If you’re looking for a great USB microphone, you’re probably wondering whether the AT2020 or the Blue Yeti is the better option.
Both mics are super popular among podcasters, YouTubers, and streamers, but which one is best for you?
To help you make the right decision, we’ve thoroughly researched and compared the AT2020 and Blue Yeti microphones based on the following criteria:
- Main Specifications
- Design & Build Quality
- Ease of Use
- Recording Sound Quality
- Features And Functionalities
- Compatibility
- Price
So, let’s go over the main points of these microphones so that you can pick the perfect one.
Table of Contents
Blue Yeti vs AT2020: Bottom Line Up Front
If you don’t have time to read the whole article and just want to know which mic is suitable for you, here’s a quick summary of our findings:
- The AT2020 has a better sound quality than the Yeti since AT2020 has a regular analog output and no limitations to its potential, while Blue Yeti has a 16-bit/48kHz recording quality which limits its potential.
- The Blue Yeti is available in multiple colors, while the AT2020 is only available in black.
- AT2020 is more durable as it is made of solid metal, while Blue Yeti is mostly plastic.
- Compared to the Blue Yeti, the AT2020 is slightly lighter and easier to handle.
- The Blue Yeti microphone is less expensive than the AT2020.
- The Blue yeti comes with four polar patterns ( cardioid, figure-8, omnidirectional, and stereo) while AT2020 has only one polar pattern setting (cardioid).
- Both mics are compatible with Windows and Mac computers.
Overall Winner: AT2020
Runner-up: Blue Yeti
Now it’s time to break down each of the points in more detail so that you can make an informed decision.
AT2020 vs. Blue Yeti: An Overview
Firstly, let’s take a brief overview of each mic before we compare them.
What Is AT2020?
Get the best deal on the AT2020 On Amazon
The Audio Technica AT2020 is a great entry-level USB microphone. It’s perfect for podcasting, video calls, and gaming.
The mic has a cardioid pickup polar pattern, which means it only picks up sound from the front. This makes it great for rejecting background noise.
It also has an extended frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, which is pretty standard for a microphone in this price range.
The AT2020 comes with a stand and a mini USB cable. It’s a plug and play microphone, so you don’t need any drivers.
What Is Blue Yeti?
There is no doubt that the Blue Yeti is the best USB microphone on the market today.
Blue Yeti vs AT2020: Bottom Line Up Front
If you don’t have time to read the whole article and just want to know which mic is suitable for you, here’s a quick summary of our findings:
- The AT2020 has a better sound quality than the Yeti since AT2020 has a regular analog output and no limitations to its potential, while Blue Yeti has a 16-bit/48kHz recording quality which limits its potential.
- The Blue Yeti is available in multiple colors, while the AT2020 is only available in black.
- AT2020 is more durable as it is made of solid metal, while Blue Yeti is mostly plastic.
- Compared to the Blue Yeti, the AT2020 is slightly lighter and easier to handle.
- The Blue Yeti microphone is less expensive than the AT2020.
- The Blue yeti comes with four polar patterns ( cardioid, figure-8, omnidirectional, and stereo) while AT2020 has only one polar pattern setting (cardioid).
- Both mics are compatible with Windows and Mac computers.
Overall Winner: AT2020
Runner-up: Blue Yeti
Now it’s time to break down each of the points in more detail so that you can make an informed decision.
AT2020 vs. Blue Yeti: An Overview
Firstly, let’s take a brief overview of each mic before we compare them.
What Is AT2020?

Get the best deal on the AT2020 On Amazon
The Audio Technica AT2020 is a great entry-level USB microphone. It’s perfect for podcasting, video calls, and gaming.
The mic has a cardioid pickup polar pattern, which means it only picks up sound from the front. This makes it great for rejecting background noise.
It also has an extended frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, which is pretty standard for a microphone in this price range.
The AT2020 comes with a stand and a mini USB cable. It’s a plug and play microphone, so you don’t need any drivers.
What Is Blue Yeti?
