The Focusrite Scarlett is the interface most people end up on first, and for a lot of that user base it works exactly as advertised. But the deeper you get into home recording, the more often the same three walls appear: the Scarlett 2i2 has no MIDI I/O, the Scarlett Solo has a single mic preamp, and almost none of the line gives you the headphone routing a streamer needs. Those gaps are the reason people start searching for Focusrite Scarlett alternatives in the first place.
This roundup covers eight USB-C audio interfaces that compete directly with the Scarlett Solo, 2i2 and 4i4 class of products, pulled from real owner reviews rather than spec sheets alone. I have used these boxes across tracking sessions, voice-over jobs and streaming desks, and I compared them on the things that actually break a workflow: how many sources you can record at once, whether MIDI works without an adapter, what the monitoring options are, and whether the drivers hold up on your operating system.
One thing to clear up first. Almost every alternative here is in the same broad price band as a Scarlett, and none of them is a cheaper clone. What changes is input count, preamp character, connector layout and bundled software. If your Scarlett already records everything you need and the drivers are stable on your machine, a switch will not make a measurable difference in a finished mix. We cover that case in detail near the end, because for a lot of readers that is the honest answer.
Table of Contents
- Top 3 Focusrite Scarlett Alternatives (October 2026)
- The Best Focusrite Scarlett Alternatives at a Glance in 2026
- Why People Actually Switch Away From a Scarlett?
- 1. Behringer UMC202HD – The Longest-Running Budget Alternative
- 2. PreSonus AudioBox 96 – Best Value Box That Includes MIDI
- 3. MOTU M2 – Best Compact Alternative With 192 kHz Converters
- 4. Audient EVO 4 – Best Scarlett Alternative for Recording Guitar DI
- 5. Universal Audio Volt 2 – Best Alternative If You Want Free Plug-Ins
- 6. M-Audio M-Track Duo – The Cheapest Real Alternative
- 7. Solid State Logic 2 MKII Plus – Best for Two Headphone Outputs
- 8. Tascam US-1X2HR – Best for Analog and Vinyl Transfers
- Which Scarlett Are You Replacing? Match the Model to the Box?
- When You Should Keep the Scarlett You Already Own?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Is there a better audio interface than Focusrite?
- What are some good alternatives to the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2?
- What are some other audio interfaces similar to the Focusrite Scarlett?
- Is Motu better than Focusrite?
- Which audio interface is better, the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 or the SSL2?
- Which interface is better than Focusrite for a beginner?
- Do I need 192 kHz sample rate?
- The Best Focusrite Scarlett Alternatives: Final Verdict
Top 3 Focusrite Scarlett Alternatives (October 2026)
Behringer UMC202HD
- Midas mic preamplifiers
- 24-bit/192 kHz
- Direct Monitor select
- Metal chassis
PreSonus AudioBox 96
- Two Class-A mic preamps
- MIDI I/O included
- Zero-latency monitoring blend
- Studio One and Live Lite bundled
MOTU M2
- 24-bit/192 kHz converters
- USB-C with no driver disc
- Hardware monitoring button
- 6+ GB of bundled content
The Best Focusrite Scarlett Alternatives at a Glance in 2026
Every interface below is a genuine substitute for a Scarlett in the same budget class. The spec differences that matter most to a buyer are input count, MIDI I/O and the maximum sample rate, so those are the columns worth comparing before anything else.
| Product | Key Specs | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Behringer UMC202HD |
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Check Latest Price |
| PreSonus AudioBox 96 |
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| MOTU M2 |
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 Audient EVO 4 |
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 Universal Audio Volt 2 |
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 M-Audio M-Track Duo |
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 SSL 2 MKII Plus |
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 Tascam US-1X2HR |
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Why People Actually Switch Away From a Scarlett?
