9 Best Cheap Audio Interfaces That Don’t Suck 2021

Looking for the best cheap audio interfaces that don't suck? We've rounded up some of the best ever made for those on a modest budget.

Thanks to significant leaps in technology (and the fact we only stock products we believe in here at PMT), when we say “cheap” these days, we simply mean “budget-friendly”. Brands are forever finding new ways to make superb, professional-quality audio interfaces at a lower cost, so people like us who love to record at home get to reap the benefits!

Most of us don't have the space or budget to be able to put together a massive studio at home, and thanks to many brands making high-quality audio interfaces that fit in the palm of your hand and don't cost the earth, we can all produce music or audio to a high quality without having to break the bank. So when we say "cheap" we simply mean "affordable"! To help you find the best USB audio interface we’ve put together a range of cheap audio interfaces that will actually allow you to record extremely high-quality tracks without costing you a fortune.

Again, when we say cheap, this is only referring to the cost, not the quality! These cheap audio interfaces are made by some of the world’s best innovators in audio recording, so whether you’re recording guitars, vocals or an entire orchestra – you’re in good hands. Here are the 9 best cheap audio interfaces that will allow you to make superb recordings -

Our top pick for best value when it comes to audio interfaces is the TM-12 model from Trumix.

With a sleek design and robust construction this interface is perfectly portable and built to last, but it's also filled with features that make it one of the stand-out performers at this price point.

With high-performance preamps that are tuned in the UK by a team of expert engineers, the TM-12 is versatile and perfect for home-recording hobbyists and small studio owners alike. The dual-input balanced outputs have high-headroom, so you can capture every detail of your tone even when tracking instruments with high-output active pickups.

Also available is the TM-10 unit, which takes the portability of the unit one step further and is a great option for adding to a mobile recording rig.

We think the PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 Audio Interface is one of the best cheap audio interfaces that proves you don’t have to spend a fortune to set up a new home or portable studio. At just over £70 you get a fantastic option for recording two inputs at the same time. Each input is a combo mic/instrument input so you can record everything from podcast vocals to line level instruments like guitars and keyboards, but you also have built-in MIDI I/O connections so you can connect your synth, vintage keyboard or MIDI controller and take full control of your workflow.

This is compatible with all your regular DAW’s but if you’re just starting out you’ll be pleased to know you get Studio One 3 Artist Software, as well as Studio Magic Plug-Ins Suite, included, so you can start recording straight away if it’s your first interface. There’s also zero-latency monitoring and it records in up to 24-bit, 96 kHz audio – one of the best USB audio interfaces for those on a budget but need high-quality functionality. If you need a mic, headphone and cable the PreSonus Audiobox USB 96 Studio Recording Package is also available, providing everything you need to record in one handy package.

The Native Instruments Komplete Audio 1 wins for sleekest looking interface in this blog. This is ideal for those home studio owners who have limited space and want their interface to slot beautifully into their existing setup without look garish. We think this is one of the best cheap audio interfaces not only due to the fact it’s under £80 but because it’s an impressive 2-in audio interface that allows you to record at 24-bit/192kHz audio anywhere. You have two independent inputs – an XLR for vocals and a jack for guitar/line level instruments. It’s simple yet effective.

For those who have a more synth orientated setup, you’ll appreciate the fact you get a massive software suite including MASCHINE Essentials, Ableton Live Lite, MONARK, and top NI effects included. Direct monitoring with zero latency, large volume knob for adjusting output, 48V phantom power for powering condenser mics and stereo RCA out for connecting to your speakers makes this a perfect option for studios of all sizes. Easily one of the best cheap audio interfaces for those who need to record and mix a variety of different sound sources.

If you’re a content creator who prefers to use smartphones or iPads then the Roland GO:Mixer Audio Mixer for Smartphones is a fantastic choice. This nifty piece of kit eliminates the hassle of recording audio to video and ensures you don’t have to rely on your phone or tablet’s noisy mono mic or struggle with recording external audio tracks that you have to sync later on. Simply plug in your audio source, whether it’s a microphone, line level instrument like a keyboard or electric guitar, hit record on your video and you’re off!

Best of all, there are no external drivers to install, it’s simply plug and play straight out of the box. This is ideal for vloggers and those who shoot web videos without the time to edit everything together. In addition, the 3.5mm mini-jack inputs for a media player line in allows you to rehearse along with any backing tracks or record multiple instruments alongside each other. Palm-sized, powered from the smartphone connection and with all connection cables for iOS and Android devices included – this is the best USB audio interface for portable studio set ups whilst the budget-friendly price tag makes it a great gift for musicians too! 

Whilst we’re talking the best cheap audio interfaces, we have to include the Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface as well as the 2i2 further down. This is not only a contender for the best audio interface in terms of price, but one of the best ever made – a big statement of course, but totally justified considering what it’s capable of. You have 1 x mic input backed up by an award-winning Scarlett mic preamp with all the gain you need as well as 1 x line level input designed to handle hot pickups.

