Linear switches are smooth and fast. Some typists appreciate how fluid and consistent these switches feel, not to mention they're often significantly quieter compared to tactile and clicky options. However, some may find them too sensitive, leading you to make unintentional typos, especially if you like to rest your fingers directly on your keycaps.
While popular for typing and mixed use, linears are also the reigning favorite choice for gamers, especially with speed switches, which are specifically designed with gaming in mind to allow you to register keystrokes faster, giving you a small but measurable latency performance advantage. If you play games requiring a lot of quick follow-up inputs, keep in mind that low pre-travel distance means a higher return travel distance and, typically, a higher release latency.
We've tested over 150 switches, including over 80 linear models. Below are our picks for the best linear switches. Note that the pricing of keyboard switches can vary quite a bit depending on the quantity you purchase and the website you buy them from. It might be worth shopping around a little!
For more recommendations, see our picks for the best tactile switches, the best clicky switches, the best gaming switches, and the best keyboard switches.
We've tested over a hundred keyboard switches, and to maintain our independence, we buy them all ourselves. We don't just rely on subjective testing. Instead, we rigorously test each switch on the same standardized test bench so you can compare them on equal ground. We use specialized tools, including a Mecmesin force tester for force curves and a Beagle 480 USB analyzer for latency. Multiple teams contribute to each review in a process that can take days or weeks.
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Best Linear Switch
Initial Force:41gfActuation Force:54gfBottom-Out Force:67gfActuation Distance (Pre-Travel):2.4 mmBottom-Out Distance:3.9 mmSee all our test resultsPin Count:5The best linear switches we recommend for most people are the Gateron Ink Black V2. This switch is a longstanding favorite in enthusiast circles, and for good reason. People gravitate towards linear switches for the unrivaled smoothness they bring to the table, and these are among the smoothest ones you can get right out of the box without needing any home-lubing on your part. They've also got an attractive sound profile that's still fairly quiet and almost muffled-sounding, which is great if you're concerned about disrupting anyone around you while typing.
The only real downside is that these switches also carry a reputation for being a little wobbly to type on, which is unusual since they're five-pin switches and are typically more stable. If you want to elevate your experience with these switches, you can add switch films to increase the stability and get the full premium typing experience. Also, if your keyboard's PCB has three-pin sockets, you'll need to clip the extra two pins for compatibility, but the added effort is certainly worth it.
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Best Mid-Range Linear Switch
Initial Force:37gfActuation Force:52gfBottom-Out Force:67gfActuation Distance (Pre-Travel):2.1 mmBottom-Out Distance:3.9 mmSee all our test resultsPin Count:5For a mid-range option, we recommend the NovelKeys x Kailh Cream switches. It's easy to see where these switches get their name, as both the upper and lower housings are a soft cream color. These housings, as well as the switch stem and slider, are made of POM plastic. In their marketing material, Kailh somewhat exaggerates by calling POM plastic self-lubricating. While this isn't strictly true, these switches are reasonably smooth from the factory, but get a bit smoother as you break them in. If you're going for as much smoothness as possible, look into lubing these yourself.
These switches are also reputed for being fairly soft-sounding, even compared to other linear options. Overall, they provide a pleasant linear experience without any one element that's too in your face. Also note that, like with our best pick above, these are five-pin switches. This only means you'll need to clip off those extra pins if your PCB only accepts three-pin switches.
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Best Budget Linear Switch
Initial Force:44gfActuation Force:46gfBottom-Out Force:61gfActuation Distance (Pre-Travel):1.7 mmBottom-Out Distance:3.9 mmSee all our test resultsPin Count:3At a budget price point, we recommend the Gateron G Pro Yellow switches. Gateron has many versions of Yellow switches that stretch across different lineups or families of switches. When shopping, you may see Yellow Ink, Yellow Cap V2, KS-8 Yellow, and more. While all these different models are somewhat similar linear switches, comparing the different versions and generations can be confusing. Most of what sets Gateron's various Yellow models apart are small cosmetic changes, often different housing colors or finishes, or tiny differences in the geometry that produce slightly tweaked typing elements or sound signatures.
Ultimately, we recommend the G Pro Yellow switches because they're a clear community favorite made from new molds with tighter tolerances for their stems and housings. Notably, unlike older Gateron Yellow switches, these newer ones are pre-lubed from the factory, making them a surprisingly smooth and no-fuss linear option at a budget price point.
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Best Cheap Linear Switch
Initial Force:38gfActuation Force:45gfBottom-Out Force:50gfActuation Distance (Pre-Travel):2.0 mmBottom-Out Distance:3.3 mmSee all our test resultsPin Count:5If you're working on a cheaper build, we recommend the Akko V3 Creamy Yellow Pro switches. These switches are Akko's most recent iteration in a lineup of affordable Creamy Yellow linear switches. This newest version boasts some small material upgrades over the previous Akko V3 Cream Yellows, aimed at improving their overall durability and consistency in the long run. They also have newly lubed rails, significantly boosting their smoothness. In addition, these switches now have a five-pin design, which provides better stability but also means you'll need to clip the support pins if you have a three-pin PCB.
Altogether, these switches offer surprisingly high-level stability, smoothness, and consistency, considering they're significantly less expensive than some premium favorites among linear advocates. Unless you're looking for a specific attribute in one of the more premium switches above, these switches are worth considering for builds at any budget.
