The best cheap gaming keyboards

The best cheap gaming keyboard doesn't mean sacrificing the pleasurable clickity clacks for a low price. Yeah, you might find some features diminished, but you'll get to avoid the financial assault often associated with buying a high-end gaming keyboard. PC peripherals are getting pricey, and keyboards are no exception. With the best models hitting well over $200, we thought it best to weed out those trying to charge that just for the basics. 

With plenty of affordable gaming keyboards to choose from, I went through and tested them out so you can spend your cash on something worthwhile because "cheap" doesn't have to mean bad. There's a lot of false economy crap on the market, but this list showcases the best budget keyboards I spotted for under $100, even less than $30 in some cases. 

What the best gaming keyboards (opens in new tab) are likely to have more of over those listed here are extra features. The cheaper keyboards might omit media controls, LED displays, or mechanical switches to keep costs down, and it's sometimes hard to tell what's worth the sacrifice. So I got a ton of cheap keyboards to test and picked out the ones that were worth it, even with those features left out. 

Those who didn't crumple under my heavy-ass typing were then selected for the list. We've even included some keyboards that come bundled with other accessories to try and save you even more money. And if you're dying for features, it might be best to head over to the best mechanical keyboards (opens in new tab)—we'll always recommend these first.

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There is a trend towards $200+ gaming keyboards in the market at the moment, but that doesn't mean there aren't quality mechanical switchboards available at a more reasonable price. You'll often find these more budget-oriented options offering cheap switches from other manufacturers, but the G.Skill KM360 features the classic Cherry MX Red linear switch out of the gate.

The KM360 is a simple slab of keys. However, this works to its advantage. The fact it offers so little extra beyond the basics is how it can deliver genuine Cherry mechanical key switches at an affordable price. That means a precise, reliable, and impressively smooth actuation for gaming and typing.

If you can't cope with your gaming board not lit up like a rainbow, then you may be disappointed with the single-color option, but damn, the white LEDs on this G.Skill board are the brightest I've ever seen. Normally I like to keep at max brightness all day, but the KM360 would burn out my retina if I did.

This TKL board is basic, but what it does, it does very well. It's solid, well-built, reliable, and looks pretty decent too. There's no wrist rest, passthrough, or media controls, but I'll happily give it a pass in favor of affordable functionality.

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The Z-88 from E-Element is available in either black or white. It offers various Outemu switches, which is great for the cheap connoisseur who likes to pick and choose everything about their setup. Those Outemu switches don't feel as high-grade as the Cherry ones listed above, but they are genuinely mechanical. That means you no longer have to worry about the spongey feeling of a membrane.

The keycaps do look and feel a bit cheaper than you might expect of a well-known brand, but they are easy to read on the E-Element. They're made of ABS plastic, which is the least resistant to wear of the two commonly found keycap materials, but ABS plastic is often found on more expensive keyboards, too. Don't slam the keys too hard in anger, and you'll be okay for a while.

It's a cheaper board, but you're grabbing mechanical for under $50 here. Plus, it's often discounted for even less. We saw it go for $30 earlier this year, so watch for those sales. While you will notice the difference in quality between this and a pricier gaming keyboard, at least you aren't settling for anything less than mechanical.

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The Magma Mini is basically Roccat's Magma (opens in new tab)full-sized membrane keyboard with everything right of the Enter key sliced off. Its compact design is for gamers with little desk space or simply want more room for bigger, intense mouse sweeps when gaming. 

It has all the same features as its bigger sibling: quiet membrane keys, anti-ghosting tech, and flashy RGB lighting. Another place it shares a similarity is pricing.

Another reason you might want to go with a compact keyboard is the ergonomics. The smaller size allows you to position the keyboard in a way that's most comfortable for you. For gaming, having your hands closer between the mouse and WASD keys gives you a better ergonomic posture.  I've known competitive gamers who solely use a tiny keyboard for shooters and a full-size keyboard for work or chatting. Not a bad idea, though it could lead to a very cluttered desk. 

The Magma Mini is a membrane keyboard that will take some getting used to if you're moving from a mechanical keyboard. The biggest difference is keystrokes are quieter and feel more spongy, so you won't get that satisfying clickety-clack that comes with some of the best gaming keyboards. 

What I didn't realize until my toddler knocked over an entire can of Red Bull on it, was that the keyboard is spill and dustproof. So the Magma Mini might be a good candidate if you need a keyboard for a young and messy gamer.

Its 1000Hz polling should be fine for most keyboard and mouse users for gaming; for more hardcore competitive gamers, they might opt for a higher one, like one of those fancy 8000Hz gaming keyboards (such as the Corsair K100 RGB (opens in new tab), which is not cheap). However, it's debatable whether anything higher than 1,000Hz on a keyboard is much of a difference in performance than on a gaming mouse.

