A good keyboard doesn't necessarily mean an expensive one. We've bought and tested over 280 keyboards and narrowed our recommendations down to the best budget and cheap models available. These keyboards offer a reliable build quality and a satisfying typing experience for various uses, all without breaking the bank.
The keyboard models below use either rubber dome or mechanical switches. For a refresher on how these switch types differ, see our mechanical vs membrane keyboards article. If you're only interested in options with mechanical switches, check out our best budget mechanical keyboards article instead. Or, if you're looking specifically for a gaming keyboard with a low price point, see our article for the best budget gaming 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 Keyboard
GamingOfficeMobile/TabletProgrammingEntertainment / HTPCRaw PerformanceSize:Full-size (100%)Connectivity:WirelessSee all our test resultsBluetooth Multi-Device Pairing:The Logitech Signature K650 is our recommendation for the best budget keyboard for most people. You can connect this wireless keyboard via Bluetooth or with the included USB receiver. Depending on your daily usage, a pair of AA batteries can power this board for up to 36 months. This keyboard uses quiet rubber dome switches, making it a great choice that won't bother others in shared workspaces, dorm rooms, or home offices.
It has a sturdy plastic body, and unlike more expensive mechanical options, there aren't any exposed moving parts, which means it's more resistant to minor spills or food crumbs if you often find yourself eating or drinking in front of your computer. It also offers good built-in ergonomic features, including a built-in palm rest, low-profile keycaps, and feet that provide two incline settings. These features ensure you can type on this keyboard without angling your wrists too sharply, which can help keep you comfortable, especially when typing for long stretches.
It's a full-size keyboard board, so not only does it have all the keys you need, including a numpad, but there's plenty of space between keys. The keycaps also have rounded tops, making it easier to differentiate between keys by feel, which can help you type faster and avoid typos.
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Best Budget Mechanical Keyboard
GamingOfficeMobile/TabletProgrammingEntertainment / HTPCRaw PerformanceSize:Compact (96%)Connectivity:WirelessSee all our test resultsBluetooth Multi-Device Pairing:The AULA F99 is our budget mechanical keyboard pick, and it offers a lot of value for the price. One of its main perks is its gasket-mounted design, which delivers a soft, cushioned typing feel that many people love. You should know, however, that it leans very soft, so if you prefer the firmer, more direct feedback of a traditional tray-mounted keyboard, it might not be for you. Despite the low price, it's well-built, with high-quality PBT keycaps that feel great under your fingers. The plastic chassis feels a bit cheap, but it's still well-assembled, and a foam layer inside the case helps it avoid the hollow sound signature common in budget plastic keyboards. It actually produces a surprisingly pleasing sound straight out of the box. The hot-swappable PCB lets you swap switches without soldering, so experimenting with your build later down the line is easy. You can also connect wirelessly via Bluetooth or the included 2.4GHz receiver.
The weakest part of the package is software support. The configuration software feels unintuitive and still lags behind more established brands, though you can still customize everything you need for shortcuts and backlighting. If you don't need a full-size layout with a numpad, the AULA F75 is worth a look instead. It's more compact and usually costs a bit less.
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Best Budget Gaming Keyboard
GamingOfficeMobile/TabletProgrammingEntertainment / HTPCRaw PerformanceSize:Full-size (100%)Connectivity:WiredSee all our test resultsBluetooth Multi-Device Pairing:The Corsair K70 CORE is the best budget gaming keyboard we've tested. It offers excellent gaming performance, combining outstanding responsiveness and a solid build quality. The chassis is made of plastic and aluminum, providing good rigidity and minimal deck flex. Corsair offers the K70 CORE in both full-size and TKL (TenKeyLess) layouts. The TKL version removes the number pad to provide extra room for your mouse, which is perfect for FPS players or anyone with limited desk space. The Corsair MLX Red linear switches used are lightweight and have a short pre-travel distance, making them ideal for fast-paced, reaction-heavy games. The 1000Hz polling rate may not be as high as the 8000Hz rates found on some newer boards, but in practice, that difference is barely noticeable. The switches are soldered, so they cannot be swapped later if you want to refresh he keyboard's feel down the line. The RGB lighting, combined with the clear key legends, makes it very easy to use this keyboard even in darker conditions.
If you're looking for something even more compact, the Corsair K65 RGB MINI is a fantastic alternative. It uses a 60% layout that also removes the function row and the arrow keys. This model pushes performance further with an 8000Hz polling rate and near-instant latency. While you won't be able to notice the benefit of these higher polling rates, it does help produce slightly lower and more consistent latency, which can still make a marginal but measurable difference if you play at a very high competitive level.
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Best Cheap Keyboard
GamingOfficeMobile/TabletProgrammingEntertainment / HTPCRaw PerformanceSize:TenKeyLess (75%)Connectivity:WirelessSee all our test resultsBluetooth Multi-Device Pairing:The Keychron B33/B36 keyboards are our pick if you're looking for a cheap keyboard. They're available in full-size and TKL versions, depending on your needs. These keyboards use deep scissor switches that are comfortable and quiet. While they don't provide quite the same tactility as a mechanical keyboard, the switches offer a 3.5 mm travel that helps approximate a mechanical keyboard experience. It's a sort of middle ground between mechanical switches and a more standard scissor switches. They also support wireless connectivity and can even achieve low-latency numbers that'd be totally suitable for the occasional gaming session.
If you're looking for a more easily portable option, the Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s is another great option. This wireless keyboard's standout feature is its slim, compact design, making it easy to slip into bags or laptop cases for on-the-go use. It's also a great fit for smaller workspaces, leaving more space for your mouse and other essentials on your desk. This keyboard uses AAA batteries and connects via Bluetooth, allowing you to pair up to three devices simultaneously and switch between them with hotkeys. Using the configuration software, you can create custom profiles, remap shortcuts, and even create macros. That said, the somewhat unusual circular-shaped keycaps and tighter key spacing can take a bit of getting used to at first. Also, this keyboard's compact layout means it gives up some of the keys found on standard full-size boards, including dedicated arrow keys and a numpad.
