Top 7 Audio Interfaces under $100 to Start Recording Right Now

Are you on the market for something you can use to record your gym sessions, karaoke at your restaurant, or even podcasting in your home studio? This is your best bet. It has all the essential features you would need from an audio interface and a mixer.

The mixer boasts of a solid rock build with steel. All its parts including knobs and potentiometers have been meticulously designed and made with high-grade material.

With the built-in USB interface, you can record onto any DAW of your liking or interface with your Mac or PC for playback. You will enjoy making a super-clear record owing to the clean and low-noise pre-amp mic that comes with the interface.

Your voice will always sound perfect whether you’re singing or doing a podcast, all thanks to the 2-band EQ and panning that allows you to change the sounds on channel 1 to your liking. There’s also an echo that helps improve the sound of your voice.

The most exciting feature of this interface is the Bluetooth playback that allows you to have seamless wireless playback at your restaurant, gym, camping, or anywhere you can’t hardwire your playback device.

The mixer offers unparalleled versatility with its 2 stereo and 1 mono channel. It also allows you to plug in a secondary microphone on the extra 3.5mm mic input. And since it has 18V phantom power, you can use a condenser mic.

Another plus for his mixer AI is that it has clipping indicators that help you set your levels accurately by preventing you from adding gain excessively. Also, you can power it in three different ways, thus highly portable. You can plug it to your computer using the USB cable, or plug it into a wall outlet with an adapter provided or use a 5V power bank.

Why did it make our list? This is by far the most versatile interface under 100 bucks. It is hard to come across all these features and exceptional performance at such an attractive price tag.

What is not ideal about it? With all the multiple features and exceptional capability, this interface couldn’t be any better. We’d only wished to add MIDI connectivity to it.

This scooped the second spot on our list for all the right reasons. First off, it is the pioneer of the famous AudioBox line known for the best entry-level AI units. It is one of the best low-cost solutions with superb combination inputs that offer high-quality pre-amps.

There are no bells and whistles about this unit’s design. It comes in an incredibly lightweight body with a durable aluminum chassis that is bulletproof. The unit features two inputs, two main outputs, and an extra one for stereo headphones. As if that’s enough a full MIDI In/Out is also included in the rear unit. This offers great versatility as you can easily plug in your guitar or mic for smooth recording.

Moreover, you can easily connect the AI to your PC or Mac via USB and if you like Phantom power, there is a 48v switch on the front panel. You will love the high-quality sounds produced by this AI thanks to its impressive range of sampling rates of 44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96kHz.

Another plus for this AI is that it offers excellent value for money as it comes with a full version of Studio One with all the instruments and Studio Magic effects.

What we liked: The Plug and Play AI is not only the cheapest but also the oldest of the renowned industry player AudioBox. It has so much to offer for a low-budget AI including the Studio Magic Plug In-suite and the copy of the Studio One Artist.

What could be better: If you don’t own a Microphone or Headphone you will have to dig deeper into your pocket to get a version that comes with them. Some users have also complained that the AI conflicts with some OS’s.

The Behringer U-Control UCA202 has quite the popular following. This is probably because it outperforms its price tag. It is a simple interface that does everything it says it can do and you can depend on it for the best sound quality.

Typical of all Behringer products, this unit has a small lightweight but very solid build that makes it highly portable. It is super easy to use as it requires no setup. All you have to do is plug it into your Mac or PC and get started.

The UCA202 features two analog mono inputs and outputs plus an additional S/PDIF optical output that you can use to convert analog to digital directly. Additionally, it has a stereo headphone output that has a dedicated level control which you can use to monitor both the input and output.

You can trust the UCA202 to give you high-end audio quality owing to its 48kHZ high-resolution converters. You will also enjoy recording without any distractions thanks to its low latency.

To top it all, this plug and play AI comes with a ton of free editing and recording software that you will make the most out of for the best quality sounds.

What makes it special? This is a conveniently small yet ruggedly built Audio Interface that offers the best recording experience at a street price. It is a very straightforward interface with excellent sound quality.

What cons did we find? There aren’t many bad things to say about this interface except that it doesn’t come with detailed instructions for novices or anyone who isn’t completely familiarized with interfaces.

This is another piece worth having in your bag of tricks as a budding musician. The Zoom-U-22 is the ideal AI for anyone looking for a cheap mobile solution that’s only 1 in and 2 out.

Weighing a mere 0.33 pounds, the Zoom U-22 is possibly the most compact AI out there. It’s a favorite for many musicians and producers because it can easily fit in a gig bag and is designed to work virtually anywhere you take it. It can be powered by either USB Bus or batteries and this makes it more flexible.