There is no doubt that the Blue Yeti is the best USB microphone on the market today.

Get the best Blue Yeti deal here!
It’s equipped with a tripod desktop stand, making it ideal for podcasting, live streaming, and playing video games on the desktop.
The Blue Yeti has four different pickup patterns, which means you can switch between four polar patterns: cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, and stereo.
This is great if you need to record in different environments. For example, you can use the cardioid pattern to record a podcast in your home office and then switch to the omnidirectional pattern to record a meeting or Skype call.
The Blue Yeti also has a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The Yeti mic comes with a stand and a mini USB cable. It’s plug-and-play, so you don’t need any drivers.
Audio Technica AT2020 vs. Blue Yeti: A Detailed Comparison
Now that you have a general idea of each mic, let’s break them down based on their key factors.
Key Specifications
When it comes to specs, both mics have similarities and differences. Let’s take a closer look:
Features |
Audio Technica AT2020 |
Blue Yeti |
Sample Rate |
44.1/48kHz |
48kHz |
Bit Depth |
16-bit |
16-bit |
Frequency Response |
20Hz to 20kHz |
20Hz – 20kHz |
Max SPL |
Not specified |
120 dB |
Polar Patterns |
Cardioid polar pattern |
4 Polar Patterns (Cardioid, Figure-8, Omnidirectional, Stereo) |
Connector Type |
USB |
USB |
Compatible Devices |
PC (Windows and macOS) |
PC (Windows and macOS), Headphone |
Headphone Jack |
Yes (3.5 mm) |
Yes (3.5 mm) |
Microphone Type |
Polarized Condenser |
Condenser |
Color Options |
Cool grey (Black) |
Multiple color choices (Blackout, silver, midnight blue, slate, teal, whiteout, & 10yr Anniversary Custom Finish) |
Weight |
386g |
550g |
Design & Build Quality
The design of a microphone is the most crucial aspects because it will affect both how the mic looks and how it functions. Let’s see how both mics stack up in this category.
AT2020
The design of AT2020 is simple, yet elegant design. With black color and superior finish, it looks like a high-end microphone, and it adds an extra touch of elegance.
The mic is made of plastic and metal, so it’s pretty lightweight. The stand is very sturdy, and you can easily adjust the mic to find the perfect position.
It has a solid build that will last a long time and the mic weighs a little more than 12 ounces.
While the cast metal is thick and a bit chunky, the wire mesh protects the capsule and acts as a natural sound barrier to eliminate noise.
In addition to that, there is a secondary layer intended to eliminate popping sounds, you often hear in poorly recorded audios. Though it is not a substitute for an external pop filter, it does a good job at removing first-level noise.
The casing has a black electret capsule with a diameter of roughly 16mm. The dimension of this capsule is slightly smaller than the standard capsule you’ll find on other microphones of this type.
In short, this AT2020 mic is elegant, light, and durable.
Blue Yeti
The design of the Blue Yeti is similar to Audio Technica AT2020, but it’s not exactly the same. This mic has a retro design with a solid base that gives it extra stability and keeps it from tipping over.
You can adjust the arm on which the mic sits to fit your preferences. Whenever you want to take a break from recording, you can move it away from you to prevent recording unwanted noise.
Like Audio Technica AT2020, this is an aesthetic design, and the color choice is all-white or all-black, so it’ll fit in with just about any decor.
The design of the product differs significantly, and this impacts its overall usability. Blue Yeti’s microphone is designed with a good height that lets you speak directly into it without having to bend down.
Especially for tall folks that find it annoying to bend down to talk into a microphone, this is a great feature. With AT2020, you’ll have to bend down if you want a good voice record.
Winner: Audio Technica AT2020
AT2020 is the clear winner here due to its better build quality. However, that does not mean Blue Yeti is a bad product, especially not at its price point.
However, if you’re aiming for a microphone that can withstand more, then Audio Technica AT2020 would be a better choice between the two.
Ease of Use (Setup)
When it comes to a microphone, you want something that is easy and effortless to use. No one wants to spend hours trying to set up a device.