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Best Linear Switch For Gaming
Initial Force:38gfActuation Force:45gfBottom-Out Force:61gfActuation Distance (Pre-Travel):1.4 mmBottom-Out Distance:3.3 mmSee all our test resultsPin Count:3If you're a linear fan looking for the best gaming switch for your build, look no further than the Cherry MX Speed Silver, the all-time classic gaming switch. While some enthusiasts have moved away from some of the earlier Cherry MX designs, there's magic in the Speed Silvers that keeps people coming back. In the end, these switches are pretty straightforward. They're not quite as smooth out of the box as other options on this list, but they're ultra-fast, which makes them perfectly suited for any fast-paced or competitive gaming.
If you want to double down on speed, check out Kailh Super Speed Silver switches instead. These offer the same outstanding latency performance but are noticeably smoother, even before lubing, and have a marginally shorter pre-travel distance. We don't necessarily recommend them to everyone because of their extremely light actuation force, which may feel too sensitive for some and increase your chances of accidental keystrokes that can spell disaster in competitive situations.
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Best Budget Linear Switch For Gaming
Initial Force:30gfActuation Force:40gfBottom-Out Force:64gfActuation Distance (Pre-Travel):1.3 mmBottom-Out Distance:3.6 mmSee all our test resultsPin Count:3We recommend Kailh Speed Silver switches if you're on a budget, are into gaming, and want to dodge the premium price of the above Cherry MX Speed Silver switches. The Kailh Speed Silver switches feel just as lightweight, and as a bonus, they have a clear top housing that provides better RGB illumination. That said, they do have a marginally short pre-travel distance. Although this minor difference may not be perceptible to everyone, it may feel a little too sensitive for some and may result in more accidental key presses.
If you're wondering why you wouldn't just get these over the more expensive Cherry MX Speed Silver switches above, it mostly boils down to the minor difference in latency performance. The small latency difference isn't going to be something you'll notice in-game. Still, when it comes to competitive gaming, where multiple components later in the chain (keyboard, CPU, GPU, display, and internet connection) all add to the total system latency, minor optimizations can have an impact when it all adds up.
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Best Silent Linear Switch
Initial Force:31gfActuation Force:38gfBottom-Out Force:45gfActuation Distance (Pre-Travel):2.0 mmBottom-Out Distance:3.4 mmSee all our test resultsPin Count:3If you'd like to keep things as quiet as possible, we recommend the TTC Frozen Silent V2 switches. These lightweight linears feel surprisingly premium for their price. They have a lengthened spring that provides a lively rebound, and they're whisper-quiet thanks to a silicone ring at the top of travel and a silicone pad when they bottom out that effectively mutes noise without introducing any unwanted mushiness. They also come factory-lubed, and their clear top housing makes them a great fit if you want your RGB lighting to take center stage.
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Best Budget Silent Linear Switch
Initial Force:34gfActuation Force:38gfBottom-Out Force:46gfActuation Distance (Pre-Travel):2.3 mmBottom-Out Distance:3.3 mmSee all our test resultsPin Count:5For a more budget-friendly silent option, we recommend Outemu Silent Peach V3 switches. These lightweight linears closely match the overall feel of the more expensive TTC Frozen Silent V2s and, if anything, are slightly quieter. So what's the catch? They don't have quite the same snappy rebound as the TTCs, and while they have a charming peach-themed colorway, the milky housing diffuses light more heavily and can give your RGB a reddish hue depending on your setup. That said, these switches deliver a remarkably similar experience to the TTCs for about half the price, making them well worth considering.
Notable Mentions
- Gateron Oil King: Gateron Oil King switches are a bit newer, and many people find they offer a similar experience to the Gateron Ink Black V2 switches. They're also typically a bit less expensive. However, our tests found they weren't quite as smooth out of the box, and their opaque black upper housing means that any RGB illumination is significantly dampened. See our review
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Keygeek Blue Cheese V2 (52g):
Typically a bit pricier than Gateron G Pro Yellows but cheaper than NovelKeys x Kailh Cream, the Keygeek Blue Cheese V2 (52g) switches have been a popular pick among enthusiasts lately. They offer a rich, thocky sound usually found in pricier options, come well-lubed from the factory, and are available in light or medium-weight spring options.
See our review
Recent Updates
Oct 27, 2025:
We've added new 'Best Silent Linear' and 'Best Budget Silent Linear' categories, with the TTC Frozen Silent V2 and the Outemu Silent Peach V3 switches as our picks. We've also added the Keygeek Blue Cheese V2 switches to our Notable Mentions list.
Apr 25, 2025:
We aren't making any changes to our picks at the moment, but we're keeping a close eye as trade conditions evolve. If you notice unusual pricing or availability issues, we'd appreciate you letting us know so we can keep our recommendations as accurate and helpful as possible.
Jan 24, 2025:
We've reviewed our recommendations to ensure their relevance, pricing, and availability remain up to date, but our lineup remains unchanged.
Oct 29, 2024:
We've reviewed our current recommendations and verified their price and continued availability. No changes to our lineup with this update.
Aug 06, 2024: We've audited this article and aren't making any changes to our lineup after evaluating the price, continued availability, and relevance of each pick.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best linear switches for most people. While no switch is perfect for every person and every use, most will perform adequately in any role.
When choosing our recommendations, we factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability. If you'd like to do the work of choosing yourself, here's a list of all the tactile keyboard switches we've tested below.