Best gaming microphone 2024

You can stream without a webcam, but broadcasting without a microphone removes the interactive element with your viewers, making audio quality all the more important. The Elgato Wave:3 comes with a whole host of features to make sure both you and your audience get the best experience possible.

It has an understated design that’s smaller than most smartphones, meaning it won’t steal the show or obscure your webcam. It’s also highly functional, using a single dial to adjust the input gain, headphone monitoring volume, and even the microphone and PC mix to strike the right balance between the two. The red mute LED around the dial allows quick off-and-on operation.

Software is Elgato’s strong suit, providing you with a nine-channel digital mixer to properly tune your audio. It doesn’t have a big learning curve and is well worth the price tag with its more granular approach to your stream’s sound – provided you only need one microphone, as you can’t run multiple Wave mics simultaneously.

Read our Elgato Wave:3 review.

If you’ve never used a dedicated microphone, and are coming from webcam or headset audio, then buying the Blue Yeti will immediately transform the quality of your stream.

This microphone was released in 2009, but we’ve included it over the more expensive, newer Blue Yeti X because it’s affordable and plain works; you simply connect it to your setup and start speaking.

You won’t get options to customize your audio like the Elgato Wave:3, and there are modern options with better sound quality. However, our reviewer found that it delivers audio quality better than most mics in its category, with the Caridoid pattern being the best for talking into the front of the mic.

Read our Blue Yeti review.

The Logitech G Yeti GX is the latest addition to the long-running lineup of Yeti microphones that started life under the brand name, Blue. Many of the Yeti models (including the ones in this guide) were loved for their versatility and sound quality, but the Yeti GX is a simpler option, just with the addition of RGB lighting.

The Yeti GX sports a black pill-shaped design that’s cute and compact, with customizable RGB lighting around its base. During testing, we liked the mic’s unique curved S-shaped stand, and the power cable being tucked out of the way. But the stand isn’t height adjustable and you’ll need a boom arm for greater angle versatility.

The audio quality is clear and well-pitched for streaming. But in our test, it lacked the warmth of vocals compared to rivals. If you’re looking for a compact, plug-and-play microphone that works straight out of the box, the G Yeti GX won’t disappoint. But there are cheaper options out there with equivalent sound quality – they just likely won’t have RGB.

Read our Logitech G Yeti GX review.

With a smart new form factor, the Seiren V2 Pro certainly looks the part. Dressed head-to-toe in matte black, it’s a sleek mic with front-mounted gain and volume dials sitting just below a mute button.

Connectivity comes via a proprietary USB-C cable shaped to fit the Seiren’s curved body and terminating in a standard USB-A connection. A good chunk of a USB mic’s appeal is that you can plug it in and get cracking straight away, with minimal fuss or tweaking of settings. Here, you’ll need to be prepared to put time into the Razer Synapse app to make the most of the V2 Pro.

There’s no boom arm included in the Seiren’s packaging, and you’d be advised to pick one up as the bundled desk stand sits too low to make good use of the mic’s limited range. You can turn up the gain, but you’ll likely incur some unwanted background noise.

This is a competent mic that does a solid job, provided you can overlook the omission of a boom arm and are open to tweaking the output via the Synapse app.

Read our Razer Seiren V2 Pro review.

The Rode X XDM-100 is a USB-C gaming mic that targets professional Twitch streamers with superb audio capabilities. It also holds up against even the best XLR setups, thanks to an included virtual mixing suite that emulates the Rodecaster Pro.

Boasting a dynamic capsule, USB-C connectivity, and a wide 20 Hz – 20 kHz frequency range, the Rode X XDM-100 houses high specs within its sleek metal shell. At the heart of the mic is the company’s Revolution Preamp — an internal amplifier that eliminates the need for additional processing and gain.

The XDM-100 arrives alongside Rode’s new Unify virtual mixer, and the software helps this premium gaming mic shine. Its intuitive layout will no doubt appeal to seasoned streamers and content creators alike, while additional ‘Aphex’ features will help you dial in your audio input.

Rode’s gaming mic commands a premium price tag, but if you’re looking for a USB-C device that’ll offer XLR levels of functionality, the XDM-100 won’t disappoint. Just keep in mind that while the package includes a nifty shock mount and a pop filter, we’d advise clamping it to your gaming desk with a decent boom arm.

Read our Rode X XDM-100 review.

The Razer V3 Chroma is a step up from the cheap Razer Seiren Mini but cheaper than the Razer V2 Pro. Its main selling point is stunning RGB lighting – customizable, of course – running around the main body. Like all the mics in this guide, operation is plug-and-play which means it works as soon as it’s plugged into your PC via a USB port. To customize and control audio options you’ll need Razer’s Synapse software, but this is free and intuitive to use.

The design is simple but attractive. There’s a gain/volume dial at the front for tweaking headphone or microphone levels, and the mute button can be found on the top – simply press it once to cut your audio.

This mic is for gamers and streamers who want another way to incorporate RGB lighting into their setup. Our reviewer said it was the brightest, most dynamic microphone RGB they’d ever seen, but also praised the Chroma’s ability to cut out unwanted background noise.

Read our Razer V3 Chroma review.

After a day of gaming with your friends, you may decide to create a podcast to spread your love of playing videogames. Fortunately, this microphone offers one of the best affordable options on the market, letting you craft compelling podcasts without breaking the bank.

Despite the plug-and-play setup, this is a great microphone that offers solid, warm, and crisp vocals, perfect for creating podcasts or streaming your favorite games. The design may be bland, but the build quality is excellent, delivering a premium microphone on a budget.

Unfortunately, you’ll likely need a decent stand, which means an extra expense. However, we strongly suggest picking this up if you want some brilliant recording quality.

Read our full Audio Technica AT2040USB review.

Sennheiser is an instantly recognizable name in the audio industry, producing high-quality products across a range of hardware. The Sennheiser Profile USB delivers the same top performance that the company is known for, but without breaking the bank.

Delivering great vocals with great build quality, the Sennheiser Profile USB is the perfect starting microphone for those looking to get into streaming. It’s practically plug-and-play, with very little set up required, and the physical controls are impressive.

While it only offers Cardioid, that doesn’t negate how amazing the Sennheiser Profile USB is. It’s simply fantastic, and that’s a great thing for budding streamers or podcast creators.