How Much Does Podcast Equipment Cost in 2025?

There’s loads of good podcast gear available on the market today. However an excessive amount of selection could be overwhelming, and infrequently, individuals will spend much more than they should.

No one likes to really feel ripped off, so let’s take a look at the price of podcast tools based mostly in your distinctive wants, needs, and funds.

What Podcast Tools Will I Want?

The kind of present you need to run will decide the tools you want. Right here, I’ll take a look at the totally different items of equipment required to document the most common types of podcasts.

A fast heads up, too, that we generally use affiliate hyperlinks when recommending sure merchandise. This implies we might earn a small fee should you had been to purchase by way of them, although by no means at any further price to you.

With that each one stated, what podcast tools do you want, and the way a lot does it price?

A USB Microphone: $50-$100

A USB mic setup comes with the idea that you just’ve already bought a PC/laptop computer/Mac, and that you just’ve put in the audio-editing software program Audacity, which is free. Audacity is nice should you’re recording a solo present. Nonetheless, should you’d love to do on-line/distant interviews or conversations, take a look at our best call recorder tools roundup.

The standard of USB mics has come on leaps and bounds these previous few years. In my view, one of the best general choice stays the Samson Q2U or the ATR2100 as a result of you too can use them with digital recorders and audio interfaces additional down the road.

In our 2024 Podcast Gear Survey, the Q2U was discovered to be the second hottest mic. You may naturally marvel about the most well-liked—the Blue Yeti—however I don’t suppose it’s price paying $90-$110 when you will get the (significantly better) Q2U for cheaper.

Except for the mic itself, you simply have to plug in some headphones. Sure, you can buy yourself a high-end pair of studio headphones, however you’ll be able to simply as simply use the trusty set of earbuds you might have mendacity round. The Q2U is commonly present in bundle deals with headphones included.

For the overwhelming majority of individuals, that is all you could make a podcast. You could be up and working with a superb equipment for lower than $100.

Naturally, there are extra high-end USB mic choices on the market too. The Shure MV7+ or the Rode Procaster gives you top-of-the-range sound high quality, however you’ll pay anyplace between $150 and $280 for the privilege. Discover out extra about them in our Best USB Mics roundup.

However what should you don’t personal a pc, or don’t need to be tied to 1 for recording your podcast? Then, a smartphone setup is perhaps extra suited to your wants.

Smartphone Podcast Tools ($45-$135)

The typical smartphone presents many choices for recording audio and video. Within the brief time period, you will get away with utilizing it with none further tools. Nonetheless, should you’re severe about rising an viewers, you’ll need to improve your audio ultimately.

We’re well-catered to for reasonably priced smartphone audio now with the BOYA Mini and Rode Wireless Micro. Each setups are fairly comparable—you plug a wi-fi receiver into your cellphone and join a wi-fi transmitter (mic) to your jersey and one other to that of your visitor or co-host, in case you have one.

However should you don’t need to use a pc or a cellphone, what subsequent?

A Digital Recorder ($100-$400+)

Some podcasters naturally favor devoted single-use know-how. Should you’d moderately preserve your laptop for work and your cellphone for doom-scrolling, then a digital recorder could possibly be proper up your alley.

Decrease Price Digital Recorder Setups

The Tascam DR-05X ($80) and Zoom H1n ($90) are two nice entry-level digital recorders, excellent for on-the-go podcasters.

Each have built-in mics, and you may document straight into them, both solo recordings or chats with friends and co-hosts.

Sound high quality will all the time be restricted when sharing a mic, and you may optimise this setup by plugging Lavalier mics into the H1 via a splitter, although this may triple your podcast tools price.

Greater Price Digital Recorder Setups

The H1’s greater cousins, the Zoom H5 and Zoom H6 are available in at between $200 and $300 respectively. These recorders are chunkier, extra highly effective, and may document XLR mics on multitrack. Keep in mind that you just received’t pay a lot lower than $100 for every XLR mic you utilize. Once more, you’ll be able to merely document into the recorder’s built-in mics however it will restrict your general audio high quality.

