7 Best Audio Interface Under 500: Reviews and Buyer’s Guide 2025

The world’s best-selling audio interface gets a remarkable upgrade from its previous generation with better resolution and connectivity.

One reason for its popularity is the competitive pricing offered for such great quality hardware. At under 250 dollars, you get a two mic audio interface with USB-C compatibility.

USB-C is much faster than the previous USB 2.0, making it better-suited to process your vocals and recordings. Even if it was USB 2.0, we’d still rate the Scarlett 4i4 as the best usb audio interface under 500.

More hardware features include:

All these inputs are important if you plan on recording using many inputs at once.

The audio interface also has great resale value, meaning it’s easy to sell when you want to upgrade. That’s because it’s made by a reputable and well-known manufacturer for delivering top-performing products.

The included software package doesn’t disappoint with this Focusrite Scarlett model. It comes equipped with a wide variety of recording software, plug-ins and sounds.

Two examples of this are Avid® Pro Tools® and Focusrite Control iOS App. The former features over 500 MBs of loops and sound effects for more creative possibilities. The latter allows you to remote control your audio interface with your iPhone or iPad.

Despite the brilliant software package, a major drawback is the low-performing drivers for Windows computers. These are difficult to install and take unusually long to process information. Mac users don’t need to worry about this since their devices operate the Focusrite better. For us, this makes it the best audio interface for mac under 500.

In addition, the audio interface isn’t compatible with VoIP applications, like Discord. This is a significant setback for those wanting to use their audio interface for podcasts and communicating with listeners.

Our verdict is that this product is one of the best performing devices you can get for under 500 dollars. It may not be perfect, but it will at least have you sounding like a pro.

If you’re a beginner looking for a complete home studio recording setup, this audio interface is an excellent choice.

Equipped with H7 headphones and a 48-volt phantom-powered M7 microphone, you only need to add a computer or iPad to complete your recording setup. Phantom power is important if you’re going to use condenser microphones.

Additionally, this simple iPad connectivity makes it purpose-built for travel. Being BUS-powered is also a huge plus, as the device uses a USB connection for power. This could be your laptop, desktop or tablet.

The audio interface itself is lightweight, weighing only 5 pounds, making it easier to travel with. It also has a MIDI interface that includes two inputs for the perfect microphone and instrument combination. Additionally, the analog mixer provides zero-latency monitoring, allowing you to listen to your recordings in real-time.

Audio interfaces need high-quality software packages to ensure smooth and convenient recording. The flagship Studio One Artist Software is in its third generation and features many improvements from its previous. This includes advanced automation and delay compensation and better Windows and ASIO compatibility.

This software features 26 native plug-ins plus access to over 10 gigabytes of loops, effects and instruments from third parties. These allow you to customize your recordings better. But, customers pick up that the plug-ins are difficult to install and require multiple registrations to download just one. This may deter people from using them.

Another downside is that the microphone isn’t the best on the market. But, this isn’t surprising for an all-inclusive package at this price. You’ll need to upgrade as you progress through your musical journey.

The entire set is more convenient and cheaper than buying individual components to compliment the audio interface, but when you want to upgrade, go for something like this TONOR microphone.

The Behringer U Phoria is one of the most affordable audio interfaces you can get on the market. There are many cheap products on the market, but few deliver the quality and performance that the U-Phoria does.

It features two inputs that make it possible to use a combination of microphones, line level sources and instruments together. Speech and vocals are crisp and clear when the condenser microphone is in use, while the low noise level is incredible for a product this competitively priced.

Additionally, the quarter-inch TRS input provides decent accuracy when connecting instruments. When playing instruments at varying volume levels, the U-Phoria shows its capability by capturing whisper-quiet sounds and very loud ones, too. This excellent dynamic range is rare for a product at this price point and provides the crispest sounds.

Although you get great value for money, the Behringer U Phoria has some flaws. In particular, the audio interface isn’t compatible with all Windows drivers, making it very confusing to set up.

Also, you can only use direct monitoring when in mono, which doesn’t give you much flexibility. It would have been great to also direct monitor in stereo.

But, these sort of flaws, although avoidable, come as no surprise in a product this cheap. The cons do outweigh the pros, making this one of the best audio interfaces under 500 dollars.

One of this M-Audio interface’s best features is the well-designed instrument input. It has a dedicated gain and impedance function that provides accurate representations of basses or guitars plugged into the audio interface.

Software is huge at M-Audio. The Air 192|4 features a dynamic software package that includes everything you need to record your next masterpiece. Along with two high-performing DAWs, you get Ableton Live Lite and M-Audio Edition Pro Tools.

Also, crystal preamps provide low excess noise and ensure the best audio from your microphones. This combines well with the analog to digital converters that provide 24-bit resolution digital audio. All this means your vocals will have a professional-grade sound to them, which is remarkable for a home studio.