AT2020
Audio Technica AT2020USB+ Condenser mic is a studio-quality microphone that connects directly to your computer using a USB port. It comes in two different models: condenser and dynamic.
This mic is a breeze to set up because it plugs in and plays. You don’t need any drivers to set this up. Just plug the mic into your computer’s USB port, and you’re good to go.
It is also quite portable, which is another advantage of this microphone. The microphone and stand can be stored together in a zip container, so you do not need an extra instrument.
Due to its small size and portability, it’s ideal for on-the-go recording, zooming, skyping, and live streaming in professional quality.
Blue Yeti
Blue Yeti USB mic is also easy to use and set up. All you need to do is connect the USB cable to your computer and start using it.
The microphone’s bottom houses the ports and mount
This is the simplest solution for beginners, home-recording enthusiasts, and streamers.
It comes with four different polar patterns which you can switch with a click of a button. This is helpful if you want to record in different environments.
Winner: Draw
There is no obvious winner here. Both USB microphones are easy to use and you can set up them with minimal effort. They do not require any driver installation.
Recording Sound Quality
The quality of the recording is, of course, the most important part. If the microphone can’t record well, then it’s not worth your time or money.
Let’s see how both USB mics fare in terms of recording music quality.
AT2020
The Audio Technica AT2020 is a medium-diaphragm condenser with a cardioid polar pattern, so it’s an all-arounder that does a great job. It does an excellent job recording acoustic guitars, other musical instruments, vocals, and spoken voice.
When you record spoken vocals, it sounds warm and clear when you’re right up to the diaphragm, but after about four feet, it sounds roomy.
With a 44KHz sample rate and 16-bit depth, it is comparable to most other mics on the market, which converts the audio signal to digital, producing CD-quality audio.
In fact, there are only two downsides. One is that its cardioid pattern is broad enough, making it difficult to position the mic at just the right angle to avoid the dreaded keyboard clicking sounds.
The second issue is an insubstantial low end, which we’re not sure what’s at fault. However, these are both very minor issues.
Still, the headphone preamp for latency-free monitoring does quite well at higher volumes without breaking up. This works great when recording musical performances that need to be in sync with each other or with a metronome.
Blue Yeti
The Blue Yeti is a large-diaphragm condenser that comes with four polar pattern settings: cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, and stereo. It also has a gain control and a mute button.
It records in 16-bit depth with a 48KHz sample rate, so it produces good sound quality.
When it comes to recording quality, there’s one thing you must know about the Blue Yeti. This is a digital device and its recording quality is always set to 16 bits and 48 kHz.
While this might not seem like a big deal, it actually limits the potential recording quality of the device. Sure, it makes the whole process of recording vocals easier at home or doing various content creation stuff easier.
But if you’re looking to record vocals and instruments at a semi-pro or pro level, you might be disappointed with the results.
That being said, the Yeti mic is still a versatile device with a lot of different uses. Although you can definitely use it for any instrument you want, even acoustic instruments, and electric instrument amplifiers, there will always be a 16-bit and 48 kHz limitation.
Winner: Audio Technica AT2020
The AT2020 is the clear winner here. It has a great sound quality compared to the Yeti.
While they both have well-made condenser mics, Audio Technica AT2020 has a regular analog output and no limitations to its potential.
The Blue Yeti has a 16-bit/48kHz recording quality, which limits its potential.
Features and Functionalities
Both microphones come with a wide range of different features and functionalities that make them both incredibly useful. Let’s check those out.
AT2020
The Audio Technica AT2020USB+ comes with a built-in headphone jack, a headphone preamp, mix control, and headphone volume control. Their headphone preamp offers a zero latency monitoring experience.
The mix control allows you to blend your microphone signal and pre-recorded audio. The volume control lets you bypass the need for an intermediary device or preamplifier. All of these features are essential for anyone looking for a great USB microphone.
Blue Yeti
The Blue Yeti USB mic offers a ton of useful features including the polar pattern dial, headphone jack, volume knob, headphone volume control, gain control, mute button, and USB plug-and-play.
These features are quite useful since they give you more control over the recordings.
The mic has a built-in mute button and an LED light that lets you know which side the mic is on at any given time.
The Blue Yeti also comes with a desktop stand, which allows you to adjust the position of the mic. Keep in mind that the Yeti is a small, but relatively heavy microphone, so it won’t work with any stand.
Winner: Blue Yeti
The Blue Yeti is the winner here. It offers a lot more features and functionalities than the Audio Technica AT2020. It has an audio interface, input gain and output volume controls, and four different pickup patterns. That means it can do a lot more than the AT2020.
The Yeti gives you more control over your recording. It has mute, volume, and pickup pattern options. And the fact that it comes with a desktop stand is a big plus.
Compatibility
When choosing any type of audio equipment, compatibility is a crucial factor to take into account. If the mic you want doesn’t work with your computer or other devices, then it’s of no use.
Let’s take a look at the compatibility of the two mics.
AT2020
The AT2020 has a standard USB connector that works with both Windows and Macs. If you’re using a PC or Mac, you just need to plug in the USB cable (or USB adapter).
Design & Build Quality
The design of a microphone is the most crucial aspects because it will affect both how the mic looks and how it functions. Let’s see how both mics stack up in this category.
AT2020
The design of AT2020 is simple, yet elegant design. With black color and superior finish, it looks like a high-end microphone, and it adds an extra touch of elegance.
The mic is made of plastic and metal, so it’s pretty lightweight. The stand is very sturdy, and you can easily adjust the mic to find the perfect position.
It has a solid build that will last a long time and the mic weighs a little more than 12 ounces.
While the cast metal is thick and a bit chunky, the wire mesh protects the capsule and acts as a natural sound barrier to eliminate noise.
In addition to that, there is a secondary layer intended to eliminate popping sounds, you often hear in poorly recorded audios. Though it is not a substitute for an external pop filter, it does a good job at removing first-level noise.
The casing has a black electret capsule with a diameter of roughly 16mm. The dimension of this capsule is slightly smaller than the standard capsule you’ll find on other microphones of this type.
In short, this AT2020 mic is elegant, light, and durable.
Blue Yeti
The design of the Blue Yeti is similar to Audio Technica AT2020, but it’s not exactly the same. This mic has a retro design with a solid base that gives it extra stability and keeps it from tipping over.
You can adjust the arm on which the mic sits to fit your preferences. Whenever you want to take a break from recording, you can move it away from you to prevent recording unwanted noise.
Like Audio Technica AT2020, this is an aesthetic design, and the color choice is all-white or all-black, so it’ll fit in with just about any decor.
The design of the product differs significantly, and this impacts its overall usability. Blue Yeti’s microphone is designed with a good height that lets you speak directly into it without having to bend down.
Especially for tall folks that find it annoying to bend down to talk into a microphone, this is a great feature. With AT2020, you’ll have to bend down if you want a good voice record.
Winner: Audio Technica AT2020
AT2020 is the clear winner here due to its better build quality. However, that does not mean Blue Yeti is a bad product, especially not at its price point.
However, if you’re aiming for a microphone that can withstand more, then Audio Technica AT2020 would be a better choice between the two.
Ease of Use (Setup)
When it comes to a microphone, you want something that is easy and effortless to use. No one wants to spend hours trying to set up a device.
AT2020
Audio Technica AT2020USB+ Condenser mic is a studio-quality microphone that connects directly to your computer using a USB port. It comes in two different models: condenser and dynamic.
This mic is a breeze to set up because it plugs in and plays. You don’t need any drivers to set this up. Just plug the mic into your computer’s USB port, and you’re good to go.
It is also quite portable, which is another advantage of this microphone. The microphone and stand can be stored together in a zip container, so you do not need an extra instrument.
Due to its small size and portability, it’s ideal for on-the-go recording, zooming, skyping, and live streaming in professional quality.
