9 Best Budget Gaming Keyboards in 2020

Our first pick for today comes from Logitech. The G213 is a gaming keyboard which delivers advanced gaming-grade performance as it’s part of Logitech’s G Prodigy series. Even if this keyboard is relatively cheap, don’t let the “affordability” to blind you from the truth: the G213 is one of the company’s best sellers and for good reason, as it can be best described as “membrane for the masses” with RGB on top.

Even if you won’t get those glorified Cherry MX mechanical switches, this Logitech keyboard is pretty damn’ good, as it features Logitech ‘Mech-Dome’ switches and dedicated media controls, not to mention the fact that it’s spill-resistant (coffee anyone?) and boasts fully RGB backlit keys. Another thing we like about the G213 is that it weighs almost two pounds. You know that saying: heavy is good, heavy is reliable, if it doesn’t work, you can always hit your opponent with it.

Bottom line, if you’re on a tight budget, the Logitech G213 ticks all the important boxes and makes for a great gaming keyboard.

HyperX are known for crafting kick-ass gaming paraphernalia, and their budget Alloy Core RGB stands true to this “standard” of sorts, making for a silent and comfy, not to mention spill-resistant gaming keyboard. Considering the price-point, it’s pretty obvious that you won’t get high-end mechanical switches, as the Alloy Core RGB retails for around “fiddy bucks” give or take, but nevertheless, you’ll get a lot of bang for the proverbial “dolla” asked.

. To make it short and sweet, the HyperX Alloy Core RGB features a simple and clean design, and it comes with high-quality membrane keys, but truth be told, one of its main attributes is being very aesthetic. Basically, if you’re a fashion-conscious gamer on a tight budget, the Alloy Core RGB has your name on it, and even when it comes to performance, HyperX didn’t pull any punches with this budget gaming keyboard.

The membrane switches perform dubiously well, being highly responsive and accurate, and as far as entry-level gaming keyboards go, this is one of the best out there.

Next in line, we have the Razer Cynosa Chroma, which incidentally makes for the best-selling membrane gaming keyboard in the United States. And yes, that’s one of the reasons for which it made it on our best budget gaming keyboard list. Now, if you’re wondering why Americans are buying this gizmo in massive numbers, here’s a shortlist of reasons: first, it currently retails for about fifty bucks; and yes, we’re talking about a Razer gaming product, which is quite amazing. Next, it comes with individually backlit keys featuring customizable Chroma RGB lighting, along with a spill-resistant design and programmable macro functionality.

Are you sold yet? If not, check this out: the Razer Cynosa Chroma can execute up to 10 commands simultaneously as it features built-in ten-key rollover anti-ghosting. On top of that, the membrane switches support up to 80 million keystrokes, i.e. if durability is important in your book, the Cynosa Chroma has you covered in this regard.

SteelSeries is another big name in the gaming gear industry, and their Apex 150 RGB keyboard is proof of concept, i.e. if you’re looking for a relatively affordable (some may say dirt cheap) gaming keyboard with RGB lighting which is splash resistant and offers dedicated media control keys, well, this is it

Obviously, since we’re talking “fiddy dollars territory”, you can’t expect mechanical switches and high-end/premium materials, but the Apex 150 RGB really has it where it counts: quality membrane switches with 20 million clicks (guaranteed, so keep tabs on that) life-span, good tactile feel, fast reaction times and, very important for shared dormitories, quiet operation.

Next in line we have another interesting option, this time from Corsair, and yes, we’re talking about a cool looking budget gaming keyboard which currently retails for a tad under $50. To describe it in a few words, the CORSAIR K55 RGB punches way above its weight (in dollars), i.e. it offers features which are literally unexpected considering the price tag. Obviously, since we’re in $50 territory, the K55 RGB uses membrane switches, but they’re well implemented and whisper quiet.

