The best PC game controllers are a great alternative to using the best gaming mouse and best gaming keyboards. This is especially true if you grew up playing on consoles and made the switch to PC. These controllers will be a natural fit.
To check PC gamepads, we use Hardware Tester’s Gamepad Tester app to make sure there are no inherent issues with a controller’s joysticks or buttons. We also reviewed a variety of games on those controllers. That means you can rest easy knowing that we’ve put each and every device to the test.
Our current pick for the most productive PC gaming controller is the GameSir Kaleid. This excellent pad may be wired only, but that doesn’t matter as it costs less than $50 and has Hall Effect drivers that are fantastic to use. If you need the most productive and affordable PC platform, check out the HyperX Clutch Gladiate, which offers smart build quality and programmable back buttons.
Whether you’re looking for a Pro controller or want something easier on your wallet, our top picks for the best PC controllers will help you choose your next gamepad.
A complicated yet affordable cushion with back paddles, Hall effect sensors, and hair activators, for less than $50. It has a look and a long cable to allow you to play on the couch. Its lightweight design is also comfortable to wear.
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The HyperX Clutch Gladiate is a stressed controller that comes with a 10-foot cable. There are two programmable back buttons and lock triggers for faster shooting in FPS games.
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Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra is one of the most productive third-party professional controllers in use. It may be expensive, but it uses high-quality components such as Hall effect sensors and microswitches. It also comes in a handy case.
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The PowerA OPS V3 Pro is designed especially for PC. In the past, PowerA made stressed professional controllers that worked on both Xbox and PC. Losing Xbox support, it now offers two professional wireless controllers with the OPS v3 Pro and the less expensive OPS v1.
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A brilliantly modular “pro” controller that makes up for its minor shortcomings with a genuinely freeform approach to customization. Though it faces stiff competition in the PC market, it truly shines on PS4/PS5.
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The Razer Wolverine V3 Pro is a sleek, comfortable, and high-performance controller for Xbox and PC. It has Hall-effect thumbs and sticks and premium construction. Use Razer’s mouse switches for facial actions, which are the real stars of the show.
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Our opinion:
The Xbox-oriented GameSir Kaleid improves on its predecessor, the T4 Kaleid, with a sleeker design, a longer included cable, and compatibility with Xbox Series X/S. Right now, it’s my pick for the most productive PC gaming controller. you can buy.
However, it’s not all updates and GameSir has incorporated the best features of the T4 into the new model, namely its Hall effect sensors. These magnetic sensors allow you to customize the sensitivity of the joysticks and triggers using the GameSir Nexus app, giving you exact control of both.
The Kaleid also has microswitch buttons (although a slightly less expensive diaphragm button edition is available, called the Kaleid Flux), which deserve to stand the test of time, even with heavy use. And no complex controller would be complete without the rear. palettes, which the Kaleid looks like it deserves. Best of all, everything is only $49, making the Kaleid a pick for Xbox and/or PC users on a budget.
The Kaleid is wired-only, so you’ll need to be plugged directly into your PC or console. It’s also super lightweight, which might not be to your preference. These are minor bugbears though, and don’t do much to spoil this fantastic controller.
Read our full Gamesir Kaleid review.
Our opinion:
Unlike a console, when you play on your PC, you’re probably sitting at your desk. For this reason, many PC gamers prefer stressed controllers over wireless controllers. A stressed controller will have less latency and you may not have to worry about charging it. The HyperX Clutch Gladiate is the newest PC controller from PC accessory maker HyperX and packs plenty of pro-grade features for just $35.
On the back of the HyperX Clutch Gladiate, locate two remappable back buttons as well as cause locks. The back buttons are easy to program and you can configure what they do on the controller instead of having to download some other app. The locks may not have as many settings as the Elite Series 2 or other pro-style drivers, but they allow you to cut the distance you need to pull the locks in half. The HyperX Clutch Gladiate is lightweight and comfortable to hold and also works on Xbox Series X/S.
Read our full review of the HyperX Clutch Gladiate.
Our opinion:
The Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra is a professional controller that will likely be used for years to come. This is due to its anti-drift levers, microswitch buttons, and the included hard case for safer charging and storage. At $200, the Turtle Beach Steal Ultra is expensive. However, it’s in a category of its own among other professional controllers because it’s the only one that can be wirelessly connected to the Xbox Series X/S, albeit with a dongle. While the control screen in the middle possibly looks like a gimmick, you can use it to fully customise controller functions, RGB lighting and adjust the audio coming from your headphones, unlike the Asus ROG Rakiri Pro’s OLED display.
Based on our delight with the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra on Xbox and PC, we wouldn’t be surprised if its release advances Microsoft’s plans for the inevitable Elite Series 3 controller. That controller is arguably expensive, but you get what you pay for and then some. The Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra has earned its position among the best Xbox controllers, as well as the best PC controllers, and it will be attractive to see other controller brands try to surpass it.
Read our complete Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra.
Our opinion:
At $100, the PowerA Ops V3 Pro is the perfect pro controller for PC gamers on a budget. It comes equipped with rubber grips, textured bumpers and triggers, tactical mechanical face buttons, six remappable buttons (four on the back, two on the top) and most importantly, Hall Effect thumbsticks and triggers to prevent stick drift and wear over time.
Like the TurtleBeach Steal Ultra, which costs twice as much, the OPS V3 Pro comes with a magnetic charging stand that you can use on its own, but it also has an extra USB slot for the included 2. 4GHz adapter. It also supports Bluetooth, but many gamers prefer the low latency you get with a USB dongle. However, to keep the price down, the OPS v3 Pro doesn’t come with a used case.
Another thing PowerA is known for is their Lumectra RGB lighting. These integrated RGB lighting fixtures are found around the OPS V3 Pro, and as with the rear buttons and the two additional remappable buttons on top, you can configure the controller’s RGB lighting using the LED button below. the one from the program on the back. There is also an app for your PC to control them. You also get a 3-way function lock on the rear, but in our testing we found that they didn’t work consistently when set to the highest setting. Still, you get a lot of features in a sleek, pro-style controller for just $100 with the PowerA OPS v3 Pro.
Read our full PowerA Ops V3 Pro review.
Our opinion:
The Victrix Pro BFG manages to deliver granular hardware-based customization for both PlayStation and PC, and will specifically appeal to competitive gamers for whom the lack of pleasing, if superfluous, haptics and noises is unlikely to be an issue. It may lack the elegance of the DualSense Edge, but it offers a more “professional” appeal than Sony’s premium PS5 controller.
Although most aspects of the Pro BFG are removable, it is not possible to purchase replacement analog sticks at the time of writing, unlike the DualSense Edge. Time will tell if the Pro BFG’s analog sticks are as prone to drift as the DualSense’s, but the lack of replacement parts turns out to be a missed opportunity.
The Victrix Pro BFG faces a tougher fest in the PC market, opposing recent heavyweights like the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra, which benefits from more tactile microswitches and drift-free Hall-effect analog sticks. But the Victrix Pro BFG’s battlefield and modularity will likely prove more useful to some players.
Overall, the Pro BFG’s appeal will vary by platform – for PC, this is a more specialized tip that exclusively addresses its modularity. For the PS5, its long battery life, paddles, and modularity make it a much warmer tip.
Read our full Victrix Pro BFG PDP.
Our opinion:
The Razer Wolverine V3 Pro is the ultimate premium controller for Xbox and PC. Equally comfortable and capable, Wolverine offers something for players of different skill levels, with plenty of features for you to make it your own. This is for other people who need a different design than the popular Xbox controller that maintains the most productive aspects of this device.
The Wolverine V3 Pro features Hall effect triggers and drivers, ensuring maximum functionality and durability. The premium construction, with its textured plastic and grippy texture on the back, not only looks wonderful, it also feels wonderful in your hands. The Wolverine strikes the best balance between lightness and quality, especially compared to other third-party drivers we’ve tested.
The responsive switches work like a dream no matter what game you’re playing. In a fighting game like Guilty Gear Strive, we noticed an increased performance boost which gave us an edge in matches. The switches make you feel confident you’re hitting the right inputs for combos, making you feel more in control.
However, there are some drawbacks. It can take a while to get used to holding the controller because of the prominent rear buttons that force you to hold the controller in a quick (and unnatural) manner. The $200 max selling value is pretty extreme, even compared to other beloved “Pro” controllers.
But if the asking price doesn’t put you off, the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro is one of the most productive premium PC controllers on the market.
Read our full review of the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro.
8BitDo Pro 2: $34 @ AmazonThe 8BitDo Pro 2 is a great choice if you’re coming from the PS5 or PS4 and want a PC game controller with symmetrical joysticks. However, it’s also a good fit for platformers and retro titles since its D-pad and face buttons line up.
GameSir G7 SE: $44 on Amazon The G7 SE is a wonderful controller, featuring analog Hall Effect triggers and joysticks for a major improvement in accuracy. Beautiful rear paddles and an impressive customization point in the pair’s app put the gamepad ahead of first-party controllers. However, keep in mind that the controller is only stressed, which is one of the few drawbacks compared to the competition.
GameSir Tarantula Pro: $69 @ Amazon Featuring the newest TMR controller sensors, with a unique rotary knob that literally works like a clock, GameSir Tarantula Pro leads the way in PC and Switch controllers. The only thing holding the controller back is its bland appearance, somewhat poor construction, and confusing shortcuts in terms of usability.
Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller – Core (White): Was $114 now $110 on Amazon All the wonderful features of the original Xbox Elite Series 2 controller, without such a hefty value tag. You can skip all the extra components, but the Xbox Elite Series 2 core controller offers the same point of customization and adaptability, with an internal battery and rubber grip. All in a striking two-tone design.
When it comes to choosing the most productive PC gaming controller for you, many points come into play and you should ask yourself a few questions first.
To begin with, do you surely want a wireless controller or would a stressed controller be suitable?Similarly, do you want an official Microsoft driver, or are you willing to try a third-party driver?Finally, is an inventory controller right for you, or do you prefer a controller with “professional” point features that you can customize?Whether or not you want back buttons or back paddles is another thing to consider. And will two be enough or do you want 4 to be able to remap all the front buttons on your controller?
Once you’ve answered these questions and thought long and hard about which kind of controller is right for you, the next thing you’re going to want to consider is price. Controllers like the Xbox Series Elite 2 or the DualSense Edge are much more expensive than the standard Xbox Wireless Controller as well as third-party controllers from companies like 8BitDo, GameSir and HyperX.
At the same time, if stick drift has been a problem for you in the past, then you’re going to want a controller with Hall Effect joysticks like the GameSir T4 Kaleid or the 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth. Connectivity is another big concern, especially if you prefer a wireless controller. While Bluetooth may be more convenient, it introduces a bit more lag than using a controller that comes with a 2.4 Ghz USB dongle. However, if lag is something you’re really worried about, then going wired will always be your best bet.
Fortunately, there are plenty of other controllers on this list for all types of PC players and all types of budgets. We’re also reviewing new models and looking for other types of controllers to expand this list even further, so stay tuned.
When it comes to testing the best PC game controllers, we take a two-step approach.
First off, we play with them ourselves and put them through the paces with a variety of games from different genres. This helps us determine how each controller will stand up over time and if a particular controller is likely to experience stick drift or other problems down the road. We also test out each of their different connection options and see how well they perform using a wired or wireless connection or a USB dongle if one is available.
From there, we use the Hardware Tester controller tester to check for errors with the joysticks and buttons. If a controller manufacturer has its own customization software, we load it into one of the gaming PCs and see how intuitive it is to use. button remapping and other types of customization, such as turning dead zones on a controller’s joysticks. If customization software is not available, we use systems like reWASD to check it and do it ourselves.
For information, see our How We Test Tom’s Guide page.
Tony is an IT editor at Tom’s Guide and covers laptops, tablets, Windows, and iOS. In his free time, Tony enjoys reading comic books, betting on video games, reading speculative fiction novels, and spending too much time on X/Twitter. His non-nerdy activities include attending Hard Rock/Heavy Metal concerts and going to bars in New York with friends and painting buddies. His work has been featured in publications such as Laptop Mag, PC Mag, and independent gaming sites.
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