Remember when getting a decent mechanical keyboard meant shelling out over a hundred bucks? Well, times have certainly changed! In 2025, the value you can find in the budget mechanical keyboard space is absolutely mind-blowing. Seriously, keyboards that would have cost a small fortune just three years ago are now available for less than a pizza night.
Finding the right keyboard without emptying your wallet can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. That’s where this list comes in! We’ve sifted through some amazing options to bring you five fantastic mechanical keyboards, all under the $50 mark. Get ready to discover some incredible boards that prove you don’t need to spend big to type happy!
1. Womier VK66
- Price: $29.99
- Main feature: 65% gasket-mount, hot-swappable
- Why it stands out: Insanely affordable entry point, great base for modding.
The Womier VK66 kicks things off with a price tag that’s almost too good to be true. For just over $30, you get a compact 65% layout keyboard featuring a gasket-mounted design. This gives it a pleasant, bouncy feel while typing, something many enthusiasts love. It comes with Content Linear Red switches, which are budget-friendly and a bit scratchy since they’re unlubed, but the board is fully hot-swappable (3 and 5-pin), making it a fantastic platform if you plan to upgrade switches later.
You also get decent Cherry profile PBT keycaps with some fun accent colors, surprisingly bright (though fixed color) RGB lighting, two-stage adjustable feet, and even a Mac/Windows compatibility switch. While the plastic case is light and the stabilizers are a bit rattly out of the box, the VK66 offers unbelievable value and modding potential for beginners.
2. Keychron C3 Pro
- Price: $44.99
- Main feature: TKL gasket-mount with QMK/VIA support
- Why it stands out: Unbeatable software customization via QMK/VIA at this price point.
Stepping up slightly in price and size, the Keychron C3 Pro offers a Tenkeyless (TKL) layout, which is a favorite for many balancing desk space and functionality. Like the Womier, it’s gasket-mounted (with even a bit more bounce) and housed in plastic, but it feels more solid and includes better sound dampening with foam between the plate/PCB and in the case bottom. The keycaps are shine-through ABS in an OEM profile, which is practical for typing in the dark, though the backlight is red only.
The real game-changer here is the QMK/VIA compatibility – being able to fully remap keys and create macros using this powerful open-source software is unheard of at this price. While the Keychron K Pro Red switches are decent and smooth enough, note that this version is not hot-swappable. If software customization is your priority, the C3 Pro is an amazing pick.
3. Monsgeek Fun60 Pro
- Price: $34.99
- Main feature: 60% with Akko Magnetic Switches & 8000Hz polling
- Why it stands out: Packed with high-end gaming features for an incredibly low price.
Gamers on a budget, listen up! The Monsgeek Fun60 Pro delivers features usually found on keyboards costing triple its price. This 60% board boasts an 8000Hz polling rate for near-instantaneous inputs and Akko Glare Magnetic switches. These switches allow for incredible customization via web-based software, including setting custom actuation points (from 0.1mm to 3.4mm) and enabling features like Rapid Trigger – perfect for competitive gaming.
The build quality feels surprisingly good, aided by an aluminum top plate, and the PBT shine-through keycaps look clean. It’s even hot-swappable (though only compatible with other Akko magnetic switches). Add in great RGB and decent stabilizers, and you have a performance-focused gaming keyboard that offers stunning value.
4. Ajazz AK820
- Price: $48.99
- Main feature: 75% gasket-mount with metal knob & premium feel/sound
- Why it stands out: Feels and sounds remarkably like a much more expensive custom keyboard right out of the box.
The Ajazz AK820 is where things start feeling seriously premium. This 75% layout keyboard includes a satisfying metal volume knob and feels impressively hefty and well-built. Ajazz went all-out on sound dampening here, packing in foam between the plate/PCB, a PET film layer, an IXPE switch pad, and foam plus thick silicone in the bottom case.
Combined with the included Ajazz Sea Salt Purple switches (smooth, pre-lubed linears with a light 40g actuation) and thick PBT OEM profile keycaps, the result is an incredibly pleasant, deep, and marbly sound signature usually reserved for expensive custom builds. The stabilizers are also exceptionally well-tuned from the factory. It’s hot-swappable, has great RGB, and simply delivers an outstanding typing experience for under $40.
5. Kisnt KN85
- Price: $49.99
- Main feature: Fully wireless (Tri-mode) compact TKL with premium sound/feel
- Why it stands out: The ultimate value package, offering wireless freedom, fantastic switches, and top-tier sound just under $50.
Rounding out our list is the Kisnt KN85, arguably the most feature-packed board here and an absolute steal. This compact TKL (similar layout to the Ajazz AK820, just without the knob) boasts full tri-mode wireless connectivity: connect via low-latency 2.4GHz USB dongle (with onboard storage!), Bluetooth, or wired USB-C. The build quality is excellent, using thick, high-quality plastic in a gasket-mounted design. It shares a similar multi-layered dampening setup as the AK820 (including poron and silicone), leading to a fantastic sound profile.
It comes equipped with outstandingly smooth BSUN pre-lubed linear switches, thick Cherry profile PBT keycaps, and great stabilizers. It’s hot-swappable and features bright, customizable RGB. Getting this level of build quality, sound, feel, features, and tri-mode wireless for under $50 is simply incredible.
So there you have it – five mechanical keyboards under $50 that punch way above their weight class in 2025! It’s truly an amazing time to get into mechanical keyboards without needing a huge budget. Each of these offers something special, proving that great features and a satisfying typing experience are more accessible than ever.
What do you think of these budget champions? Do you have a favorite budget mechanical keyboard that didn’t make the list? Share your thoughts and recommendations in the comments below – let’s help everyone find their perfect typing companion!