A substitute for the H5 and H6 is the Zoom PodTrak P4. At solely $150, the P4 is a less expensive choice, and comes with name recording capabilities. On the flip aspect, it doesn’t have built-in mics, so that you’d want to purchase not less than one XLR mic to utilize it.

Mixers & Audio Interfaces ($85-$700+)

Audio interfaces are the bridge between utilizing XLR mics and podcasting in your laptop.

I’ve owned a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 for about 15 years, and it stays the most popular audio interface among podcasters. Now in its 4th Technology, you’d be about $200 to purchase one model new, or $140 to get the solo (one mic) model.

Focusrite has since launched the podcast-focused Vocaster, too. You will get a two-mic model for $110 and a solo model for $85. I actually just like the Vocaster, and switched to utilizing it after my 2i2 began to die of previous age.

Mixers are a substitute for audio interfaces, however they’re much much less widespread in podcasting today. It’s because they’re overly sophisticated instruments designed for musicians, and far of their functionality could be achieved with a lot less complicated instruments (just like the PodTrak P4) or software program.

The Rode Rodecaster Pro 2 is as near a conventional mixer as I’d advocate for podcasters today. It’s the final word “all-in-one” podcast recorder, although it doesn’t come low-cost—round $690—and that’s before you purchase any XLR mics to run into it!

On the opposite finish of the pricing scale, the PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 is a superb sub-$100 choice. However once more, we nonetheless have to get some mics…

XLR Mics ($50-$400)

I’ve talked about XLR mics rather a lot to date. You may want one (or extra) to plug into your digital recorder or audio interface.

Our Best Podcasting Microphones roundup is a deep dive into the highest selections available on the market proper now. Right here’s a abstract of some choices, although.

Different Bits & Items: Podcast Tools Price FAQ

You may have some further outgoings on high of the gear you propose to purchase. Don’t fear although, you’ll be able to preserve these further podcast tools prices fairly low.

Q: Do I would like headphones?

Sure, however you will get away with utilizing the earbuds you already personal. If you wish to purchase a decent set of studio-quality headphones you’d be speaking $30-$40, not less than.

Q: Do I would like a mic stand?

Most USB mics include desk stands, so you will get set as much as document proper out of the field. Nonetheless, you may need to improve to a boom arm in a while. You may pay as little as $15 for a growth arm, however a phrase of warning—the actually low-cost ones are typically false economic system.

Q: Do I would like a pop-filter?

Some mics include a foam windshield, which could see you thru within the brief time period, particularly should you’re utilizing a desk stand (which implies you’ve nowhere to mount a pop filter). Should you’re shopping for a growth arm or mic stand, it’s price chucking in a pop filter, too. You will get one for round $10.

Q: What about cables?

Should you’re utilizing a USB mic, it’ll include a cable that plugs straight into your laptop. If you wish to run XLR mics right into a digital recorder or interface, then you definately’ll want an XLR cable for each. You may decide one up for lower than $15 if cash is tight, but it surely’s price spending somewhat extra should you’re in a position.

Abstract: How A lot Does Podcast Tools Price?

Most individuals don’t have to spend greater than $100 on their podcasting tools. Should you’re recording solo or on-line/distant conversations, a USB mic will swimsuit you.

For the opposite bits and items, should you want them, you could be anyplace from $20 to $100+.

A digital recorder setup can price $100 (naked fundamentals) to $300+. Operating a few XLR mics into your laptop by way of a USB audio interface will price round $300.

No one needs to spend greater than they want on podcast tools, so ensure you’re not getting one thing overkill in your podcasting necessities.

Should you’re spending greater than $300 in your gear, ensure you’ve bought an excellent purpose for it. Are you sure that you just want every little thing in your procuring cart?

Try these further assets as you proceed to plan your superb podcasting setup;

Placing collectively the proper and most cost-effective podcasting equipment is one thing we may also help you with within the Podcraft Academy, too. In there, you’ll discover video programs, suggestions instruments, downloadable assets, and a neighborhood of like-minded creators. It’s a superb place to plan and launch a growth-optimised podcast!