Note that this USB audio interface has a high-speed USB connection, enabling a latency as low as 2.59 milliseconds between the device and your computer, which is very close to zero latency for the best-quality sound. But, it also includes monitor mix controls, allowing you to listen directly to source inputs.

Despite this brilliant performance, the biggest downside is the poor Windows compatibility. The included software is slower on PC. But, you won’t have a problem if you’re a Mac user.

Another flaw is the connection. If you’re a solo performer with a guitar and mic, you won’t find much wrong with this device. But, if you need multiple connections, then this audio interface isn’t for you.

The Alexis Multimedia Mix is an eight-channel audio interface that includes mic, guitar and line inputs. This makes the interface have more inputs than other products at this price point.

Both the inputs and outputs in the product are remarkable. For instance, the inputs have a high impedance for guitars and basses, while the USB output for recording allows you to connect your computer or iPad. The latter ensures you capture your performance for editing and playback.

Being the easiest to use, the Alexis Multimedia Mix audio interface requires no installation or pre-installation of drivers, eradicating any potential issues with driver malfunctions.

Such problems are too common among audio interfaces, so it’s good to see a product that doesn’t have these issues.

Built-in effects are also included in this USB audio interface. Reverbs, phasers and delays are examples of the many sound effects you can expect in this device. These give you more creative freedom to alter or customize your audio.

High-quality audio is the hallmark of this device since you can accurately adjust your recordings using the onboard equalization and volume controls. There are very few products that compete with it, making it one of the best audio interfaces under 500 dollars. But that’s all the device has going for it: the hardware.

You wouldn’t buy this product for its software, though. According to customers, it crashes often and isn’t as dynamic as the software bundles offered on other products.

A second drawback is the noise you get when recording. Although irritating, it’s not enough to make this product a bad recommendation.

This Mackie audio interface has a sleek design with straight edges that make it easier to hold and carry. What makes it different is the build quality—the enclosed metal casing ensures it handles the wear and tear of daily use.

Besides, it has the company’s trademarked ‘Built-Like-A-Tank’ brand name, which is only added to the company’s most durable products. Ultimately, you get a solid piece of kit for transportation.

Underneath the robust casing, the audio interface operates with Mackie’s premium circuitry with high-performing mic preamp for exceptional fidelity. This ensures your output audio is very close to your original input audio.

In addition, the audio interface includes the popular Tracktion T7 DAW and the company’s own DAW Essentials Collection. These provide an easy and accessible way for newbies to create brilliant music.

Being Windows and macOS compatible, the audio interface also works well with nearly every DAW. This ensures you can enhance your music without any limitation.

Also, the audio quality is excellent since the audio interface replicates an instrument’s natural sound using the impressive 24-bit/192kHz resolution and zero-latency direct monitoring.

Customers like how the controls are a pleasure to use and quick to respond, while the device being USB-powered ensures it’s great for traveling with. This makes it one of the most portable audio interfaces on the market.

Major drawbacks include how the two inputs get recognized as one stereo output. This baffles most customers because two separate mono inputs would have made more sense. Thankfully, numerous third-party applications can resolve this issue.

Another issue is how the mic preamps need a gain of about 90 percent to be effective, which seems to be an overlooked design flaw.

Despite both these drawbacks, this device is one of the best audio interfaces under 500 dollars.

The portable Tascam Series 102i interface is carefully designed for guitarists, vocalists and home studio spaces.

In particular, the two-mic instrument and line combination inputs have Tascam’s natural-sounding and low-noise mic preamps, each with switchable phantom power. Either input can switch to instrument-level to directly record a bass or acoustic guitar. Also, the two headphone outputs make it easier for two vocalists to record together.

Designed to mimic a professional studio audio interface, the device features an angled table-top design that makes all controls accessible and easier to use. This is perfect for efficient and speedy control and mixing.

Also, the output level is easily adjustable with the large monitor knob, which is great for user friendliness. Additionally, the convenient balance control can combine live input with audio playback for zero-latency recordings. The lack of latency is perfect for getting as close to perfect sound as possible.

One drawback of the Tascam Series 102i is that it’s not BUS-powered, which doesn’t make sense because the device is small, and you’d think it’s made for portability. This means you’ll have to connect the audio interface to a socket and can’t charge it with a computer or iOS device. This, clearly, isn’t good for portability.

Also, unlike many of the audio interfaces we’ve praised, the software on this device is a bit lacking as it doesn’t offer the creative options you’d expect from standard software.

At least you can always upgrade the software, which isn’t the case with the hardware. That’s why we’ve included this device in our list: the hardware is great, but the software isn’t, and you can fix that issue with a downloadable upgrade.