The reasons that come up repeatedly in home recording forums are less about sound and more about physical limits. On r/linuxaudio, the recurring shortlist when people ask for a Scarlett replacement names the Behringer UMC202HD and the MOTU M2 as the budget consensus, and neither of those picks is about a different preamp character. On r/audioengineering, the stated reason for leaving Focusrite is genuinely tonal: Audient and SSL preamps are preferred for a different sound, and users describe the Scarlett as flatter.
Beyond tone, here are the practical reasons that push people off the Scarlett platform.
No MIDI on the 2i2. The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 ships with zero MIDI ports. If your controller has a 5-pin DIN connector, you are buying a USB-to-MIDI adapter before you play a note. Four of the eight interfaces in this roundup include MIDI I/O at the same tier.
One mic preamp on the Solo. A single XLR means you cannot record a mic’d acoustic guitar and a vocal at the same time, which is the single most common home recording scenario. Owners on r/musicproduction describe this as the moment they realise their interface, not their technique, is the limit.
One headphone output for streaming. A solo streamer running game audio, chat and music needs to hear all three at different levels, and most Scarlett models give you a single headphone amp to do it with. The SSL 2 MKII Plus in this list solves it with two independent headphone outputs.
Driver and DAW friction. Windows updates, Logic and Ableton have all produced periods where Scarlett users reported trouble, and a few threads on r/audioengineering describe leaving the ecosystem rather than debugging it. Brand support maturity matters more than most buyers expect at purchase time.
Software bundle lock-in. The Scarlett’s Antares, Relab, Softube, XLN, Brainworx, Splice, Ableton and Avid bundle is genuinely valuable. Switch interfaces and those licences stay with the Focusrite account, not with you. On the Cakewalk forum, the Universal Audio Volt 2 is repeatedly named as the alternative that replaces the bundle with something comparable, LUNA plus UAD plug-ins.
One myth worth clearing up while we are here. The audible difference between a ninety-dollar interface and a three-hundred-dollar one is small in a finished mix, and the room and the microphone matter more than either. What the higher tier reliably buys you is preamp headroom, a cleaner headphone amp, better metering, and connectors you will not outgrow. Buy for those, not for the word count of the converter.
1. Behringer UMC202HD – The Longest-Running Budget Alternative
Behringer UMC202HD Audiophile 2×2, 24-Bit/192 kHz USB Audio Interface with Midas Mic Preamplifiers | For Recording Microphones and Instruments
★★★★★★★★★★2 in / 2 out
Midas mic preamplifiers
24-bit/192 kHz
Metal chassis
Direct Monitor select
- Midas-designed mic preamplifiers with phantom power
- 24-bit/192 kHz resolution
- Direct Monitor select plus headphone level control
- Impact-resistant metal chassis
- Works with Pro Tools Ableton Live and Cubase
- Two-in/two-out only
- No MIDI I/O
- Single headphone output
The UMC202HD is the reason so many people say the Scarlett is not the only serious entry point. It has been shipping for years, it has 3,371 owner reviews averaging 4.6 stars, and roughly 79 percent of those ratings are five stars. That is an unusually clean track record for a product this cheap.
Build quality is the first thing you notice. The chassis is impact-resistant metal rather than plastic, which matters if the unit lives in a laptop bag or behind a monitor shelf. The Midas-designed preamplifiers handle condenser mics with the phantom power switch right there on the front, and the Direct Monitor select gives you true zero-latency monitoring without routing through your DAW.
Where it stops is input count. Two in, two out is enough for a singer-songwriter tracking one mic and one instrument at a time, and it handles a stereo mic pair fine. It cannot record a full drum kit or a three-source session without an external preamp, and it has no MIDI I/O at all. If your keyboard is DIN, budget for an adapter.
Forum consensus treats this box as the default budget recommendation, and the rating data backs that up. For a first home studio, a podcast with a single host, or a replacement for a Solo that keeps dying, it does the job without drama. I would pick something with more inputs once you start tracking two sources at once.
