are passive listening devices that convert sound waves to an electronic signal. Dynamic mics are better at ignoring ambient background noise, which is why they are the preferred microphone type for most podcasting applications. Dynamic mics also don't require phantom power so they can be used with a wider variety of mixers and interfaces.

Their performance in less-than-ideal recording environments is the reason all of our microphone recommendations are dynamic microphones.

Polar Pattern

Polar pattern - also known as "pickup pattern" - refers to a microphone's directionality (how it's designed to record your audio). Common patterns include bi-directional, omnidirectional, and cardioid.

A cardioid pickup pattern is the preferred recording orientation for podcasting applications. It essentially means that the microphone will emphasize and pick up the sound coming directly into the top or front of the mic and minimize or ignore sound coming from the rear and sides.

All of the microphones we recommend have a cardioid polar pattern, so they're tailor-made for podcasting.

Why is a good microphone important?

It's simple really - a microphone that records high-quality audio benefits every other aspect of your podcast. Your episodes sound better, your listeners connect with you on a deeper level, and you spend less time editing each episode to make up for sub-par sound quality.

Sure, you can get the best audio interface, edit with studio-quality headphones, and have your episodes mixed and mastered by an audio engineer, but there is only so much you can do with a poor vocal recording.

When you have a good microphone you can depend on, everything else becomes easier.

Now that we've go that out of the way let's jump into the best podcasting microphone! We've divided them into two tiers depending on your price range and how much budget you've set aside for your podcast setup.

Don't feel like you have to spring for the most expensive microphone to get high-quality sound. Every option on this list is a quality microphone that will make you sound like a pro!

Disclosure: Some of these product links are affiliate links, which means Buzzsprout might receive a small commission if you decide to purchase them..

Entry-Level Microphones

XLR and USB

Dynamic

Cardioid Pickup Pattern

The Audio-Technica ATR2100 is the microphone we recommend to most new podcasters. In blind sound tests, the ATR2100 compares favorably to the more expensive microphones on our list and is a great all-around microphone for podcasting and voiceover work.

One thing that makes the Audio-Technica ATR2100 (and the next microphone on our list) so popular is its versatility. It has both XLR and USB connections, so it will work just as well with an audio mixer as it does plugged straight into your computer.

The ATR2100 also features a built-in headphone jack, so you can monitor your audio directly from the microphone and adjust the headphone volume with easy-to-use controls on the bottom of the microphone.

The ATR2100 also comes with several essential accessories out of the box. In addition to the microphone itself, you also get a mic stand, USB cable, and XLR cable so you can get started without having to buy anything else. The ATR2100 is compatible with both Mac and Windows computers and works with any podcast recording software (this includes online recording solutions like Skype and Zoom).

Play this podcast episode to hear what the Audio-Technica ATR2100 sounds like: