Best Mechanical Keyboards Under $100
The best budget mechanical keyboards for gaming, typing, and productivity. Hot-swappable options, wireless picks, and more.
You don't need to spend $200+ for a good mechanical keyboard. The sub-$100 market has gotten surprisingly competitive, with hot-swappable switches, wireless connectivity, and build quality that would've cost twice as much a few years ago.
Quick comparison
| Product | Switches | Layout | Connectivity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keychron Q1 HE | Hall Effect | 75% | Wired | $99 |
| Royal Kludge RK84 Pro | Gateron Brown | 75% | Tri-mode wireless | $69 |
| Keychron V3 Max | Gateron Jupiter Brown | 75% | Bluetooth + 2.4GHz | $89 |
| FL ESPORTS MK870 | Gateron Yellow | TKL | Wired | $54 |
| Redragon K556 Pro | Outemu Brown | Full-size | Bluetooth + Wired | $59 |
Best overall: Keychron Q1 HE
Keychron Q1 HE
Pros
- Hall effect switches — adjustable actuation
- Aluminum case
- Hot-swappable
- QMK/VIA programmable
Cons
- Wired only
- No included wrist rest
- Heavy at 1.7kg
Hall effect switches at $99 is kind of wild. The Q1 HE lets you adjust actuation points from 0.5mm to 3.8mm per key — hair-trigger for gaming, deeper throw for typing. The aluminum case gives it a feel that has no business being this good at the price.
Best wireless: Royal Kludge RK84 Pro
Royal Kludge RK84 Pro
Pros
- Tri-mode: Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Great battery life
- RGB backlighting
Cons
- Plastic case
- Software is clunky
- Stock stabilizers need tuning
For under $70, the RK84 Pro gives you three connectivity modes, hot-swappable switches, and solid battery life. Bluetooth works well for office use, the 2.4GHz dongle handles low-latency gaming. Hard to argue with what you get for the money.
Best budget: FL ESPORTS MK870
FL ESPORTS MK870
Pros
- Incredible value
- Hot-swappable
- Gasket mount at this price
- Pre-lubed stabilizers
Cons
- Wired only
- Basic software
- Limited color options
A gasket-mounted, hot-swappable keyboard for $54 would've been a joke a few years ago. The MK870 has become the default recommendation in keyboard communities for anyone starting out. The typing feel is genuinely good out of the box, which you really can't say about most keyboards at this price.
Best full-size: Redragon K556 Pro
Redragon K556 Pro
Pros
- Full-size with numpad
- Bluetooth + Wired
- Aluminum top plate
- Hot-swappable
Cons
- Outemu switches aren't top-tier
- Large footprint
- No 2.4GHz option
If you need a numpad (accounting, data entry, or just preference), the K556 Pro is the best full-size mechanical keyboard under $100. The aluminum top plate adds rigidity and the hot-swappable sockets let you upgrade switches later.
Mechanical switch guide
New to mechanical keyboards? Here's the short version:
- Linear (Red/Yellow): Smooth keypress, no bump or click. Preferred for gaming
- Tactile (Brown): Small bump at actuation point. Good all-rounder for typing and gaming
- Clicky (Blue): Audible click + tactile bump. Great for typing, annoying for everyone around you
- Hall Effect: Magnetic sensing, adjustable actuation. The future of gaming keyboards
What to look for under $100
- Hot-swappable sockets — Lets you change switches without soldering. Essential for customization
- Build quality — Aluminum cases feel premium; gasket mount improves sound and feel
- Connectivity — Wired is fine for desktop, but wireless is nice for clean setups
- Software support — QMK/VIA is gold standard for key remapping
- Stock stabilizers — Bad stabs ruin the spacebar feel. Look for pre-lubed options
The bottom line
The Keychron Q1 HE at $99 is my top pick — hall effect switches at this price is hard to beat. If you want wireless, the RK84 Pro at $69 is a lot of keyboard for the money. And on a tight budget, the FL ESPORTS MK870 at $54 is a safe bet.
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