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2. PreSonus AudioBox 96 – Best Value Box That Includes MIDI
PreSonus AudioBox 96 25th Anniversary USB Audio Interface
★★★★★★★★★★2 Class-A mic preamps
MIDI I/O included
24-bit/96 kHz
USB bus powered
Studio One and Live Lite bundled
- Two Class-A mic preamps with headroom
- Two instrument inputs plus MIDI I/O at an entry price
- Studio-grade 24-bit/96 kHz converters
- Mixer blend for zero-latency monitoring
- Bus powered over USB 2.0
- Studio One Artist and Ableton Live Lite included
- Capped at 96 kHz
- Build quality is functional not premium
- Some reports of noisy units in the 1-star share
The AudioBox 96 25th Anniversary Edition answers the two Scarlett complaints that come up most often, in one box: two real Class-A mic preamps and hardware MIDI I/O. If you own a Scarlett Solo and a DIN keyboard, this is the most direct upgrade path in the roundup without changing tiers.
It has 3,168 reviews at a 4.3 average, with 71 percent five stars. That rating is lower than some rivals here, and the review data explains why: the 96 kHz ceiling and a relatively large one-star share. Owners do flag occasional noise on some units, so if you are buying for a paid voice-over job, test it before you commit.
The monitoring side is genuinely useful. A mixer control blends your live input with computer playback so you can record in real time through software effects without feeling the delay. That is the same idea as a direct monitor, implemented digitally, and it works well for podcasting where you want to hear a mix rather than one source.
It is also the most portable option with a full feature set. Bus power over USB 2.0 means it runs from a laptop with no external supply, and the package includes Studio One Artist, Ableton Live Lite and the Studio Magic plug-in suite delivered on registration.
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3. MOTU M2 – Best Compact Alternative With 192 kHz Converters
MOTU M2 USB-C Audio Interface
★★★★★★★★★★2 premium preamps
24-bit/192 kHz
USB-C connection
Hardware monitoring
2 year warranty
- Two premium preamps with 24-bit/192 kHz converters
- USB-C with no driver disc
- Hardware monitoring button
- 6+ GB of free bundled content
- Two-year warranty
- Two-in/two-out with no MIDI I/O
- No separate headphone volume control
- Bundled library needs registration
The MOTU M2 is the compact option, and that is not a polite way of saying it is cut down. It delivers 24-bit/192 kHz conversion from two preamps inside a metal chassis that measures 4.25 inches wide and weighs 612 grams, which is small enough to live in a laptop bag permanently.
With 1,568 reviews at 4.6 stars and 83 percent five-star ratings, satisfaction is high, and the reason owners give is converter quality above what other units in this footprint manage. The USB-C connection is a real convenience, because there is no legacy Type-B cable to lose and no driver disc to install.
A hardware monitoring button handles zero-latency playback without software routing, which keeps the tracking experience simple. The bundled content library is unusually generous for the money, more than 6 GB of loops, MIDI, effects and samples for macOS, Windows and iOS, and the two-year warranty outlasts several rivals here.
The compromise is the same one the Behringer makes: two inputs, two outputs, no MIDI. It also has no separate headphone volume control alongside the monitor outputs, so your headphone level is software. On r/linuxaudio and gearspace threads, the M2 shows up repeatedly as strong value for exactly the reason that simplicity is not a defect.
For someone moving between a home studio and a rehearsal room, this is the one I would put in the bag. For a fixed desk where you want a second headphone feed, look at the SSL instead.
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4. Audient EVO 4 – Best Scarlett Alternative for Recording Guitar DI
Audient EVO 4 USB Audio Interface
★★★★★★★★★★2 EVO mic preamps
AKM 24-bit/96 kHz
JFET instrument input
Loopback and 48V
3 year warranty
- Audient console-quality 24-bit/96 kHz converters
- JFET instrument input for guitar and bass
- Smart Gain and Smart Touch Point controls
- USB 2.0 bus power with no external supply
- Loopback function and 48V phantom power
- Three-year manufacturer warranty
- Limited to 96 kHz
- Only two mic preamps
- Unbalanced speaker outputs
The EVO 4 is the pick for players rather than producers, and the JFET instrument input is the reason. Guitarists and bassists consistently single out that stage in reviews as adding harmonic richness to DI recordings, which is a different recording experience from a clean solid-state DI box.
