Free mic test

Which microphone sounds best?

Read one sentence and every microphone on this device listens at the same time. We score each one and tell you which to record with: a clearer mic means a better transcript. Nothing leaves this device.

Your browser will ask to use the microphone.

100% in your browser. The microphone stream never uploads. Your test stays on your device and is gone when you close the tab. Privacy policy.

How do I test my microphone online?

Press Test my microphones and allow access. The page lists every microphone it found: a built-in mic, a headset, a USB mic, a webcam. Press Start the test, read one sentence out loud, and each one gets a score out of 100. Play each back to hear exactly what other people, and speech recognition, will hear.

What the mic test checks

Check	What it means	What hurts it
Clarity	How much of your voice's high detail comes through: the "s", "t" and "f" sounds speech recognition needs.	Bluetooth headsets in call mode (they stop near 4 kHz), cheap or covered mics.
Background noise	How far your voice stands above the room.	Fans, traffic, a laptop's own fan, a mic far from your mouth.
Echo	How cleanly each word stops. A mic near your mouth hears your voice; one at arm's length also hears the room bouncing it back.	Bare rooms, a laptop mic at arm's length.
Volume	Whether the input is loud enough.	A mic turned down in your sound settings, or pointing away from you.
Distortion	Crackle on loud words, or a mains hum under the voice.	Input set too high, a ground loop on a USB or headphone-jack mic.

Why do AirPods and Bluetooth headsets sound bad on a computer?

The moment a website or app uses a Bluetooth headset's microphone, the headset switches from its music mode to its call mode. Call mode sends narrow audio that stops at about 4 kHz, which is why your voice sounds muffled, like a phone call, and why transcripts made from it miss words. The mic test spots this and says so. For recording, a wired headset or your computer's built-in mic usually sounds much better.

Which microphone is best for recording?

The one closest to your mouth that is not in call mode, in the quietest room you have. Every microphone hears the same sentence at the same moment, so the scores compare like for like. Press Record with it to go straight to the free voice recorder with that microphone chosen.

Frequently asked questions

Is this mic test free and private?▼

Yes. It is free with no account, and the test runs in your browser. Your voice is never uploaded or recorded anywhere; the samples disappear when you close the tab.

Why do my AirPods or Bluetooth headset sound like a phone call?▼

When a website or app uses a Bluetooth headset's microphone, the headset switches to its call mode, which sends narrow audio that stops near 4 kHz. Voices sound muffled and speech recognition misses words. A wired headset or your computer's built-in mic usually records much better.

Which of my microphones is best for recording?▼

Every microphone listens to the same sentence at the same moment, so the comparison is fair. The test ranks them by clarity, background noise, echo, volume and distortion, marks the best in green and a poor one in red, and tells you which one to record with.

Why does my microphone not work in the browser?▼

Usually the browser is blocking the microphone for the site, another app is already using it, or no microphone is plugged in. The test tells you which one it is and shows the steps for your browser.

What is a good mic test score?▼

80 or more is a clear, close microphone that is good for recording and transcription. 55 to 80 works but has a weakness the test names, such as echo or noise. Under 55 usually means a Bluetooth headset in call mode, a mic far from your mouth, or a noisy room.

How do I test my microphone online?▼

Press Test my microphones and allow access. The page lists every microphone it found. Press Start the test and read the sentence out loud: each microphone gets a score out of 100, and you can play each one back.