Best Audio Interface Under $150 (2026): 5 Picks Compared
Updated Oct 24, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Ranked from listed specifications · How we rank
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The Behringer UMC22 leads this list of best audio interface under 150: a Midas mic preamp, 48 kHz recording and USB power in an ultra-compact box. If you record two mics plus MIDI, the PreSonus AudioBox 96 is the pick, since it is the only one here with two Class-A mic preamps and MIDI I/O.
The picks at a glance
Which one should you buy?
- Solo musicians who record vocals and guitar one at a time: Behringer UMC22 Audiophile 2x2 See pick 1More picks: Best Audio Interface for Guitar
- Podcasters and streamers who move their setup between rooms: M-AUDIO M-Track Solo USB Audio Interface XLR See pick 2
- Players who track two mics and a MIDI keyboard: PreSonus AudioBox 96 25th Anniversary USB Audio See pick 3More picks: Best Audio Interface for Keyboard
- Streamers who want loopback to mix computer audio: MAONO PS22 Lite USB Audio Interface See pick 4
- Vinyl owners who want to digitize records and tapes: Behringer UFO202-BK USB Audio Interface Vinyl Recording See pick 5More picks: Best Audio Interface for Vinyl
Want the full range? Best Audio Interface ranks the top audio interfaces for every buyer, or browse all 59 guides.
The 5 picks, ranked
1Best Overall
Behringer UMC22 Audiophile 2x2
- Inputs: 2
- Max sample rate: 48 kHz
- Bit depth not stated in the listing
- 48V phantom power
- Software named in listing: Pro Tools
It earns Best Overall with a Midas mic preamp, 48 kHz recording and USB power for a solo setup.
Who it suits
- Solo musicians who record vocals and guitar one at a time
- Beginners who want USB power from one cable
Skip it if
- You need two mic preamps at the same time
- You want 96 kHz or higher recording
The UMC22 pairs a Midas-designed mic preamp with a combo XLR and TRS jack plus a separate instrument input. Direct Monitor select and a 48V phantom power switch sit on the unit, and USB carries both data and power. Two 1/4-inch TRS outputs feed studio monitors directly. The code-extracted weight is 1 lb and it works with Pro Tools.
2Lightest Pick
M-AUDIO M-Track Solo USB Audio Interface XLR
- Inputs: 2
- Max sample rate: 48 kHz
- Bit depth not stated in the listing
- 48V phantom power
- Software named in listing: Ableton Live Lite
- 1-year warranty stated
- 0.7 lb, the lightest here
The Lightest Pick at 0.7 lb, with a combo XLR input, phantom power and Ableton Live Lite in the box.
Who it suits
- Podcasters and streamers who move their setup between rooms
- Beginners who want MPC Beats software included
Skip it if
- You want recording above 48 kHz
- You need two mic preamps at once
The M-Track Solo pairs a combo XLR and line input with phantom power and a separate line and instrument input. A USB/Direct switch gives zero-latency monitoring through the 1/8-inch headphone output or RCA outputs. It ships with a USB cable, download cards for Ableton Live Lite and MPC Beats, and a user guide. The code-extracted weight is 0.7 lb and the warranty is 1 year.
3Also Great
PreSonus AudioBox 96 25th Anniversary USB Audio
- Inputs: 2
- Max sample rate: 96 kHz
- Bit depth: 24-bit
- 48V phantom power
- Software named in listing: Studio One Artist
- 1-year warranty stated
An Also Great pick with two Class-A mic preamps, MIDI I/O and 24-bit/96 kHz recording.
Who it suits
- Players who track two mics and a MIDI keyboard
- Beginners who want Studio One Artist in the box
Skip it if
- You need more than two inputs at once
- You want 192 kHz recording
The AudioBox 96 gives two Class-A mic preamps, two instrument inputs and MIDI I/O in a USB bus-powered box. The mixer control blends inputs and playback for zero-latency monitoring. Studio One Artist, Ableton Live Lite and the Studio Magic plug-in suite come with it. The code-extracted weight is 2 lb and the warranty is 1 year.
4Highest Sample Rate
MAONO PS22 Lite USB Audio Interface
- Inputs: 2
- Max sample rate: 192 kHz, the most here
- Bit depth: 24-bit
- 48V phantom power
- Software named in listing: Pro Tools
- 1-year warranty stated
The Highest Sample Rate pick: 24-bit/192 kHz with loopback and routing software for streamers.
Who it suits
- Streamers who want loopback to mix computer audio
- Podcasters who need up to 56 dB of preamp gain
Skip it if
- You want the lightest interface here
- You need more than two inputs
The PS22 Lite records at 24-bit/192 kHz with a 106dB dynamic range and up to 56 dB of preamp gain. The ProStudio routing software adds loopback and virtual channels for streamers, with ASIO drivers for low latency. A USB-A/USB-C to USB-C cable and a user manual ship in the box. The code-extracted weight is 0.9 lb and the warranty is 1 year.
