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The custom best budget mechanical keyboards scene is a great place to spend time, thanks to independent creators. Still, there are so many brands, switches, and keycaps that it can be hard to know where to start, and your budget might be stretched to the limit.
The best budget mechanical keyboards makes it a pleasure to type. They make you feel good and sound pretty good, too. Even the best membrane switches can’t compare to mechanical switches, and they’re great for gaming, too.
The best budget mechanical keyboards are all the rage right now, and many people find them to be the best way to type and play games. But they can end up being pretty pricey, with a ceiling that is almost unreachable when you think about all the different options and features.
Best Budget Mechanical Keyboards Comparison Table
Keyboard Model | Platform | Dimension | Width | Price | Official Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cooler Master CK552 | Mechanical | 460 x 135 x 41mm | Standard | $79.99 USD | Visit Website |
Keychron K10 | Mechanical | 355 x 120 x 35mm | Compact | $74 – $89 USD | Visit Website |
HyperX Alloy Origins Core | Mechanical | 442.5 x 132.5 x 36.39mm | Standard | $89.99 USD | Visit Website |
EVGA Z15 | Mechanical | 435 x 125 x 38mm | Standard | $129.99 USD | Visit Website |
G.Skill KM360 TKL | Mechanical | 359 x 130 x 39mm | Compact | $69.99 USD | Visit Website |
Logitech G613 Lightspeed | Wireless | 478 x 216 x 33mm | Standard | $129.99 USD | Visit Website |
Roccat Magma | Membrane | 462 x 160 x 28mm | Standard | $59.99 USD | Visit Website |
Cooler Master CK552

Specification | |
---|---|
Switch Type | Gateron Red, Blue, or Brown |
Keycaps | ABS double-shot injection keycaps |
Lighting | RGB per-key backlighting |
Connectivity | Wired USB Type-C |
Dimensions | 460 x 135 x 41 mm |
Weight | 850g |
Most users will find that the Cooler Master CK552 is the best budget mechanical keyboards for the money. It is a full-sized gaming keyboard with RGB backlighting, an aluminum top plate, and a 5.9-foot (1.8m) USB 2.0 cable.
Our review unit had Gateron Red switches that worked well while playing games. In fact, the switches were so responsive that our reviewer sometimes hit keys they didn’t mean to. This also means that it slowed down.
The Good
- Stylish design with keycaps that float.
- You can change how RGB lights look.
- Different Gateron switch choices
- USB Type-C is a way to connect.
The Bad
- There are no media keys.
- Some people may not be happy with a wrist rest that can’t be taken off.
- Some users say that when they type, the sound is loud and hollow.
Keychron K10

Specification | |
---|---|
Switch Type | Gateron Red, Blue, or Brown |
Keycaps | ABS double-shot injection keycaps |
Lighting | White LED backlighting |
Connectivity | Wired USB Type-C or wireless Bluetooth |
Dimensions | 355 x 120 x 18 mm |
Weight | 500g |
The Keychron K10 is the best budget mechanical keyboards you can buy for under $100. It can connect to up to three devices using Bluetooth and is completely wireless. You won’t have to worry about charging it often because the battery lasts up to 70 hours with the backlight on and up to 240 hours without it.
The K10 makes it easy to type right away because it feels and sounds good. So, you can buy a hot-swappable version that makes it easy to switch out the switches, but the switches that come with the Gateron G Pro feel great as they are.
The Good
- Small and easy to carry
- Options for both wired and wireless connections
- Key switches that can be changed on the fly to make changes
- Lasts a long time (up to 240 hours)
The Bad
- Fewer ways to customize RGB lighting
- There are no media keys.
- Some people may feel like the keycaps are loose or shaky.
HyperX Alloy Origins Core

Specification | |
---|---|
Switch Type | HyperX Red, Aqua, or Blue |
Keycaps | ABS double-shot injection keycaps |
Lighting | RGB per-key backlighting |
Connectivity | Wired USB Type-C |
Dimensions | 360 x 132.5 x 34.5 mm |
Weight | 900g |
The K552 from Redragon is a small, Tenkeyless is the best budget mechanical keyboards that is easy to use and doesn’t cost much. The K552 Kumara only comes in a Tenkeyless configuration with 87 keys and two different colors: red and black.
Thanks to the Redragon K552’s choice of red, blue, or brown switches, you can pick a keyboard that matches the color scheme of your PC. When we tested this cheap keyboard, we were impressed by how well it worked.
The Good
- Durable aluminum frame
- Design that is small and simple
- Different kinds of HyperX switches
- RGB lighting that can be changed with software
The Bad
- There are no media keys.
- Some users may not like that the cable can’t be taken off.
- No way to connect wirelessly
EVGA Z15