The Mini works well for moving around in first-person shooters. I've been trying Marauders, a new extraction shooter like Tarkov in space, and had no issue getting into heated gunfights peeking past crates for the perfect shot.

The striking RGB illumination of the keyboard is backlit across five zones and all controlled on the board itself, which is nice. There isn't much customization other than turning the lights on or off unless you install AIMO, Roccat's software that handles all the RGB lighting across all their products. At home, I type a modest 85 words per minute on my wireless Logitech G915 TKL (opens in new tab). On the Magma Mini, I scored 76 WPM on a typing test (opens in new tab) which is pretty good considering it's been a while since I've done a significant amount of typing on a membrane keyboard. I won't be a member of the Membrane Mob anytime soon, but I could complete my work by typing this review without too many mistakes. 

If you're on a budget and don't mind typing on a membrane keyboard, or in fact, if you prefer it, the Roccat Magma Mini is not only a good keyboard but a good budget keyboard that can take a bit of a beating. And at $50, I think it's worth a shot, especially if you're in the market for a teeny-weeny keyboard.

While only available with clicky proprietary blue switches, this model does come packaged with a wired, optical gaming mouse. That's the big benefit of this two-in-one Havit package: you don't need to throw even more money at a gaming mouse. You're essentially ready to game with this one, surprisingly affordable package.

The exposed hardware and aluminum backplate give this version of the Havit mechanical keyboard a sturdy, industrial look. And it must be said that it is a fairly sturdy, if a little plasticky feeling, keyboard. The keycaps and fairly easy to navigate, as well, and there's even a wrist rest included. What I will say about that wrist rest is that it doesn't offer a tremendous amount of support, as it's so low to the ground and doesn't have any padding. Best not buy it just for that one feature, then. 

Besides the lack of exclusive customization software or dedicated media controls, this package of Havit peripherals leaves little to be desired. I mean you're getting two for the price of one here, and that's great if you need a keyboard and mouse in a pinch and for less.

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Clean looks? Check. Mac and Windows connectivity? Check. Gateron Brown switches? Check. White backlighting? Check. The Keychron K2 has all the makings of a decent little wireless mechanical keyboard that could be great for office use, and for just $69, it’s easy to see why it’s become so popular with a whole load of people.

The last couple of years has led to lots of people taking up new hobbies, and one big one has been the world of building your own keyboard with a case, switches, PCB, and so on. To do this, you’ll need to understand what a mechanical keyboard is. In generalists' eyes, the Keychron K2 is a marvelous entry-level keyboard that can act as a gateway into the wider world mechanicals.

Its design is nicely simple with grey ABS keycaps and a slightly more compact 84-key layout that only skimps out on the numpad and offers a slightly squashed nav cluster. Whilst I’ve previously argued that 60% compact keyboards may be the way to go if you’re a spacesavin’ gamer, the Keychron K2’s 75% offering may make me rethink that decision. For more of an affordable board, the build quality is nicely sturdy with no deck flex and a decent bit of heft. It’s no Model M, of course, but for the price, I don’t have any complaints.

As for backlighting, my K2 sample keeps things simple with some white lighting that’s nicely vibrant and crisp and offsets the darker keycap colouring nicely. Weirdly, when you first switch the board on and connect it up, it offers a pulsating pattern as opposed to something more static, and you have to cycle through nearly all the preferences in order to get to it, which is a bit of a pain. The lighting presets on offer will be familiar to anyone who has ever used a cheap RGB gaming keyboard from Amazon, with your traditional static, ripple, and breathing styles all taken care of, alongside some other, more left-field choices. There are four levels of lighting to choose from too, which means you should find one that suits you with ease.

In essence, the Keychron K2 is a handy entry-level mechanical keyboard, and for $69 (opens in new tab) or so, you can’t necessarily go wrong. Its build quality is decent with a nice bit of weight, and the triple device connectivity is handy if you’re flitting between devices over the course of a working day. With that said, though, sometimes it can feel like a cheap keyboard – light switches with an audible ping and standard lighting preset don’t help it too much in some cases though.

All in all, if you’re looking for an entry-level mechanical keyboard, this is a good choice, especially if you’re working from home and using multiple devices.

Read our full Keychron K2 review.

HyperX is a trusted name among peripheral manufacturers. While it typically caters to a more premium brand, the Alloy Core RGB brings extensive features and reliable performance at an affordable price. The price does skirt the definition of a "budget" keyboard, but the dedicated media controls and customization software help justify the MSRP. 