Under the hood, you’ll discover 3 RGB lighting zones (there’s no per-key lighting this time, for cost-cutting reasons), but then again, this innovation is well implemented and the colors have a cool glow and manage to fill up space rather nicely. Despite being made of plastic, the K55 doesn’t feel or look cheap, as it’s sturdy and oozes quality. A nice touch from Corsair is the presence of six MACRO keys located on the left side, which can be programmed to execute/assign macros via the Cue software or even on-the-fly. There’s a dedicated button for that, a recording button respectively, placed at the top, and using it is super-easy.

With the Redragon K556 we’re entering uncharted territory, i.e. mechanical switches in a gaming keyboard which retails for just a bit over fifty bucks. It’s hard to believe, but the Redragon K556 managed to create a gaming keyboard featuring so-called mechanical brown switches and a high-quality aluminum base, not to mention RGB LED backlighting, at an impossibly low price-point. How did they do it? We have no idea, but at least on paper, the Redragon K556 sounds awesome.

How about real-life? Well, to begin with, the keyboard is pretty heavy and well built, and it’s backed by an 18-month manufacturer’s warranty, hence there are no unpleasant surprises in the workmanship department. The mechanical switches are the Chinese equivalent of the Cherry MX Brown, and truth be told, they’re surprisingly good. Overall, the K556 is a solid gaming keyboard, and offers quite a lot at an incredibly low price. Our advice is: definitely worth trying.

Here we come again with a relatively unknown company which boasts a hybrid mechanical gaming keyboard which retails for a lot less than $50. As its name suggests, the Cougar CORE EX is trying to fill the gap between cheap membrane switches and mechanical stuff via what’s been pompously marketed as hybrid mechanical switches. What’s that, you asked? Well, we don’t really know, but it sounds like the missing link or something.

How about real-life? Well, to begin with, the keyboard is pretty heavy and well built, and it’s backed by an 18-month manufacturer’s warranty, hence there are no unpleasant surprises in the workmanship department. The mechanical switches are the Chinese equivalent of the Cherry MX Brown, and truth be told, they’re surprisingly good. Overall, the K556 is a solid gaming keyboard, and offers quite a lot at an incredibly low price. Our advice is: definitely worth trying.

We’re only kidding, but truth be told, the Cougar CORE EX is an interesting gaming keyboard, which works surprisingly well in real-life scenarios, making for an affordable no-nonsense almost mechanical keyboard with great functionality, decent gaming performance and impressive manageability. Hell, you even get RGB lighting for under $40.

Today’s article would not have been complete without an in-house made Amazon product, hence here it comes: the AmazonBasics Mechanical Feel Gaming Keyboard. As far as inspired marketing goes, this product will definitely put a smile on your face, because after all, who can expect mechanical switches in a thirty dollar keyboard with AmazonBasics written all over it?

We’re just being mean, because this gaming keyboard is not bad at all, as it’s built to last and allows you to program custom macros via AmazonBasic’s proprietary gaming software. You also get dedicated MACRO keys, G1 to G5 respectively, and three mode keys, which means you’ll be able to use fifteen different macros. The switches feel pretty good and offer adequate tactile feedback, being rated at 10 million life cycles. On top of that, the AmazonBasics Mechanical Feel boasts its anti-ghosting technology, which allows you to press no less than nineteen keys at once.

Finally, the cherry on top so to speak, the keyboard features customizable backlighting, i.e. you can easily switch between three color profiles, provided that’s your thing.

Finally, we present you with another dirt-cheap mechanical keyboard. Obviously, VicTsing is a Chinese company which, amazingly enough, managed to hit the world with a mechanical keyboard that retails for a tad over thirty bucks. What do you get for that kind of money? Well, a gaming keyboard loaded with mechanical switches and red retro-illumination.

At this point, most of you are already sold and logging into their Amazon accounts, ready to order. But is it worth it? The short answer is: definitely maybe. For casual gaming, the VicTsing thing is more than adequate, having responsive keys and good tactile feedback. It’s pretty clear you won’t get MX Cherry switches for $30, but the Chinese alternatives are “bretty good”, to say the least.

The keyboard also comes with anti-fading/anti-ghosting technology, which comes handy for avid gamers, hence if you’re looking for an entry-level and very affordable mechanical keyboard, you can’t go wrong with VicTsing.