AudioFu

Best USB Audio Interfaces Under $100 2026

Affordable usb audio interfaces under $100 - great value without compromising quality

Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026

PRICE RANGES: Under $50 Under $100 Under $200 Under $300 Under $500 Under $800 Under $1,000 Under $2,000 Under $5,000
SKILL LEVELS: For Beginner For Intermediate For Professional For Advanced
GENRES & STYLES: For Home Studio For Project Studio For Mobile Recording For Podcasting For Content Creation
BRANDS: Focusrite Behringer Arturia IK Multimedia RME ESI Presonus Universal Audio Zoom Apogee Swissonic Tascam Audient MOTU Roland Steinberg Yamaha Antelope SSL
IK Multimedia iRig USB - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

IK Multimedia iRig USB

by IK Multimedia
Mobile Recording Project Studio Home Studio
Key Feature:
• Great for beginners to professionals
✓ PROS
  • • Wide range of prices and features
  • • Universal USB compatibility
✗ CONS
  • • Computer USB performance dependent
  • • Higher latency than premium interfaces

IK Multimedia iRig USBUSB-C Audio InterfaceFor MacAndroid and iOSConverter: 24-bit48 kHzAMP output with two FX/Thru...

⭐ 4.9/5 (22 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
10/10
Art. 577640
$68
Buy at Thomann View Details
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen

by Focusrite
Mobile Recording Podcasting Content Creation
Key Feature:
• Great for beginners to professionals
✓ PROS
  • • Great for beginners to professionals
  • • Plug-and-play simplicity
✗ CONS
  • • USB port dependency
  • • Computer USB performance dependent

Focusrite , 2-Channel USB2.0 Audio Interface with USB-C Connection24 bit / 192 KHz1 x Scarlett microphone preamp+48 V...

⭐ 4.6/5 (30 reviews)
Sound:
6/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
10/10
Art. 468428
$98
Buy at Thomann View Details
IK Multimedia AXE I/O One - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

IK Multimedia AXE I/O One

by IK Multimedia
Project Studio Mobile Recording Home Studio
Key Feature:
• Portable and bus-powered options
✓ PROS
  • • Universal USB compatibility
  • • Portable and bus-powered options
✗ CONS
  • • USB port dependency
  • • Computer USB performance dependent

IK Multimedia AXE I/O OneUSB 2.0 Audio InterfaceSpecially designed for guitarists24 Bit / 192 kHz converterClass-A...

⭐ 5.0/5 (44 reviews)
Sound:
6/10
Build:
5/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 564098
$87
Buy at Thomann View Details
IK Multimedia iRig Pre HD - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

IK Multimedia iRig Pre HD

by IK Multimedia
Podcasting Content Creation Home Studio
Key Feature:
• Great for beginners to professionals
✓ PROS
  • • Wide range of prices and features
  • • Portable and bus-powered options
✗ CONS
  • • Higher latency than premium interfaces
  • • USB port dependency

IK Multimedia iRig Pre HDMicrophone Interface for Mobile Devices and ComputersXLR inputHigh-quality preamplifier with...

⭐ 4.6/5 (45 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
5/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 424506
$85
Buy at Thomann View Details
Rode AI-Micro - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

Rode AI-Micro

by Rode
Home Studio Project Studio Podcasting
Key Feature:
• Portable and bus-powered options
✓ PROS
  • • Plug-and-play simplicity
  • • Universal USB compatibility
✗ CONS
  • • USB bandwidth limitations
  • • Higher latency than premium interfaces

Rode AI-MicroCompact 2-channel USB-C audio interfaceSuitable for Rode smartLav+Lavalier GORODELink Lav or microphones...

⭐ 4.9/5 (14 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
6/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 530607
$76
Buy at Thomann View Details
ESI Neva Uno - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

ESI Neva Uno

by ESI
Content Creation Podcasting Project Studio
Key Feature:
• Wide range of prices and features
✓ PROS
  • • Wide range of prices and features
  • • Plug-and-play simplicity
✗ CONS
  • • USB port dependency
  • • Power limitations on bus-powered models

ESI Neva Uno2-Channel USB Audio Interface with USB-C 3.1 Connection24 bit / 192 kHz+48 V phantom power1 Mic/line input:...

⭐ 4.4/5 (32 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
5/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 554147
$65
Buy at Thomann View Details
Swissonic UA-2x2 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

Swissonic UA-2x2

by Swissonic
Mobile Recording Podcasting Project Studio
Key Feature:
• Universal USB compatibility
✓ PROS
  • • Great for beginners to professionals
  • • Universal USB compatibility
✗ CONS
  • • Computer USB performance dependent
  • • USB bandwidth limitations

Swissonic UA-2x22x2 USB 2.0 Audio Interface24 Bit / 96 KHzMicrophone preamplifier with 48 V phantom poweringPower...

⭐ 5.0/5 (53 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
10/10
Art. 431012
$72
Buy at Thomann View Details
Swissonic Audio 1 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

Swissonic Audio 1

by Swissonic
Project Studio Home Studio Mobile Recording
Key Feature:
• Universal USB compatibility
✓ PROS
  • • Plug-and-play simplicity
  • • Portable and bus-powered options
✗ CONS
  • • Power limitations on bus-powered models
  • • Higher latency than premium interfaces

Swissonic Audio 12x2 USB 2.0 Audio InterfaceResolution: 192 kHz / 24 BitInputs: 1x XLR and 1x 6.3 mm jackMicrophone...

