Many mechanical keyboards carry a premium price tag, but this isn't always the case. While the best budget or cheap mechanical keyboard models may not have all the high-end features, some are just as sturdy and perform similarly to their more expensive counterparts. You can find wallet-friendly options that are available with a variety of switches or that have hot-swappable PCBs, allowing you to easily change out the stock switches for those of your choosing. We recommend checking out our article Mechanical Switches: How to Choose if you're new to mechanical keyboards and are looking to get a lay of the land. Alternatively, if you already know your way around the world of switches and are ready to buy a new set, consider checking out our recommendations for the best mechanical switches.
If you're looking for more gaming keyboards, check out the best budget gaming keyboards. Likewise, if you want something cheaper, check out the picks for the best budget and cheap keyboards. Or, if you'd rather look at a wider range of keyboards, see our list of the best mechanical keyboards.
We test dozens of keyboards each year, and to maintain independence, we buy every unit ourselves. Our reviews go beyond subjective typing impressions or quick gaming sessions. Each keyboard is put through the same standardized test bench, so you can directly compare our results. We use specialized tools like a Mecmesin force tester to measure switch force curves and a Beagle 480 USB analyzer to capture input data for latency testing. Multiple teams contribute to each review in a process that can take days or even weeks from start to finish.
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Best Budget Mechanical Keyboard
Gaming8.4Office8.1Mobile/Tablet6.8Programming7.9Entertainment / HTPC6.0Raw Performance8.6Size:Compact (96%)Hot-Swappable Switches:YesConnectivity:WirelessSwitch Type:MechanicalSee all our test resultsAnalog:NoWe recommend the Keychron V5 Max as hands down the best budget mechanical keyboard for most people. It has an impressive collection of features typically found on more expensive custom keyboard offerings, including a gasket mount design that produces a softer, slightly cushioned-feeling typing experience. It also includes high-quality PBT keycaps and layers of acoustic-dampening material sandwiched inside that help to round out your typing sound profile.
This keyboard is part of a wider V Max lineup that includes bigger and smaller variants. We recommend any of these variants as they share the same basic construction and set of features; the major difference is their size and layout. Each model in the wider series is also built with customizability in mind. Everything from the switches, stabilizers, keycaps, and even the software and firmware are customizable. There's even an included toolkit to help you completely disassemble them, making these keyboards a great budget-friendly base if you're interested in tinkering and adding to your build down the line.
If wireless connectivity isn't something you need, we recommend checking out the original Keychron V Series keyboards instead. These wired-only models lose the gasket mount design and don't quite deliver the same premium-feeling typing quality, but they're almost always available for cheaper and come in a full variety of sizes and layouts.
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Best Cheap Wireless Mechanical Keyboard
Gaming7.1Office7.0Mobile/Tablet8.4Programming7.3Entertainment / HTPC6.0Raw Performance6.7Size:Compact (60%)Hot-Swappable Switches:YesConnectivity:WirelessSwitch Type:MechanicalSee all our test resultsAnalog:NoWe recommend the ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 as the best cheap mechanical keyboard with a wireless connection. This compact, lightweight, and highly portable model is well-suited for smaller desks. It's a great option if you're often taking your keyboard on the go to use remotely or even just jumping between hot desks. Just note that its compact design means it lacks a function row, a numpad, and dedicated arrow keys (although it does have plenty of pre-programmed hotkeys to stand in for these missing keys, including hotkeys that act like arrow keys when you hold down the Fn button).
In addition to its good overall build quality, this keyboard offers excellent connectivity options. You can pair it with up to three devices using Bluetooth, use it wired, or get a variant with a USB receiver to use with any device with a USB-A port. Other variants of this board are also available, including a hot-swappable version that allows you to change out the stock switches to customize the keyboard for the typing experience you want.
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Best Cheap Wired Mechanical Keyboard
Gaming8.0Office6.8Mobile/Tablet2.1Programming7.0Entertainment / HTPC1.8Raw Performance8.3Size:TenKeyLess (80%)Hot-Swappable Switches:NoConnectivity:WiredSwitch Type:MechanicalSee all our test resultsAnalog:NoThe Keychron C1 Pro is essentially a more basic, wired-only model similar to our top pick, the Keychron V5 Max, and we recommend it as the best cheap mechanical keyboard if you prefer a wired connection. Note that this board is at its best value when available for around $55 USD, but as it's occasionally priced higher on some online retailers, you should check Keychron's product page to make sure you get the lowest price. Overall, it doesn't quite match the V5 Max for typing quality since it has a more conventional and slightly stiffer-feeling tray mount design. However, it still packs some surprising features at its price point, including pre-lubed switches, high-quality PBT keycaps, and south-facing LEDs that allow greater flexibility for aftermarket keycap compatibility.
