Best Gaming Keyboards for Under $100 Windows Central 2019

PC gaming is a potentially expensive hobby, but it doesn't have to be. It's perfectly possible to work on a tight budget and still create an epic setup that'll give you thousands of hours of gaming bliss. This is true of keyboards, too. You can spend a fortune, but you don't have to. We set a limit of $100 and selected the best keyboards you can get within that budget.

Silent but deadly: Razer Blackwidow Lite

Staff favorite

Bearing a famous name, this mini Blackwidow is perfect for gamers who travel a lot or just those with a tighter budget. It lacks some of the bells and whistles of fuller keyboards, such as media keys and full RGB lighting, but where it matters most this is a proper Blackwidow. With Razer's orange switches you get superb feel and feedback without all the noise. The cable is removable and Razer even includes a bag of O rings to make the switches even quieter if you wish.

$75 at Amazon

Low profile: HAVIT HV-KB395L

This affordable keyboard is a delight to type on. HAVIT opted to go with low-profile Kailh Blue switches, which are like Cherry MX Blue but have a much shorter travel and actuation — it feels as though you're typing on a premium laptop. It's also rather capable at gaming, and the audible and tactile feedback you get with each press is a joy.

$70 at Amazon

Well built: HyperX Alloy FPS Pro

With steel construction, the Alloy is going to take all of the gaming-related hammerings you can throw at it while the Cherry MX Red switches provide great feel. You get 100 percent anti-ghosting, which means you'll never miss a crucial moment. FPS fans, in particular, will love the optional textured keycaps because keeping your fingers where it matters can be the difference between a W and an L. There's also a tenkeyless version if you want something more compact.

$80 at Amazon

Middle ground: Razer Ornata Chroma

The Ornata Chroma is a mecha-membrane keyboard, which means it's not fully mechanical or membrane. It uses an innovative switch that combines the tactile feel of a mechanical keyboard with the soft, quieter effects of a membrane one. It's a delight to both type and game on, it's full-sized, comes with Chroma and Razer's soft cushioned wrist rest, and is superbly priced.

$75 at Amazon

Great value: Corsair K63

Corsair is a name you can trust and even when the price goes down the quality does not. The K63 has Cherry MX Red switches and a tenkeyless layout for a compact gaming keyboard with superb feel. Each key has an individual red LED backlight; you also get built-in dedicated media controls and 100% anti-ghosting with full key rollover. And don't forget the Windows key lock — we always love to have one of those.

$50 at Amazon

Spill proof: VicTsing Gaming Keyboard

You might have never heard of this brand, but it actually makes some good keyboards at crazy low prices, and this one is no exception. It's a full-sized layout with an integrated wrist rest, and, if you like to drink coffee while you game, never fear since it's also spillproof. You also get full N-key rollover, 100% anti-ghosting, and a red mechanical switch for a satisfying click while you frag away.

$34 at Amazon

If we had to choose...

Right now, the Razer BlackWidow Lite is one of our favorite keyboards at any price. The Razer orange switches are a delight to type and game on, with a nice tactile bump without the loud click. It's compact, so great for the traveling gamer, has a detachable cable, and thanks to the neat trick of Hypershift, you can add custom functions and macros to any key on it.

The BlackWidow Lite is also really well priced, just as is the Corsair K63. Corsair keyboards are always excellent, and the K63 packs great switches with a compact design, without going overboard on the LED lighting.

The VicTsing mechanical keyboard is also well worth consideration. We've long been impressed by the quality this affordable brand offers in its gaming hardware, and the addition of enough waterproofing to save it from drowning under a cup of coffee is certainly enough to make us take notice.