⭐ 5.0/5 (56 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
6/10
Value:
10/10
Art. 541119
$54
Buy at Thomann View Details
ESI U24 XL - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

ESI U24 XL

by ESI
Podcasting Mobile Recording Home Studio
Key Feature:
• Great for beginners to professionals
✓ PROS
  • • Universal USB compatibility
  • • Great for beginners to professionals
✗ CONS
  • • USB port dependency
  • • Higher latency than premium interfaces

ESI U24 XLUSB audio interface24 bits2 analogue inputs and outputs with 6.3 mm jack connectionOutput L can be used as a...

⭐ 4.7/5 (48 reviews)
Sound:
6/10
Build:
5/10
Value:
10/10
Art. 215913
$86
Buy at Thomann View Details
Fender Link I/O Interface - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#10

Fender Link I/O Interface

by Fender
Project Studio Podcasting Content Creation
Key Feature:
• Plug-and-play simplicity
✓ PROS
  • • Portable and bus-powered options
  • • Great for beginners to professionals
✗ CONS
  • • Higher latency than premium interfaces
  • • Power limitations on bus-powered models

Fender Link I/O InterfaceAudio InterfaceAnalogue-to-digital conversion: 24-bit / 96 kHzStudio quality for high-fidelity...

⭐ 5.0/5 (34 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
6/10
Value:
10/10
Art. 608820
$87
Buy at Thomann View Details
Focusrite Vocaster One Studio - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

Focusrite Vocaster One Studio

by Focusrite
Project Studio Mobile Recording Content Creation
Key Feature:
• Universal USB compatibility
✓ PROS
  • • Wide range of prices and features
  • • Great for beginners to professionals
✗ CONS
  • • USB port dependency
  • • USB bandwidth limitations

Focusrite Vocaster One Studio, Podcast Set, Consisting of a 1-channel USB audio interface, dynamic microphone DM1 with...

⭐ 4.9/5 (36 reviews)
Sound:
6/10
Build:
5/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 544866
$76
Buy at Thomann View Details
M-Audio M-Track Duo HD - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

M-Audio M-Track Duo HD

by M-Audio
Podcasting Content Creation Mobile Recording
Key Feature:
• Wide range of prices and features
✓ PROS
  • • Portable and bus-powered options
  • • Great for beginners to professionals
✗ CONS
  • • Higher latency than premium interfaces
  • • USB port dependency

M-Audio M-Track Duo HD2-Channel USB Audio Interface24 bit / 192 kHzM-Audio Crystal preamp+48 V phantom powerSwitchable...

⭐ 4.7/5 (11 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
6/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 615245
$86
Buy at Thomann View Details
IK Multimedia iRig HD-2 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

IK Multimedia iRig HD-2

by IK Multimedia
Home Studio Mobile Recording Project Studio
Key Feature:
• Wide range of prices and features
✓ PROS
  • • Universal USB compatibility
  • • Great for beginners to professionals
✗ CONS
  • • Computer USB performance dependent
  • • Higher latency than premium interfaces

IK Multimedia iRig HD-2Audio Interface for Apple iOS DevicesMac and PCHi-Z instrument input with 6.3 mm jackAdjustable...

⭐ 4.7/5 (33 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
10/10
Art. 398473
$98
Buy at Thomann View Details
Positive Grid Riff - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

Positive Grid Riff

by Positive Grid
Mobile Recording Project Studio Content Creation
Key Feature:
• Plug-and-play simplicity
✓ PROS
  • • Great for beginners to professionals
  • • Wide range of prices and features
✗ CONS
  • • Higher latency than premium interfaces
  • • USB bandwidth limitations

Positive Grid RiffAudio InterfaceFor Apple iOS devicesMac and PCSpecially tailored to the needs of guitaristsAuto Gain...

⭐ 4.5/5 (2 reviews)
Sound:
6/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
10/10
Art. 612731
$76
Buy at Thomann View Details
Swissonic Audio 2 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

Swissonic Audio 2

by Swissonic
Mobile Recording Podcasting Project Studio
Key Feature:
• Great for beginners to professionals
✓ PROS
  • • Plug-and-play simplicity
  • • Universal USB compatibility
✗ CONS
  • • Power limitations on bus-powered models
  • • Computer USB performance dependent

Swissonic Audio 22x2 USB 2.0 Audio InterfaceResolution: 192 kHz / 24 Bit2 Front combo inputs Mic/Line/Inst: XLR/jack2...

⭐ 4.9/5 (28 reviews)
Sound:
6/10
Build:
6/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 541118
$65
Buy at Thomann View Details

How to Choose the Best USB Audio Interfaces

Budget Planning

  • • Under $200: Entry-level
  • • $200-$500: Intermediate
  • • $500-$1000: Advanced
  • • $1000+: Professional

Quality Check

  • • Sound clarity & tone
  • • Build materials & finish
  • • Hardware durability
  • • Overall craftsmanship

Key Features

  • • Your musical style
  • • Skill level match
  • • Intended use case
  • • Brand reputation

Frequently Asked Questions

Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced usb audio interfaces typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.

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