Blue Yeti
Blue Yeti USB mic is also easy to use and set up. All you need to do is connect the USB cable to your computer and start using it.

The microphone’s bottom houses the ports and mount
This is the simplest solution for beginners, home-recording enthusiasts, and streamers.
It comes with four different polar patterns which you can switch with a click of a button. This is helpful if you want to record in different environments.
Winner: Draw
There is no obvious winner here. Both USB microphones are easy to use and you can set up them with minimal effort. They do not require any driver installation.
Recording Sound Quality
The quality of the recording is, of course, the most important part. If the microphone can’t record well, then it’s not worth your time or money.

Let’s see how both USB mics fare in terms of recording music quality.
AT2020
The Audio Technica AT2020 is a medium-diaphragm condenser with a cardioid polar pattern, so it’s an all-arounder that does a great job. It does an excellent job recording acoustic guitars, other musical instruments, vocals, and spoken voice.
When you record spoken vocals, it sounds warm and clear when you’re right up to the diaphragm, but after about four feet, it sounds roomy.
With a 44KHz sample rate and 16-bit depth, it is comparable to most other mics on the market, which converts the audio signal to digital, producing CD-quality audio.
In fact, there are only two downsides. One is that its cardioid pattern is broad enough, making it difficult to position the mic at just the right angle to avoid the dreaded keyboard clicking sounds.
The second issue is an insubstantial low end, which we’re not sure what’s at fault. However, these are both very minor issues.
Still, the headphone preamp for latency-free monitoring does quite well at higher volumes without breaking up. This works great when recording musical performances that need to be in sync with each other or with a metronome.
Blue Yeti
The Blue Yeti is a large-diaphragm condenser that comes with four polar pattern settings: cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, and stereo. It also has a gain control and a mute button.
It records in 16-bit depth with a 48KHz sample rate, so it produces good sound quality.
When it comes to recording quality, there’s one thing you must know about the Blue Yeti. This is a digital device and its recording quality is always set to 16 bits and 48 kHz.
While this might not seem like a big deal, it actually limits the potential recording quality of the device. Sure, it makes the whole process of recording vocals easier at home or doing various content creation stuff easier.
But if you’re looking to record vocals and instruments at a semi-pro or pro level, you might be disappointed with the results.
That being said, the Yeti mic is still a versatile device with a lot of different uses. Although you can definitely use it for any instrument you want, even acoustic instruments, and electric instrument amplifiers, there will always be a 16-bit and 48 kHz limitation.
Winner: Audio Technica AT2020
The AT2020 is the clear winner here. It has a great sound quality compared to the Yeti.
While they both have well-made condenser mics, Audio Technica AT2020 has a regular analog output and no limitations to its potential.
The Blue Yeti has a 16-bit/48kHz recording quality, which limits its potential.
Features and Functionalities
Both microphones come with a wide range of different features and functionalities that make them both incredibly useful. Let’s check those out.
AT2020
The Audio Technica AT2020USB+ comes with a built-in headphone jack, a headphone preamp, mix control, and headphone volume control. Their headphone preamp offers a zero latency monitoring experience.
The mix control allows you to blend your microphone signal and pre-recorded audio. The volume control lets you bypass the need for an intermediary device or preamplifier. All of these features are essential for anyone looking for a great USB microphone.
Blue Yeti
The Blue Yeti USB mic offers a ton of useful features including the polar pattern dial, headphone jack, volume knob, headphone volume control, gain control, mute button, and USB plug-and-play.
These features are quite useful since they give you more control over the recordings.

The mic has a built-in mute button and an LED light that lets you know which side the mic is on at any given time.
The Blue Yeti also comes with a desktop stand, which allows you to adjust the position of the mic. Keep in mind that the Yeti is a small, but relatively heavy microphone, so it won’t work with any stand.
Winner: Blue Yeti
The Blue Yeti is the winner here. It offers a lot more features and functionalities than the Audio Technica AT2020. It has an audio interface, input gain and output volume controls, and four different pickup patterns. That means it can do a lot more than the AT2020.