Specification | |
---|---|
Switch Type | Kailh Speed Silver |
Keycaps | Double-shot ABS keycaps |
Lighting | RGB per-key backlighting |
Connectivity | Wired USB Type-C |
Dimensions | 441 x 132 x 36 mm |
Weight | 1.2kg |
The EVGA Z15 is a good full-size best budget mechanical keyboards that is made to help you get everything done. This find has clicky switches and customizable RGB lights. It also has five dedicated and programmable Macro E keys and volume scroll wheels.
With Kailh’s 3pin mechanical switches and hot swap sockets, you can change the feel of your Z15 RGB keyboard to suit your needs. USB microprocessor with a 32-bit Arm Cortex-M33 core and 4,000Hz polling rate.
The Good
- The volume wheel and macro keys are set apart.
- The wrist rest can be taken off for more comfort.
- Software lets you change the RGB lighting and OLED display. Kailh Speed Silver switches let you type quickly and accurately.
The Bad
- Design that is big and heavy might not work for all users.
- There is only one switch option. Software may have bugs and not be reliable.
G.Skill KM360 TKL

Specification | |
---|---|
Switch Type | Cherry MX Red, Brown, or Blue |
Keycaps | Double-shot ABS keycaps |
Lighting | No backlighting |
Connectivity | Wired USB Type-C |
Dimensions | 356 x 134.5 x 38 mm |
Weight | 750g |
If you don’t know, TKL, or Tenkeyless, best budget mechanical keyboards are slightly smaller than full-sized keyboards. Most of the time, they don’t have a number pad and have only 87 keys. This size of keyboard is perfect for people who don’t use the number pad much but still want the function and arrow keys.
The Cherry MX key switches are already installed on the G.Skill KM360, which is one of its best features. This alone makes the KM360 better than a lot of other cheap keyboards, which tend to use cheap switches because they are cheap.
The Good
- Design that is simple and small
- Cherry MX switches of good quality
- Price is not too high for a mechanical keyboard. The aluminum frame is strong.
The Bad
- In places with little light, not having backlighting may be inconvenient.
- There are no media buttons or a volume wheel.
- No wrist support
Logitech G613 Lightspeed

Specification | |
---|---|
Switch Type | Romer-G |
Keycaps | Double-shot ABS keycaps |
Lighting | No backlighting |
Connectivity | Wireless Lightspeed technology |
Dimensions | 478 x 216 x 33 mm |
Weight | 1410g |
The Logitech Romer-G tactile switches make the G613 Lightspeed best budget mechanical keyboards. It’s pretty old, but it’s still useful on the market because it’s priced well and has both Bluetooth and a 2.4Ghz connection called “Lightspeed.”
This means that you can connect more than one device to the keyboard without having to worry about a mess of cables. It is made of hard plastic that doesn’t feel cheap, and the Romer-G key switches have a very short pre-travel distance, which makes them great for gaming.
The Good
- Low-latency wireless connections are made possible by Lightspeed technology.
- With programmable G-keys, you can make your own macros.
- Romer-G switches offer a quiet and smooth way to type.
- Lasts a long time (up to 18 months)
The Bad
- In places with little light, not having backlighting may be inconvenient.
- Design that is big and heavy might not work for all users.
- There is no way to connect by wire.
Roccat Magma

Specification | |
---|---|
Switch Type | TTC Red switches |
Keycaps | ABS keycaps |
Lighting | Red LED backlighting |
Connectivity | Wired USB Type-C |
Dimensions | 443 x 129 x 32 mm |
Weight | 900g |
The Roccat Magma’s RGB lighting might be too much for you to handle. Or, you might love it very much. The 5-zone, 10-LED RGBA backlighting doesn’t just light up the symbols on the keys; it also makes the whole keyboard deck glow in a beautiful way.
It doesn’t just look good, though; it also works beautifully. Its keys are not just quiet because they have membrane switches that don’t make noise. They are also fast and accurate enough for best budget mechanical keyboards.
The Good
- At an affordable price for a mechanical keyboard, TTC Red switches let you type quickly and easily.
- The red LED backlighting gives it a stylish look.
- With few bezels, the design is small.
The Bad
- There are no media buttons or a volume wheel.
- Some users may not like that the cable can’t be taken off.
- Some users may feel that the keycaps are thin and weak.
FAQs
What is the best mechanical keyboard for the money?
The Keychron K10 is the best mechanical keyboard you can buy for under $100. It can connect to up to three devices using Bluetooth and is completely wireless. You won’t have to worry about charging it often because the battery lasts up to 70 hours.
Is it worth it to get a 60% mechanical keyboard?
The biggest problem is that there are no dedicated arrow keys. If you use the numpad a lot or play games that make heavy use of the F keys or arrow cluster, it might be hard to get used to hitting those binds through a layer. Since there are fewer keys, there are also fewer ways to map them.
Which mechanical keyboard is the fastest?
The Apex Pro TKL is the world’s fastest keyboard. It has OmniPoint 2.0 switches, which make it respond 11x faster and move 10x faster.