It holds 1,665 reviews at 4.4 average with 71 percent five stars. The converters are Audient’s console-quality AKM parts running at 24-bit/96 kHz, and the three-year warranty is the longest in this roundup, which matters if you intend to keep the box for a decade.
Gain staging is handled by Smart Gain and a Smart Touch Point control, so you are not hunting for a tiny knob in a dim room. Loopback is built in, which covers the streaming use case without a separate mixer, and USB 2.0 bus power means it runs straight from a laptop.
The reservations are consistent across reviews: 96 kHz is the conversion ceiling, there are only two preamps, and the speaker outputs are unbalanced, which can pick up noise over long cable runs. None of that matters for a home room at short distances. All of it matters if you are chaining to a long cable to a mixing desk.
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5. Universal Audio Volt 2 – Best Alternative If You Want Free Plug-Ins
Universal Audio Volt 2 USB Audio Interface
★★★★★★★★★★610 tube preamp emulation
24-bit/192 kHz
MIDI I/O
LUNA and UAD plug-ins included
USB-C bus power
- Vintage mode emulates the classic 610 tube preamp
- 24-bit/192 kHz converters with low noise
- Bus-powered USB-C with automatic driver setup
- LUNA and UAD plug-ins included at no extra cost
- MIDI I/O plus a power button to cut idle draw
- Only two LEDs for gain so levels are imprecise
- No hardware blend between direct monitoring and DAW playback
- Preamps run soft for some dynamic mics
- LUNA and UAD install and registration take time
The Volt 2 exists to solve a specific problem: the Scarlett bundle is genuinely good, and giving it up feels like giving up free plug-ins. The Volt 2 replaces that bundle with LUNA and a set of UAD plug-ins, plus MIDI I/O and a tube-preamp voicing option.
Ratings back the converters. Across 748 reviews the average is 4.6, with 83 percent five stars, and the review summaries repeatedly describe the DAC and converter quality as a step up. Multiple owners who moved off a Scarlett report a cleaner signal with no audible electrical interference, which is the kind of comment that comes from someone who compared directly.
Vintage mode emulates Universal Audio’s classic 610 tube preamp, which is the single reason to choose this box over a flat-sounding alternative. The 24-bit/192 kHz converters, USB-C bus power and automatic driver identification mean setup is close to zero effort, and a hardware power button stops idle current draw when you are not recording.
The rough edges are honest ones. There are only two LED indicators for gain, so precise level setting is guesswork, and there is no hardware control to balance direct monitoring against DAW playback, meaning you trim levels in software. Preamps also run a little soft for certain dynamic microphones, and the LUNA and UAD software needs time to install and register after purchase.
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6. M-Audio M-Track Duo – The Cheapest Real Alternative
M-AUDIO M-Track Duo USB Audio Interface
★★★★★★★★★★Two combo XLR line and DI inputs
48V phantom power
48 kHz ceiling
USB/Direct zero-latency switch
- Two combo XLR line and instrument inputs with phantom power
- Transparent Crystal preamps
- USB/Direct switch for zero-latency monitoring
- Plug and play on Mac Windows Linux and mobile
- Bundled MPC Beats and Ableton Live Lite
- Compact enough for a monitor shelf
- 48 kHz and 16-bit is the lowest ceiling here
- Gain taper is non-linear and clips easily
- Weak phantom power for condenser mics
- Light plastic chassis that slides around
- Controls sit on top and are hard to see
The M-Track Duo is the most reviewed product in this group by a wide margin, at 6,539 reviews, and that volume is itself informative. It is the interface people buy first, use for a while, and then either keep as a backup or replace.