This is a cut above the rest in terms of conversion and sample rates as you get audio recording up to 192kHz / 24 bit with super low latency, even when using plugins. You can record your guitar and vocal at the same time on independent channels and mix them separately and even monitor your effects and plugins in real time – this is a totally immersive recording experience in a small, hard wearing box. There’s also a headphones output with gain input, stereo line outputs on RCA phono so you can connect it to home speakers and it’s powered via USB so you don’t need any extra cables.

One of the key features comes in the form of the switchable Air setting. This makes the mic preamp reproduce the Air effect of the original Focusrite ISA mic preamp and makes your vocals sound brighter and more open. You also get a full suite of recording software and plug ins included such as Ableton Live Lite and Pro Tools First Focusrite Creative Pack and access to the Focusrite Plug-In Collective.

 The Orange OMEC Teleport Audio Interface is a pedal sized audio interface designed for guitarists who want to record and trigger any effects they might have on a laptop, tablet or smartphone directly from their pedal board. If this sounds useful, you’ve hit the jackpot as you simply plug your mobile device/PC into the pedal via USB cable, connect your instrument and then hook up your amp or studio desk (or both at the same time) and you’re all set. At under £90 it’s definitely a contender for the best cheap audio interface, and the fact you get a full-featured copy of Amplitube CS to record with is a bonus.

If that wasn’t enough, you also get virtual OR120, Tiny Terror, Rockerverb 50, AD30, and matching Orange Cabs included, so you can enjoy the sultry tones of some of Orange’s best valve amplifiers with the pedal. This is ideal for triggering recordings via a pedal! The best USB audio interface for guitarists and those who want to trigger samples via a guitar pedal. We could go on and on about it, but we’d rather let Dagan explain:

We had to include the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface as it’s actually the best-selling USB audio interface in the world, and considering it’s only just over £100, it's an easy addition to any set up. This is yet another cheap audio interface that allows you to record superb quality audio on a budget, in fact you can record studio quality audio with this thing!

You have two Scarlett Mic/Instrument pre-amplifiers recording at 24bit/192kHz quality as well as 2 x combo inputs with independent gain control so you can record 2 sources at the same time. Both inputs are designed to take hot pickups and you’ll notice the award-winning Scarlett preamps doing their thing when you record vocals – beautiful!

The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 MKII also comes with a full suite of software including an exclusive version of Pro Tools | First Focusrite Creative Pack, as well as Ableton Live Lite and access to the Focusrite Plug In collective. If you’re keen on recording more than one sound source at the same time and you want to be able to record studio-quality anywhere, anytime, this is a fantastic option and one of the best cheap audio interfaces that certainly doesn’t suck. Also available as a recording package with microphone, XLR cable and headphones here Focusrite Scarlett Solo Studio 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface.

Check out the full range of Focusrite audio interfaces HERE.

This one costs a bit more than the others on the list, but we think it’s worth the extra investment.

The Antelope Audio Zen Go Synergy Core Portable USB-C Audio Interface features two discrete ultra-linear pre-amps with 65db of gain and 48V phantom power capabilities.

The large volume control is incredibly intuitive, and with playback, mixing and recording at 192kHz/24-bit, everything sounds crystal clear.

With 37 analogue-modelled effects, the Zen Go Synergy Core allows for unlimited creativity, whilst 64-bit Acoustically Focused Clocking tech combined with a jitter management system ensures greater detail in recordings.

Superior AD/DA conversion from Antelope means this unit boasts 127db of headroom, and the fact that it’s bus-powered and portable means you can benefit from the tech anywhere.

When we heard SSL were releasing compact versions of their coveted audio interfaces, we got really excited here at PMT. The SSL 2 USB Audio Interface now gives you the luxury of adding that classic and unmistakable sound of vintage Solid State Logic gear without blowing the bank. This powerful desktop 2-channel USB Audio Interface features 24/192kHz conversion, so you're getting world-class studio recordings anywhere. We think it's one of the best cheap audio interfaces as it is packed with studio-quality features like the Legacy 4K Analogue Enhancement combined with a High-Frequency EQ Boost.

This instantly adds a vintage flavour to dull, lifeless recordings and really brings your sound to life. It's also a contender for best USB audio interface of all time thanks to its incredible SSL sound quality. There's low latency monitor mix control, headphone amp and range of added software make this an incredible package for those who want to create studio-quality recordings straight out of the box. Best of all, you can get hold of one of the best budget audio interfaces for under £200. Need more? Well, the SSL2+ (Plus) model offers additional Unbalanced RCA outputs, an extra Headphone Output and MIDI I/O should you need it. Shop a full range of audio interfaces over at PMT Online today or call into your local PMT store to speak to our home and studio recording specialists about your bespoke needs.

Updated 19/07/2021