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The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is still the go-to for home vocal recording on a budget - solid preamps, straightforward setup, and it won't break the bank. If you want something even cheaper, the Behringer U-Phoria series does the job fine, though the Scarlett feels more reliable long-term.
The Behringer U-Phoria UMC202HD pulls off something weird - it's genuinely cheap but doesn't sound cheap, which matters way more than the price tag when you're tracking vocals. Most budget interfaces feel like you're compromising on preamp quality, but this one's preamps are actually decent for the money.
What I'd add that doesn't get mentioned enough: driver stability matters as much as the gear itself. Some ultra-cheap interfaces work fine on Windows but are a nightmare on Mac or Linux. The UMC202HD is rock solid across all three, which saves you from the frustration of latency issues or dropouts mid-take. You also get MIDI in/out if you ever want to add synths or drum machines later, even if that's not on your radar right now.
If you can stretch to around $100-120 or so, the Behringer U-Phoria UMC404HD gives you four inputs instead of two - genuinely useful if you ever want to record a guitar at the same time, or mic something up in the future. But if it's strictly vocals and you're watching the budget tight, the 202HD does the job without making you feel like you cheaped out.
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