You can also choose between several different assembly configurations, with choices between white-only or full RGB backlighting, as well as the option for a hot-swappable PCB that allows you to change out the stock switches easily. For further customization, this keyboard is compatible with VIA software, so you can create custom profiles, adjust the backlighting, and record macros to any key, among other options. If you like this keyboard but need a numpad, check out the Keychron C2 Pro instead. It is a larger, 100% variant that's only a bit more expensive. We recommend whichever size variant works best for your needs, as they're both impressively full-featured and well-built options that provide excellent value at an entry-level price point.
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Best Budget Mechanical Keyboard For Gaming
Gaming8.6Office6.4Mobile/Tablet1.0Programming7.0Entertainment / HTPC3.1Raw Performance8.9Size:Full-size (100%)Hot-Swappable Switches:NoConnectivity:WiredSwitch Type:MechanicalSee all our test resultsAnalog:NoIf you're looking for a budget gaming keyboard, the Corsair K70 Core is a great pick. It's available in both full-size format and a smaller TKL layout, which removes the numpad to provide more space for mouse movement. Its build quality is good with a mix of plastic and aluminum that provides fairly good deck rigidity with minimal flexing. Its gaming performance is excellent. It provides outstanding single-key and multi-key latency performances. Its 1000Hz polling rate may not seem as high as some modern keyboards, which reach the 8000Hz mark, but that really shouldn't have much of an impact on your experience. The Corsair MLX Red linear switches in our unit are lightweight and have a short pre-travel distance, making them well-suited for playing fast-paced, reaction-based games where input speed is important. Note that since the switches are soldered, you won't be able to swap these out down the line. Backlighting is also excellent, with very bright, customizable lighting and clear legends.
If you're looking for a smaller form factor that's even more geared towards gaming, the Corsair K65 RGB MINI is another excellent option. It features a 60% layout that removes the function row and the arrow keys. This will require some adaptation, but it does give you some additional desk space for mouse movement. Its latency performance is even better than the K70 Core, with near instant input delay. Corsair did opt for an 8000Hz polling rate this time around, which certainly helps achieve this outstanding latency performance.
Notable Mentions
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AULA F99/F75:
The full-size AULA F99 or its smaller sibling, the F75, are wireless models with very soft gasket mount designs. These keyboards are typically a bit less expensive than the Keychron V5 Max and are great alternatives if you like a very cushioned typing feel. Their plastic cases do feel cheaper, and they don't perform quite as well for gaming. The buying experience can also be a bit confusing and inconsistent with small variations in switch options, colorways, or even case designs, depending on what retailer you're buying from.
See our review - Epomaker TH80 Pro: The Epomaker TH80 Pro is a great alternative to the ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 if you want something larger with dedicated arrow keys and a function row. It also offers better gaming performance and a slightly better typing experience with higher-quality PBT keycaps. The downside is that it's typically quite a bit more expensive, and its PBT keycaps don't have shine-through legends. See our review
Recent Updates
Oct 29, 2025:
Since the Corsair K70 RGB TKL is no longer available at a budget price, we've replaced it with the Corsair K70 Core, which has a very similar feature set, along with the Corsair K65 PRO MINI as our new 'Best Budget Mechanical Keyboard For Gaming' picks.
Jun 27, 2025:
We've replaced the Razer Huntsman Mini with the Corsair K70 RGB TKL as our Budget Gaming pick. We've also added the Corsair K70 CORE to the Notable Mentions section as a full-size, slightly more affordable alternative.
Mar 17, 2025:
We've verified that our recommendations are available and represent the best choices. We've also made small edits for clarity and concision.
Dec 16, 2024:
We've verified the price and availability of all our picks. While we haven't made any changes to our primary lineup, we've added the AULA F99/F75 to our list of Notable Mentions, which replaces the HyperX Alloy Origins 60.
Sep 17, 2024: We've reviewed all our picks and confirm they remain the best options in terms of price, relevance, and availability. As a result, our lineup remains unchanged.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best mechanical keyboards at a budget price point for most people. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our mechanical keyboard reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no keyboard is perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.