What you get for the money is unusual at this level: two combo inputs that accept XLR, line or a plug-level instrument source, each with 48V phantom power. The Crystal preamps are described as transparent and clean, and the USB/Direct switch gives you zero-latency monitoring without a DAW in the loop.
It runs on Mac, Windows, Linux and mobile with no fuss, and MPC Beats plus Ableton Live Lite come in the box, which is enough to make a first recording start immediately. The 4.4 average across 6,539 reviews comes with 73 percent five stars, so the disappointment is concentrated in specific, fixable places.
The 48 kHz and 16-bit ceiling is the lowest here, and it is the reason this is not a first choice for music. The gain taper is a real problem, with the usable range bunched at the top of the pot and clipping easy to hit. The phantom power circuit is under-driven, so condenser mics need the gain cranked, and the all-plastic chassis slides when you move a front cable.
Consider this your podcast, livestream and practice-box answer rather than a tracking upgrade. Several owners in the reviews recommend exactly that framing, keeping it as a spare rather than a main interface.
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7. Solid State Logic 2 MKII Plus – Best for Two Headphone Outputs
Solid State Logic 2 MKII Plus USB-C Audio Interface 2×4
★★★★★★★★★★2 XLR plus 2 line/Hi-Z inputs
32-bit/192 kHz
Two discrete headphone outputs
MIDI on DIN jacks
4K analog color
- Two XLR preamps plus two line and Hi-Z inputs
- 32-bit/192 kHz converters with 4K analog enhancement
- Two independent headphone outputs
- Four balanced 1/4 inch line outputs
- USB-C bus power with zero-latency monitoring and loopback
- MIDI I/O on 5-pin DIN jacks
- Highest price in this group
- Far fewer owner reviews so far
- Desktop only with no rackmount option
The SSL 2 MKII Plus is the feature-maximising pick, and the second headphone output alone justifies it for a specific job. With two discrete headphone amps, a podcaster can send a guest to their own pair while keeping the full mix on the main output, and a streamer can monitor one mix and cue another without a separate mixer.
It carries the highest average rating in this roundup at 4.7, with 86 percent five stars, but from 173 reviews. That is a much thinner sample than the 3,000-plus review figures above, and the difference is launch timing rather than reported defects. It is one of the newest interfaces here, so the long-term track record is simply not there yet.
The conversion side is the strongest here: 32-bit/192 kHz AD/DA with the 4K analog enhancement circuit pulled from SSL console designs, which adds colour to the signal path. Two XLR preamps sit alongside two quarter-inch line and Hi-Z inputs, and there are four balanced line outputs for pairing with monitors.
It also covers streaming properly, with stereo loopback, high-pass filters and zero-latency monitoring, and MIDI I/O on 5-pin DIN jacks. Power comes over bus-powered USB-C on Mac and Windows, and the chassis is stainless steel. The catch is that it is the most expensive box in the list and desktop only, with no rackmount option.
Owners respond to the console-derived character and the dual headphone design, and the small review pool is the only real reservation. If you need two independent headphone feeds and you are done expanding, this is the box.
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8. Tascam US-1X2HR – Best for Analog and Vinyl Transfers
Tascam US-1X2HR 1 Mic 2IN/2OUT High Resolution Versatile USB Audio Interface for Recording, Streaming, Podcasting, Songwriting
★★★★★★★★★★Single XLR mic input
Rear RCA line in and out
24-bit/192 kHz
Around -100 dB S/N
Metal chassis
- Very quiet with an S/N around -100 dB
- 24-bit/192 kHz resolution
- Metal chassis
- Front XLR plus switchable balanced line input
- Rear RCA line in and out for analog sources
- Bus powered with loopback and an ASIO driver
- Only one mic preamp
- No balanced main outputs
- Phantom power and direct monitor switches are on the back
- No front-panel mix control
The US-1X2HR is the odd one out, and deliberately so. Where every other box here is a general two-channel recorder, this one has rear RCA line inputs and outputs for analog sources, which makes it the natural choice for capturing from a home stereo, a mixer or a phono preamp without adapters.