HyperX has had to incorporate membrane switches for this particular model, but that has the added effect of making the Alloy Core spill-resistant. We'd prefer mechanical keys, but a quality membrane is still much better than some old office board.

With the Alloy Core, it's a decision of what you're after in a gaming keyboard. If you're after a full-size keyboard with some extra features and solid RGB lighting effects, something like the Alloy Core or the Roccat Magma are more your speed. You're not going to find many mechanical keyboards going for very cheap with a full-size layout, as every switch is an added cost. Though if you don't necessarily want a full-size board, we still recommend a mechanical keyboard first and foremost, like those above.

A really rubbish mechanical board can feel worse under finger than a much better made membrane one, so we wanted to throw in a couple of alternatives for the mechanical switches if, for whatever reason, those weren't your thing.

The Roccat Magma membrane keyboard reminds me that a gaming keyboard doesn't have to be expensive or mechanical to keep you at the top of your game. I've been thoroughly impressed by the tactility of the rubber dome switches, the unique RGB top plate design, and the great features for competitive gaming. An affordable price for a trustworthy brand underlines all. That's a rare thing, and though it may not be as sturdy as some boards nor as full of fancy greebles, it's a (literal) beacon of excellence among membrane gaming keyboards.

Recently, Roccat seems to have been shaking things up regarding where the lighting should belong on peripherals, exemplified in the Magma's uniquely lit design.

With a membrane, there's no per-key lighting. Instead, Roccat has opted for five separately configurable lighting zones that span the entire top plate behind the keycaps. The obvious drawback is that there's less potential for intricate customization—those who prefer W, A, S, and D to glow a different color, for example, will be disappointed. The zoned RGB design still offers some room for nice gradients and effects, but the cycle isn't as smooth as it could be, and the colors aren't super accurate.

The minimal use of LEDs within the board also means less coverage, resulting in some slightly darker patches where a few key caps' lettering looks a bit dim. It's not hugely noticeable, though. There are a few apparent blemishes under the top plate that may detract from the design for some—little black spots where the board is joined together— but I think Roccat was going for a kind of 'naked look' with the milky white translucence—very cyberpunk, but not to my taste.

The Magma isn't the sturdiest board ever. Compare it to some of the solid, milled metal boards around, and there's some minor concern that when you press down on the spacebar with force—the board bows a little. You should be ok if you don't intend to smash the keyboard with your fist. But something to keep in mind: if you're an exceptionally heavy typist, a metal keyboard is a better option. 

Otherwise, it's a spectacular-looking board. The deeply rounded corners and thick black frame really set it off, and the lettering isn't some overkill, sci-fi typeface. There may not be dedicated media controls, but it's a nifty full-size keyboard with function keys and 26-key rollover, as well as anti-ghosting, so it's everything you need for competitive gaming. That's what Roccat was aiming for, and it delivers without breaking the bank. You even get a wrist rest with it, and although it's not spongy, it's a nice bit of support.

The Roccat Magma is a keyboard for gamers who prefer a soft and silent yet tactile feel from a membrane board and are happy to have their whole board lit up like a quest item. With its outlandish lighting design choice, it's a board for flashy, '80s retro aesthetic enthusiasts who're looking to do some competitive gaming for cheap.  And despite some minor annoyances, such as the RGB color inaccuracies and hard wrist rest, nothing can be overlooked for the $60 (£50) price tag.

Read our full Roccat Magma review (opens in new tab).

Best cheap gaming keyboards FAQ

Jargon buster - keyboard terminology

Actuation Point
The height to which a key needs to be pressed before it actuates and sends an input signal to a device.

Clicky
A switch that delivers an audible click every time it's pressed, generally right around the point of actuation.

Debounce
A technique to ensure that only one input registers every time a key is pressed.

Housing
The shell that surrounds the internal components of a switch.

Hysteresis
The result of the actuation point and reset point in a switch being misaligned. This generally means a key needs to be lifted off of further than normal before it can be actuated again. 

Linear
A switch that moves directly up and down, generally delivering smooth keystrokes without noise or tactile feedback.

Mechanical Keyboard
A keyboard built around individual switches for each key rather than a membrane sheath mounted on a PCB.

Membrane Keyboard
A keyboard on which all the keycaps are mounted on a membrane sheath; when a key is pressed, a rubber dome depresses and pushes against the sheath and PCB beneath, actuating the key.

Stem
The component of a switch on which the keycaps are mounted on a mechanical keyboard.

Switch
The physical component of a mechanical keyboard beneath the keycaps on a mechanical keyboard. The switch determines how a key is actuated, whether or not it provides audible or tactile feedback with each press, and more.

Tactile
A switch that provides a 'bump' of feedback every time it's pushed.

Tenkeyless
A keyboard that lacks the right-hand number pad.