The best audio interface under 100 dollars is the one that gets a clean signal into your computer with low latency and enough inputs for how you actually record — and at this price you have more genuinely good options than you’d expect. The short answer: for one microphone, the Behringer U-Phoria UM2 is the cheapest sensible choice, while the M-Audio M-Track Solo and PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 give you two inputs and better software for a few dollars more. Below we explain what actually matters at this budget, then compare six real interfaces you can buy today.
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Quick picks: the best budget audio interfaces at a glance
If you don’t want to read the whole guide, start here. These are all real, widely available USB interfaces that sit at or below the hundred-dollar mark, and any of them will out-perform recording through a laptop’s headphone jack or a cheap USB mic.
| Interface | Inputs | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Behringer U-Phoria UM2 | 1 XLR/line + 1 instrument | Absolute cheapest single-mic setup | Check the current price on Amazon |
| M-Audio M-Track Solo | 1 XLR + 1 instrument | Best cheap all-rounder for one input | Check the current price on Amazon |
| M-Audio M-Track Duo | 2 combo XLR/line | Two inputs on a tight budget | Check the current price on Amazon |
| Behringer U-Phoria UMC202HD | 2 combo XLR/line | Best preamps under $100 (MIDAS) | Check the current price on Amazon |
| PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 | 2 combo XLR/line | Best build quality and software bundle | Check the current price on Amazon |
| Mackie Onyx Artist 1-2 | 2 combo XLR/line | Solid feel and metal chassis | Check the current price on Amazon |
What actually matters in an audio interface under 100 dollars
Spend enough time reading spec sheets and every interface starts to look identical. In practice, only a few things separate a budget box you’ll keep for years from one you’ll want to replace in six months. Here’s what an honest engineer would tell you to look at before you buy.
Preamp headroom and noise. The microphone preamp is the part that adds gain to a quiet signal. Cheap preamps can run out of clean gain, so a low-output dynamic mic like an SM58 sounds thin unless you crank the knob into hissy territory. At this price the standouts are the ones with a bit more gain on tap and a lower noise floor — the Behringer UMC202HD’s MIDAS-designed preamps and the PreSonus AudioBox are known for coping better here than the very cheapest units.
Number and type of inputs. Be honest about how you record. Solo vocalists, podcasters recording one voice at a time, and guitarists overdubbing only ever need one input, and a single-channel box like the UM2 or M-Track Solo is fine. But if you want to record two people talking, a stereo instrument, or vocals and guitar simultaneously, you need two inputs that can record onto separate tracks. That’s the main reason to step up to a two-channel interface.
Latency and driver quality. Latency is the delay between playing a note and hearing it back through the interface. It’s mostly down to the driver software, and this is where budget interfaces differ most. Windows users should look for a proper ASIO driver; PreSonus and Focusrite have historically been the most stable on Windows, while Behringer relies on a generic ASIO driver that works but can be fussier. If you want the background on this, read our explainer on what audio latency is and how to keep it low.
Bit depth, sample rate and connectors. Almost everything at this price records at 24-bit and at least 48 kHz, which is all you need for music and voice. Don’t pay extra chasing 192 kHz — it eats CPU for no audible benefit at home. If the numbers confuse you, our guide to sample rate and bit depth clears it up. Do check the USB connector, though: a few budget boxes still use USB-B, so make sure you have the right cable or an adapter for a modern laptop.
Behringer U-Phoria UM2 and UMC202HD: the value benchmarks
Behringer effectively created the ultra-budget interface category, and the U-Phoria line is still the price-to-performance benchmark. The single-input UM2 is the cheapest way to get a real XLR input with 48V phantom power for a condenser mic, plus a separate instrument input for guitar or bass. It’s plastic, the metering is a single clip LED, and the headphone amp is quiet, but it records perfectly usable audio. For a first mic and nothing else, it’s hard to argue with. Shop on Amazon
Step up to the two-channel UMC202HD and you get a genuine upgrade rather than just an extra socket. Its MIDAS-designed preamps have more clean gain and a lower noise floor than anything else near this price, which matters a lot if you use quieter dynamic microphones. You also get proper input metering and 24-bit/192 kHz conversion. If you record two sources at once and care about preamp quality, this is the budget pick to beat. Shop on Amazon
M-Audio M-Track Solo and Duo: the simplest way in
M-Audio’s current M-Track range is aimed squarely at first-time buyers, and it shows in the friendly layout. The M-Track Solo gives you one combo XLR input plus an instrument input, big obvious knobs, and a direct-monitor switch so you can hear yourself without latency. It’s one of the cheapest interfaces on the market and it bundles a copy of MPC Beats and Pro Tools Artist to get you recording immediately. As a no-fuss first interface for a single mic, it’s an easy recommendation. Shop on Amazon
The M-Track Duo adds a second combo input so you can record two mics or a stereo keyboard, still comfortably under a hundred dollars. Both units are USB-powered and bus-powered, so there’s no separate adapter to lose. They’re not the quietest preamps here, but for spoken word, singer-songwriter demos and learning the ropes they do the job. Shop on Amazon
PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 and Mackie Onyx Artist: the built-to-last options
If you’d rather spend your full budget on something that feels solid, the PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 is the pick. It has a metal chassis, two combo inputs, reliable drivers that behave well on Windows, and a genuinely useful software bundle in Studio One Artist plus Studio Magic. It’s the interface we most often point beginners to when they want one box they won’t outgrow in a year. Shop on Amazon
The Mackie Onyx Artist 1-2 is the other well-built contender, with Mackie’s Onyx preamps, a sturdy body and clear controls. It’s a two-input interface that punches above its price for feel and includes Waveform and Pro Tools First-style software to get started. If you find it on sale at or below a hundred dollars, it’s worth shortlisting alongside the PreSonus. Shop on Amazon
Setting up your new interface the right way
Whichever one you choose, the setup steps are the same: install the manufacturer’s driver first, plug in over USB, select the interface as your input and output device in your DAW, then set your buffer size low enough for comfortable monitoring. Our walkthrough on how to set up an audio interface covers each step. If you’re still deciding whether you even need one, the comparison of a USB mic versus an audio interface is worth a read, and if you’re building a rig from scratch, browse the rest of the audio interfaces hub for pairing ideas. Getting your gain right from day one — see our notes on gain staging — will do more for your recordings than any extra twenty dollars of hardware.
Frequently asked questions
Is a cheap audio interface worth it, or should I save for a pricier one?
For most home recordists, a good sub-$100 interface is absolutely worth it. The analog-to-digital conversion at this price is already transparent enough that no listener will hear the difference on a finished track. You mainly pay more for extra inputs, better preamp headroom, sturdier build and lower-latency drivers. If you only record one or two sources at home, a budget interface removes the biggest bottleneck — your room, mic technique and mixing will limit you long before the converter does.
Do I need two inputs or is one enough?
Count how many things you record at the same time. One input is fine for a solo vocalist, a podcaster recording alone, or a guitarist overdubbing parts one at a time. You need two inputs only if you capture two sources simultaneously onto separate tracks — two people in a conversation, or vocals and guitar together. When in doubt, a two-input interface like the UMC202HD or AudioBox USB 96 gives you room to grow for very little extra.
Will these interfaces power a condenser microphone?
Yes. Every interface in this guide provides 48V phantom power, which is what condenser microphones need to work. Look for the “48V” switch on the unit and turn it on only after your mic is plugged in, then off before you unplug. Dynamic microphones don’t need phantom power and are unaffected by it, so it’s safe to leave engaged if you switch between mic types. For more on this, see our explainer on what phantom power is.