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Best Cheap Gaming Keyboard
GamingMobile/TabletOfficeProgrammingEntertainment / HTPCSize:TenKeyLess (80%)Connectivity:WiredSee all our test resultsBluetooth Multi-Device Pairing:Many gaming keyboards come with steep price tags, so finding a great unit at a lower price can take time and effort. For a cheaper option, we recommend the SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL. This keyboard has a compact TenKeyLess form factor, which means it lacks a traditional numpad but still has dedicated arrow keys and a function row. While our best budget gaming pick, the Corsair K70 CORE, uses mechanical switches, this keyboard uses rubber dome switches. Rubber dome switches are significantly quieter, and they're a bit more resistant to minor spills and debris. That said, they don't quite offer the same high-end performance.
Speaking of which, the overall latency performance on this keyboard is higher than on more premium options, so it isn't a great fit for high-level competitive play. Still, it's more than suitable for casual gaming in any genre. It also has some surprising extra features normally found on more expensive options, including a volume wheel and the ability to set macros to any key. It also has RGB lighting with eight separate zones you can customize using the companion software. If you're interested in a full-size alternative with a numpad, there's a full-size version of this board called the SteelSeries Apex 3. The full-size version is typically a bit more expensive; however, it includes a wrist rest for added comfort.
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Best Cheap Keyboard For Mobile Devices
GamingOfficeMobile/TabletProgrammingEntertainment / HTPCRaw PerformanceSize:Full-size (100%)Connectivity:WirelessSee all our test resultsBluetooth Multi-Device Pairing:If you work off iPads, tablets, or even your mobile phone, we recommend the Logitech K585. It's a low-profile unit with a built-in device tray so you can prop your mobile devices up at a nice viewing angle. While its price can vary, it offers great value when it's around $35 USD. The K585 connects via Bluetooth or the included USB receiver, supports pairing with up to two devices, and lets you switch between them easily using keys on the F-row. It's powered by two AAA batteries that can last up to two years before needing replacement.
The keyboard uses scissor switches, offering a laptop-like typing experience. These switches are also extremely quiet, making the keyboard ideal for shared spaces. However, like many budget keyboards, it has some drawbacks. The switches feel slightly mushy, the keycaps are made of lower-quality ABS plastic, and there's no adjustable incline. The compact arrow key layout may feel cramped if you rely on it heavily for your workflow. Lastly, while it's quite slim, the full-size layout gives it a larger footprint than many keyboards designed for mobile devices. This can be a benefit if you need a numpad, but it also makes the K585 less portable than smaller options, like the Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s. Still, it's a reliable and affordable choice, making it a great companion for your mobile devices.
Notable Mentions
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Keychron B1/B6 Pro:
The full-size Keychron B6 Pro or its smaller, more portable sibling, the Keychron B1 Pro, are wireless models with low-profile designs. They're typically around the same price as the Keychron B33/B36 and are great alternatives if you want a keyboard that takes up less desk space and has shorter keystroke travel. However, they don't provide quite the same tactile feedback.
See our review -
Logitech G213 Prodigy:
The Logitech G213 Prodigy is an older gaming keyboard, but it's a full-size model typically available for around $50 USD. It offers significantly better raw gaming performance than the typically less expensive SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL. However, its build quality feels a bit cheaper, and its backlighting is zone-lit, so you can't individually customize the RGB on a per-key basis.
See our review -
Dell KB216:
If you're looking for the cheapest possible option, the Dell KB216 is a good no-frills choice alternative to the Keychron B33/B36. While the keys do feel mushy, the low-profile design means you don't have to angle your hands too sharply to reach all the keys. It's also very quiet, making it a great choice for an office setting where you may be sensitive to bothering those around you.
See our review -
MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra:
If your budget allows it and you're not intimidated by the high level of customization available, the MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra is an outstanding budget gaming keyboard alternative to Corsair K70 CORE. It's really well-built with exceptionally good performance and a very feature-rich software.
See our review
Recent Updates
Mar 30, 2026:
The Aula F99/F75 replaces the Keychron C1 Pro/C2 Pro as our new 'Best Budget Mechanical Keyboard,' and the Keychron B33/B36 are our new cheap keyboard picks, with the Logitech Pebble Keys 2 serving as a smaller alternative. We also removed the office keyboard pick and put the Dell XB216 and the MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra as Notable Mentions.
Nov 06, 2025:
Since the Corsair K70 RGB TKL is no longer available at a budget price, we have replaced it with the Corsair K70 Core, along with the Corsair K65 RGB MINI, as our new 'Best Budget Gaming Keyboard.' We also added the Keychron C1 Pro/C2 Pro as our pick for 'Best Budget Mechanical Keyboard.' It provides great all-around performance and typing quality at an accessible price point.
Jul 07, 2025:
Replaced the Razer Huntsman Mini with the Corsair K70 RGB TKL as recent price drops have made it a better budget pick overall. Added the Aula F99/F75 as a Notable Mention.
Apr 10, 2025:
We've removed the Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard from our list of Notable Mentions, as it has been discontinued. We've reviewed the rest of our picks and haven't made any other changes at this time.
Jan 10, 2025:
We've added the Logitech K585 as our new 'Best Cheap Mobile' recommendation since our previous pick, the Keychron K480, is discontinued, and the remaining stock is hard to find at the right price. We've also added the Keychron B1/B6 Pro to our list of Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best budget and cheap keyboards 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 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.