The Yeti gives you more control over your recording. It has mute, volume, and pickup pattern options. And the fact that it comes with a desktop stand is a big plus.
Compatibility
When choosing any type of audio equipment, compatibility is a crucial factor to take into account. If the mic you want doesn’t work with your computer or other devices, then it’s of no use.
Let’s take a look at the compatibility of the two mics.
AT2020
The AT2020 has a standard USB connector that works with both Windows and Macs. If you’re using a PC or Mac, you just need to plug in the USB cable (or USB adapter).

Audio Technica AT2020 Accessories
Also, It comes with everything you need to get started, including a microphone mount, USB cable, tripod desk stand, and soft storage pouch.
Blue Yeti
The Blue Yeti is also compatible with both Windows and Mac computers. Just like the AT2020, all you need to do is connect the USB cable (or USB adapter). It also comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack that allows you to monitor your recordings in real-time.
You can set up the Yeti USB microphone in seconds with the included desktop stand or connect directly to a boom arm and start recording and streaming on your Mac or PC.
Winner: Draw
In this case, there is no clear winner because both USB microphones work with Windows and Mac computers. Also, they come with everything you need to get started, including a microphone mount, USB cable, tripod desk stand, and soft protective pouch.
Weight
The weight of the microphone may help you choose the best microphone for you. If you plan to travel with this mic a lot, you should choose a lighter product.
AT2020
AT2020 is a lightweight microphone that is easy to handle and perfect for travelers. It weighs 386 grams (13.6 ounces), making it much easier to transport.
Blue Yeti
Although Blue Yeti is a small device, it is slightly heavier than its competitor. The weight of the Yeti is 550g, which makes it considerably more difficult to transport than AT2020.
Winner: AT2020
Audio Technica AT2020 USB microphone is the clear winner when it comes to weight. It is slightly lighter and easier to handle than the Blue Yeti. The Yeti is a bit heavier, but it’s still manageable.
Therefore, if you plan to travel with your USB microphone, then the AT2020 is the better option as it’s lighter and more portable.
Pricing
Price is also an important consideration, especially if you’re just getting started with podcasting or YouTube videos.
It is wise to buy good quality mics for a low price before moving on to more expensive ones. You can buy more expensive products with better features when your business grows.
AT2020
The AT2020 mic is available for $129.00 on Amazon. It provides great value for the price and is a good entry-level mic for podcasters or YouTubers.
Get the best deal on the AT2020 On Amazon
Blue Yeti
Blue Yeti is less expensive than its competitor but still provides good value for the price. This mic is available for $89 on Amazon.
You can get this mic for an even lower price if you shop around on online sites like Amazon or eBay, as they have many promotions and sales going on all the time.
Get the best Blue Yeti deal here!
Winner: Blue Yeti
When it comes to pricing, the Yeti is the winner here as it’s less expensive than the AT2020.
Even though the Yeti is less expensive, it doesn’t mean that it’s a lower quality product. In fact, many people believe that the Yeti is an excellent option for home recording and content creation.
Conclusion
While Blue Yeti and AT2020 have many similarities, they’re remarkably different and fill different needs.
Here are the winners in each category of our comparison:
- Design & Build Quality – AT2020
- Ease of Use – Draw
- Recording Sound Quality – AT2020
- Features And Functionalities – Blue Yeti
- Compatibility – Draw
- Weight – AT2020
- Pricing – Blue Yeti
The Audio Technica AT2020 is the overall winner because it offers excellent sound quality with no limitations and is extremely durable. Also, it’s easy to use and set up.
However, if you’re on a budget and looking for a good quality mic that’s versatile and still provides great sound quality, then the Yeti is the best USB microphone.
In the end, it really comes down to your personal preference and needs as to which mic is the better choice for you.
We hope this information about Blue Yeti vs AT2020 helped you make a better decision on which USB mic is right for you.
Now I’d like to hear from you!
Do you have any experience with either of these mics? Which one do you prefer and why? Let me know in the comments below!