PC gaming is a potentially expensive hobby, but it doesn't have to be. It's entirely 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 gaming keyboards you can get within that budget.
Silent but deadly
Bearing a famous name, the Blackwidow Lite 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 a 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.
Built to last
The K55 RGB Pro XT does a great job porting features from high-end keyboards, including IP42 water resistance, macro keys, detachable wrist rest, and individually-lit RGB keys. The low latency makes it a fantastic budget option for gaming, the rubber dome switches have decent feedback, and you can customize macros and lighting via Corsair's iCUE software. This full-size gaming keyboard doesn't miss out on much, and for what you're paying, you are getting a good value.
Low profile
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 of gaming, and the audible and tactile feedback you get with each press is a joy.
Speedy keys
If you're hunting for a super-fast gaming keyboard, the linear switches on the Apex M400 are just the ticket. Each switch has a low actuation point and force, and since linear switches lack the traditional bump, the result is incredible speed. The M400 also has 100% anti-ghosting and is entirely customizable through SteelSeries' companion software.
One-handed
When you're gaming, you don't necessarily need the whole keyboard, and that's where this excellent one-handed keypad comes in. It contains the main buttons you'll need for gaming and nothing else and even has options for various color Cherry MX mechanical switches. It's perfect, too, if you game on a laptop frequently, and is so small it's the ultimate in portable gaming keyboards.
Compact Keys
The KM360 is a basic, affordable mechanical keyboard. It doesn't have flashing colored lights, nor does it have an aggressive stylized design, but G.SKILL managed to make quite the keyboard at a low cost. It does away with the number pad to keep it compact and uses the superb Cherry MX Red switches for a great feel.
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.
Corsair's K55 RGB Pro XT is also a worthy alternative in this category, offering good build quality, great RGB backlighting, macro keys, and low latency. The fact that it is a full-size keyboard means it stands out just that little bit more, and you even get IP42 water resistance, allowing the keyboard to weather the occasional spill without any issue.
The BlackWidow Lite is also really well priced, just as is the SteelSeries Apex M400. SteelSeries keyboards are always excellent, and the Apex M400 packs great switches with a solid design, without going overboard on the LED lighting.
