The 5 Best Budget Mechanical Keyboards - Fall 2021 Reviews

The best budget mechanical keyboard that we've tested is the Logitech G413. This full-size gaming keyboard is versatile for other uses as well. Despite its low cost, it's still very well-made with a plastic frame and solid aluminum plate on top, so you shouldn't experience many issues with its build.

It's only available with proprietary Romer-G Tactile switches, which are light to press and have low pre-travel distance and good tactile feedback. Typing quality is good, and the keys are stable, but they can also feel a bit stiff and cause some fatigue after long periods of use. Click latency is very low, which is great for a responsive gaming experience. It has individually lit keys, but sadly it only has red backlighting, but at least you can still see your keys if you game in a dark room.

Unfortunately, even though you can reprogram the function keys, you can't reprogram any other key. That's somewhat expected for a cheap keyboard like this one, and at least the Logitech G HUB software is easy-to-use if you want to use it. Overall, this is the best cheap mechanical keyboard that we've tested.

The EVGA Z15 is the best mechanical keyboard under $100 that we've tested. It's a low-cost keyboard with a ton of features that makes it compete with more expansive models. It's full-size and comes with a comfortable wrist rest for good ergonomics, so you shouldn't feel fatigued during long gaming sessions.

It's available with linear Kailh Speed Silver and clicky Speed Bronze switches. The Bronze switches we tested have a short pre-travel distance, are light to press, and offer some tactile feedback, just not as much as other clicky or tactile switches. Click latency is low for a responsive gaming experience. You can reprogram and set macros to every key through the EVGA Unleash RGB, and it has full RGB backlighting with individually lit keys.

Unfortunately, the switches on our unit are too loud for a noise-sensitive environment, but the linear ones should be quieter. Also, the ABS keycaps are prone to shine, and the keys may feel too sensitive to some while typing, but it still provides a great typing experience. The keyboard is also hot-swappable, so you can put whichever compatible switches you prefer. Overall, it's one of the best budget mechanical keyboards we've tested.

The best wireless mechanical keyboard for less than $100 that we’ve tested is the Corsair K63 Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. It's versatile and has good ergonomics thanks to the included wrist rest and the adjustable incline setting. You can connect it with two different devices at the same time, either with the USB receiver or via Bluetooth, and you can easily switch between them directly on the keyboard.

It uses linear Cherry MX Red switches, which require some force to actuate and don’t offer any tactile feedback. The switches feel very responsive, and typing on it shouldn’t cause any fatigue. It also has a few extra features, like dedicated media keys and a Windows key lock, and although there aren’t any dedicated macro keys for MMO players, it's possible to reprogram any key.

Unfortunately, the build quality is only decent, as it’s entirely made out of plastic that feels a bit cheap. Also, there isn’t any onboard memory or cloud sync feature, so you can’t keep your customization settings when you switch devices. Note that this keyboard has blue backlighting only, so fans of RGB may be disappointed. That said, among all the wireless options we've tested, this is the best cheap mechanical keyboard.