The unit features a mini-jack line input and the XLR/TRS input which functions just as good as a mic preamp with phantom power. The only downside to these inputs is that you can’t use both of them at the same time as one cancels the other. Therefore, you have to carry converters with you all the time.

On the bright side, there are independent stereo outputs for headphones and monitors. The monitor outputs are RCA connectors probably because of the AI petite build and also for the sake of DJs playing music from their laptops. One huge plus for this AI is the inclusion of a zero-latency direct monitoring feature.

What makes it special? This is a gem of a product designed to be adequate for various applications. It is highly portable with power options and a compact yet durable build. It is hard to beat its small price tag and high audio resolution of 24-bit/96kHz.

What cons did we find? Had zoom not restricted this AI’s independent input selection this would have been the best piece of gear to add to your home studio.

This is another exceptional option for a home studio recording beginner or a new musician on the go. The ART USB Dual Pre is a high performing dual preamplifier and computer interface thoughtfully designed to give the ultimate recording experience on a low budget.

The AI comes in a compact but super-sturdy aluminum build that makes it ideal for hitting the road with. Plus, it can be powered by either batteries or USB. If you are a phantom power fan, then you’re lucky as it comes with a built-in and low-noise 48V supply that allows you to power the preamplifier and two mics.

What’s more, the unit features fully balanced low-noise XLR and ¼-inch TRS combo inputs. You wouldn’t need a converter for this as you can use them simultaneously. Also featured are two ¼-inch outputs that you can use as preamplifier outputs or as monitor feed to your powered monitors.

What sets this AI apart the most is the 48dB clean gain controls on each of the inputs with LED indicators. Plus, you don’t need any special drivers as it works pretty well with USB audio device drivers in Windows and Mac computers that have native USB support.

With a 16-bit/44.1Hz audio resolution, you can trust this AI to give you the best audio quality. Plus, it has the free-latency monitoring feature that allows you to record without any distractions.

What makes it stand out? This is an exceptional addition to any new or professional musician’s portable gear. Its clean 48dB gain and three power options set it apart from other AI’s within its price range.

Which disadvantages must you keep in mind? Nothing could be better with all the multiple features and high portability offered by this Audio Interface. It performs just as great as pricier high-end AIs. The only thing we would wish is that it could be used for live podcasting with some way to send a mic or instrument signal to LR.

This is one of the most underrated interfaces on the market. It probably suffers from a lack of marketing because of the language barrier as it is from a budding company in China. It is packed with better specs than most interfaces with a higher price point.

The Midiplus Studio 2 isn’t the most beautiful interface out there but isn’t anything bad to say about its design either. It has a remarkable lightweight metal build that makes it one of the best portable interfaces.

You can power the interface with either USB or 48v phantom power supply giving you the freedom of using a microphone or a condenser. You are also guaranteed the impressive USB 2.0 interface transmission speed.

When it comes to audio quality, nothing comes close to what this AI offers within its price range. It has an audio resolution of 24-bit/192kHz that offers high-precision sampling.

The Midiplus Studio 2 is a 2 in/2 out interface. The inputs and outputs make recording fast and easier for you. Other exciting features include the headphone gain control knob and the stereo sound monitor switch button.

What are our favorite features? Super-lightweight yet rugged build that is easily portable. Its switchable direct monitoring with mix control and high-precision sampling set it apart from other interfaces within its price range.

What could be better? There are a few complaints from users claiming that the AI is a bit noisy and some had non-functional inputs.

This is a solid choice for any laptop music enthusiast who is always on the go. Unlike most hubs, this M-Audio unit is a very simple easy-to-use big-knob kind of AI. It is rich with incredible features that make it a huge steal at its attractive price point.

The Hub is incredibly lightweight and compact. It can easily fit in your fanny pack. It is durably built with a rugged metal chassis. In case you are wondering, the large knob is the one that controls the volume level to a pair of ¼-inch balanced TRS connectors that are best suited for studio monitors. And, yes it does feel good to have control over everything with a simple turn of a chunky knob.

What’s more, the hub features a separate ¼-inch headphone output that is controlled independently to provide private listening.

Also featured are 3 USB ports that allow you to connect various devices to your PC or Mac including MIDI controllers, flash drives, and other portable devices.

This USB AI is one of the best desktop monitor controllers that professional musicians and producers can get for a professional-level monitoring solution. It offers the best sound quality with its built-in 24-bit resolution and 96kHz DAC.

What makes it stand out? This is a thoughtfully designed AI with a compact yet sturdy body. Its 3-in-1 professional monitor controller and big-knob set it apart as one of the best USB audio interfaces under 100 dollars.

Which disadvantages must you keep in mind? In addition to USB, the M-audio Hub requires wall wart for power. You can live with it but it would’ve been much better if the USB bus could power everything.