It is also one of the quietest interfaces in the group, with a signal-to-noise ratio around -100 dB and no added colouration, on 24-bit/192 kHz Cirrus Logic converters. At 16 ounces with a metal chassis, it is heavy for its size in a good way, and 82 percent of its 122 reviews are five stars.
The front panel carries an XLR mic input plus a switchable balanced line input, and the loopback function with an included ASIO driver covers streaming. It is bus powered over USB with an extra power input available for mobile devices, so it works with a phone or tablet as well as a desktop.
The limitations are structural. There is only one mic preamp, so this is not a two-source tracking interface. The rear RCA line out is the only main output because there are no balanced outputs, and both the phantom power and direct monitor switches sit on the back of the unit. There is no front-panel mix control either, so you adjust levels in software.
If your recordings come from an analog chain, that single feature is worth more than a second preamp would be. If you track two sources at once, choose one of the two-channel boxes above instead.
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Which Scarlett Are You Replacing? Match the Model to the Box?
Most people arrive at this search already owning a specific Scarlett, so the fastest decision is to match the model rather than the price tier. Start by counting how many sources you record at the same moment, then check MIDI, then check monitoring.
Replacing a Scarlett Solo. The Solo gives you one mic preamp, so the immediate want is a second. The PreSonus AudioBox 96 and the Audient EVO 4 both deliver two preamps with Class-A or console-derived stages, and the AudioBox adds MIDI while the EVO adds a JFET instrument input for guitar. If you stream rather than track, the EVO’s built-in loopback or the Volt 2 will serve you better than either.
Replacing a Scarlett 2i2. You already have two preamps, so your reason for leaving is almost always MIDI, headphone routing or a preference for a different preamp character. For MIDI, the AudioBox 96, Universal Audio Volt 2 and SSL 2 MKII Plus all carry 5-pin DIN ports. For a warmer vocal sound, the Volt 2’s 610 tube emulation is the direct answer. For two headphone feeds, only the SSL covers it.
Replacing a Scarlett 4i4 for live or band use. None of the eight interfaces here has four mic preamps, and that is the honest limitation of this price bracket. Every box on the list is two-in, two-out, so a full drum kit or a three-source band session still needs an external preamp or a higher tier. What these alternatives give you over a 4i4 is MIDI, a second headphone output, or a preamp voicing you actually prefer.
Recording voice and guitar at once. Any two-preamp box works. Ignore 192 kHz entirely at this stage; 48 kHz and 24-bit is what nearly every commercial recording is delivered in, and the difference will not survive a mix.
Streaming with chat, music and game audio. Look for loopback first, then a second headphone output. The SSL 2 MKII Plus handles both natively, the Audient EVO 4 handles loopback, and the M-Track Duo handles loopback with a USB/Direct switch if your budget is very tight.
Two final checks before you buy. First, confirm driver stability on your specific operating system and DAW, because that is the complaint that pushes the most people back to a brand they already know. Second, decide where the money goes: a mid-tier interface beats a budget interface plus a bad microphone every time, and acoustic treatment beats both.
When You Should Keep the Scarlett You Already Own?
Plenty of Scarlett owners never need to switch, and several threads on r/audioengineering describe people keeping first and second generation units for eight to twelve years without regret. If you record one source at a time, you do not use a DIN-MIDI keyboard, and your drivers are stable on your machine, a newer interface will not make a measurable difference in a finished mix.
That is the real answer for a lot of visitors, and we would rather say it than sell a box you do not need. The Scarlett line is mature, the support is established, and the bundled software carries real value you would forfeit by leaving.
Two exceptions are worth checking. If you are a solo podcaster or streamer, the single headphone output is a structural limit that no software update fixes, and the SSL 2 MKII Plus resolves it. If your keyboard is DIN, the 2i2’s missing MIDI is a hardware fact, and an adapter or a different interface solves it permanently.