5Also Great
Behringer UFO202-BK USB Audio Interface Vinyl Recording
- Inputs: 2
- Max sample rate: 48 kHz
- Bit depth not stated in the listing
- 48V phantom power not stated in the listing
An Also Great pick for vinyl: a phono input for turntables plus Audacity and over 150 plug-ins.
Who it suits
- Vinyl owners who want to digitize records and tapes
- Podcasters who want Audacity and a plug-in bundle
Skip it if
- You need a mic preamp with phantom power
- You want MIDI connections
The UFO202 connects a turntable or cassette deck over USB to transfer vinyl and tapes to a computer. The phono input switches to line level, and the bundle adds Audacity plus over 150 virtual instruments and effects. energyXT2.5 adds a compact sequencer for music production. The code-extracted weight is 1 lb.
Side by side
| Product | Inputs | Mic preamps | Outputs | Max sample rate | Bit depth | 48V phantom power | Software named | Weight | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behringer UMC22 Audiophile 2x2 | 2 | Not stated | Not stated | 48 kHz | Not stated | Yes | Pro Tools | 1 lb | Not stated |
| M-AUDIO M-Track Solo USB Audio Interface XLR | 2 | Not stated | Not stated | 48 kHz | Not stated | Yes | Ableton Live Lite | 0.7 lb | 1-year |
| PreSonus AudioBox 96 25th Anniversary USB Audio | 2 | Not stated | Not stated | 96 kHz | 24-bit | Yes | Studio One Artist | 2 lb | 1-year |
| MAONO PS22 Lite USB Audio Interface | 2 | Not stated | Not stated | 192 kHz | 24-bit | Yes | Pro Tools | 0.9 lb | 1-year |
| Behringer UFO202-BK USB Audio Interface Vinyl Recording | 2 | Not stated | Not stated | 48 kHz | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 1 lb | Not stated |
How we ranked these audio interfaces
Every pick has at least 100 customer ratings on Amazon and a listing with real specifications. The order mixes two things: how each model compares on the specs below (higher share of the best value in this group scores more), and how widely it is bought. The spec score runs from 9.0 to 9.8 and only compares these picks with each other. A spec the listing does not state is left out and the other specs are re-weighted; a listing with fewer than 2 stated specs is scored at half. We do not test gear in person. Full method.
- Inputs weight 3
- Mic preamps weight 2
- Outputs weight 1
- Max sample rate weight 2
- Bit depth weight 1
- 48V phantom power weight 2
Buying advice: audio interface under 150
Count the microphones you record at once
Two inputs do not mean two mic preamps. The PreSonus AudioBox 96 gives two Class-A mic preamps, so two microphones record at once. The Behringer UMC22, the M-Audio M-Track Solo and the MAONO PS22 Lite each give one mic input plus an instrument input. The Behringer UFO202 gives a phono input for turntables. Match the preamp count to your mics.
Check phantom power before buying a condenser mic
Condenser microphones need 48V phantom power from the interface. The Behringer UMC22, the M-Audio M-Track Solo, the PreSonus AudioBox 96 and the MAONO PS22 Lite all give 48V phantom power. The Behringer UFO202 targets turntables. If your mic needs phantom power, pick from the first four.
Look at what software comes in the box
A first interface can double as your first recording software purchase. The PreSonus ships Studio One Artist, Ableton Live Lite and the Studio Magic plug-in suite. The M-Audio ships Ableton Live Lite and MPC Beats. The Behringer UFO202 ships Audacity and over 150 plug-ins. The MAONO ships routing software with loopback for streamers. If you already own recording software, compare inputs and sample rates instead.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an audio interface to record vocals?
If you use an XLR microphone, yes. The interface powers the mic preamp and turns the signal into digital audio your computer can record.
What sample rate do I need for home recording?
The MAONO reaches 24-bit/192 kHz and the PreSonus reaches 24-bit/96 kHz. The other three record at 48 kHz.
Can I record vinyl with an audio interface?
The Behringer UFO202 is built for it: a phono input for turntables plus Audacity for restoration. The other four target microphones and instruments.
Is USB power enough for an audio interface?
The Behringer UMC22 runs on USB-supplied power, and the PreSonus runs on USB bus power with no need for an additional power supply.
Gear that goes with it
Best Condenser MicTop pick: Rode RØDE NT1 Signature Series Studio Condenser Microphone
Best Studio MonitorsTop pick: Yamaha HS4 Powered Studio Monitor in Black
Best Mixing HeadphonesTop pick: beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro Studio Headphones
Best XLR CableTop pick: Cable Matters 2-Pack Premium XLR to XLRMore audio interfaces guides
Specifications and availability come from each Amazon listing on Oct 24, 2026 and can change. Check the listing before you buy.