It is essential to get the right gaming keyboard, as it has a lot to do with getting the right feel while you are playing. Plus, most gaming fans don’t just play one game. One day you might be enjoying World of Warcraft, while other days you might be glued to a game of Call of Duty – so you need a keyboard that you love for all of these purposes.

Benefits of a Gaming Keyboard

Most gaming keyboards have mechanical switches. These switches give a different feel compared to a non-mechanical keyboard. These types of switches are specially designed to provide a superior audio and tactile feedback. There are a few gaming keyboards, which have silicone dome switches. These types of keyboards generally require a full press of the keystroke which can slow down the speed at which the commands are processed. Due to this, many gamers prefer the feel of mechanical keyboards.

Second, mechanical keyboards are build to last. They are designed to last longer compared to rubber-dome keyboards. Many people consider buying a mechanical keyboard a good investment due to the fact that they usually hold up better in the long run.

Next, most gaming keyboards on the market offer some exclusive features, like macro command customization and dedicated macro keys. Some of the advanced gaming keyboards, even offer features like a touch screen display, text and audio communication and stat tracking. These exclusive features can give you an edge in the game of your choice or even help you be more productive while working.

List Criteria

• Even if it is only a few hours, we look at our personal experience with the keyboard. We try to judge the overall performance, ergonomics, software, and styling.
• Since we only get a limited time with each keyboard, we consider gamer reviews from top sites like Amazon and Newegg.
• For this list, we consider the price to performance ratio.
• We look at the raw specs including the key technology / switch type, connectivity, N-Key rollover, size, etc.

Best Budget Gaming Keyboards Under $100

Many people have the idea that high quality gaming keyboards are always expensive. But, that is not necessarily the case. You just have to do a little bit of research and you can easily get yourself a great gaming keyboard for a great price. In this post, we are looking at a few of the best budget gaming keyboards under $100.

Razer BlackWidow TE Chroma v2 TKL Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

The Razer BlackWidow is one of the top selling mechanical keyboards in the world. This keyboard has the latest Razer mechanical switches that have been specially designed with the goal of improving the speed and responsiveness of any key press. These mechanical switches have been tested and validated by some of the world’s top e-Sports gamers. This keyboard is very durable as well. According to Razer, this keyboard can withstand sixty million keystrokes. This keyboard also comes with highly useful Razer Synapse software. This intuitive software helps the gaming keyboard to automatically sync to a cloud server, so that it can download driver and firmware updates and also save your individual settings. It even allows you to sync any custom settings and macros automatically. The Razer BlackWidow, which currently is priced right around $90, is considered by many pro gamers as one of the best keyboards under $100.

Logitech K845 Mechanical Illuminated Keyboard

This keyboard has been beautifully crafted and is a bit on the simpler side compared to some other gaming keyboards on the market. However, don’t let that fool you. This keyboard feels great to type on and the ergonomics are top-notch. The K845 keyboard has a durable aluminum design and is well illuminated. It currently has a 4.6/5 rating on Amazon with over 2,700 ratings and comes in close to $60. Overall, the Logitech keyboard offers a simplistic, yet solidly designed keyboard that is great for gaming and work alike.

Redragon K552 KUMARA LED Backlit Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

The Redragon K552 is a top budget gaming keyboard. It is well under $50 and has a great 4.5/5 star rating with an astonishing 37K ratings on Amazon. It is a mechanical keyboard and is very durable which makes it ideal for gamers, typists, and programmers. The Redragon also comes standard with a number of programmable macro keys. It is quite responsive and It lights up for those who like visuals on your gaming peripherals. Overall, it is tough to find a keyboard with a better cost for quality ratio than the Redragon K552.

SteelSeries Apex 5 Hybrid Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

SteelSeries is a company that specializes in gaming peripherals. This gaming keyboard has been designed in such a manner that it can react extremely fast, provide top-notch comfort and even customize your gaming experience. Many users believe that the Apex 5 has one of the best feels when typing. This keyboard offers a ton of small features that add up to make a big difference. For example, it has a volume control nob and media buttons such as play/pause.  It also has an absolutely beautiful lit-up base with each key being lit up. This keyboard has an amazing 4.7/5 rating on Amazon with over 8,500 reviews.

If you are interested in gaming peripherals, you may also be interested in some of the best gaming mice on the market for under $50.

Know of another great gaming keyboard under $100? Let me know in the comments!