The buy-or-keep logic is the same in most gear categories, and we apply it consistently. Our GoPro alternatives for mountain biking roundup and our Peloton alternatives guide both end with an honest recommendation to keep what already works before buying anything new.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a better audio interface than Focusrite?
For most home studios, no measurable difference exists in a finished mix. The Focusrite Scarlett is a competent two-channel interface, and the alternatives here compete on features rather than sound: MIDI I/O, a second headphone output, loopback, a different preamp voicing or a longer warranty. Choose an alternative when you hit a physical limit such as needing three simultaneous inputs, a DIN-MIDI keyboard or two independent headphone feeds, not in the hope of a cleaner mix.
What are some good alternatives to the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2?
The PreSonus AudioBox 96 and the Universal Audio Volt 2 both add MIDI I/O, which the 2i2 lacks. The Solid State Logic 2 MKII Plus adds a second headphone output and 32-bit/192 kHz conversion. The Audient EVO 4 is the pick for guitar and bass players because of its JFET instrument input, and the MOTU M2 is the most portable option with 192 kHz converters. All six sit in the same broad price band as a 2i2.
What are some other audio interfaces similar to the Focusrite Scarlett?
The eight interfaces in this roundup all match the Scarlett Solo and 2i2 class: two-in, two-out USB-C boxes with combo mic and instrument inputs, 48V phantom power, headphone monitoring and a bundled software package. The differences sit in maximum sample rate, whether MIDI is included, how many headphone outputs you get, and whether monitoring is hardware switched or controlled in software.
Is Motu better than Focusrite?
It is a different design rather than a better one, and the choice comes down to what you need. The MOTU M2 gives you 24-bit/192 kHz converters, a USB-C connection that needs no driver disc, a hardware monitoring button and more than 6 GB of bundled content, with a 4.6 average across 1,568 reviews. Like the Scarlett 2i2, it has no MIDI I/O and only two inputs, so it is not a step up in connectivity.
Which audio interface is better, the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 or the SSL2?
The SSL 2 MKII Plus is the better-specified box: 32-bit/192 kHz conversion, two XLR preamps plus two line and Hi-Z inputs, two discrete headphone outputs, four balanced line outputs, MIDI on 5-pin DIN jacks and stereo loopback, all from a bus-powered USB-C chassis. It also carries a 4.7 average, the highest in this roundup. Its trade-offs are a higher price and a much smaller pool of 173 owner reviews, so its long-term record is unproven.
Which interface is better than Focusrite for a beginner?
Start by counting simultaneous sources rather than features. For one source, the Behringer UMC202HD is the longest-proven budget option with 3,371 reviews at 4.6. For two sources plus a MIDI keyboard, the PreSonus AudioBox 96 covers all three. For guitar, the Audient EVO 4. Whatever you choose, spend any remaining budget on a microphone and some acoustic treatment before upgrading the interface again.
Do I need 192 kHz sample rate?
No. Almost every released recording is delivered at 24-bit/48 kHz, and a 96 kHz or 192 kHz converter will not produce an audible difference in a finished mix. Judge an interface on preamp headroom, headphone amp quality, metering and connector layout instead. The 48 kHz ceiling on the M-Audio M-Track Duo limits mixing and mastering flexibility rather than tracking quality, which is why it sits at the bottom of the roundup.
The Best Focusrite Scarlett Alternatives: Final Verdict
The Behringer UMC202HD is the pick to beat, with 3,371 reviews at 4.6 stars, a metal chassis, 192 kHz converters and the kind of track record nothing else in this bracket can match. Buy the PreSonus AudioBox 96 if you need MIDI, the Audient EVO 4 if you play guitar, the Universal Audio Volt 2 if the plug-in bundle matters most, and the SSL 2 MKII Plus if you need two headphone feeds.
And check your own Scarlett first. If it records what you need today, the best Focusrite Scarlett alternative in 2026 is the one you already own, with the leftover budget pointed at a microphone and a treated room.