How do I record my guitar at home?

Start simple: interface, DAW, mic, and learn them well.

Core setup

Audio interface: Alan Ratcliffe, our Guitar Doctor, says a Focusrite 2i2 "is all most people will need" — it usually comes with bundled software (Cubase, ProTools, Cakewalk lite) ².
Software: Reaper is cheap (around $50 to register) and nearly as capable as the big packages — very beginner friendly ². If you want to tweak tones after recording, pair Reaper with amp sims like Guitar Rig instead of re-recording every change ⁷.
Mic: skip cheap condensers; a decent dynamic like an SM57 or SM58 plus a good interface preamp gives better results in a modest home setup ². For vocals/acoustic later, Rode condensers and the very affordable Avantone CK-1 were recommended around R1800 in 2014 (about R3,400 in today's money) ⁶.

Electric guitar specifically

Amp sims: record DI straight into the interface and use GarageBand/GarageBand-style built-in amps or a POD-style modeller — quick, easy, decent tone ¹^,³.
Or mic your amp: the amp and speakers are part of the electric guitar's sound, so miking a good-sounding amp gives the "true" tone — but only if the amp sounds great first ³.

Acoustic guitar

Guitar prep: use new strings (24-hour break-in) and sort out fret buzz and tuning issues — condenser mics expose every flaw ⁴.

Extras worth adding

Headphones for late-night monitoring, acoustic treatment (not soundproofing), and solid compression/EQ/reverb plugins ⁶.
Learn one tool deeply rather than owning many — that beats buying "industry standard" gear you can't drive ⁶.

For a walkthrough covering interfaces, DAWs, DI recording and amp sims without spending millions, see ScottyDogg's intro video series in ¹.

From these forum threads