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 the Gamepad Tester app from Hardware Tester 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 we’ve put each and every device to the test.
Our current pick for the best PC gaming controller is the GameSir Kaleid. This excellent pad may only be stressed, but that doesn’t matter as it costs less than $50 and has Hall effect triggers that are a pleasure to use. If you need the most productive budget 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 sophisticated yet affordable pad that has rear paddles, hall effect sensors and hair triggers and ll for under 50 bucks. It looks fantastic and has a long cable to accommodate for couchplay. Its lightweight design also feels great.
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The HyperX Clutch Gladiate is a stressed controller that comes with a 10-foot cable. There are two programmable recoil buttons and they also block faster shots in FPS games.
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Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra is one of the most productive third-party professional controllers in use. It can be expensive, but it uses high-quality components, such as Hall 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 flaws with a virtually free customization technique. Although it faces a tough festival in the PC market, it 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 expert review:
The wired Xbox-oriented GameSir Kaleid improves on its predecessor, the T4 Kaleid, with a sleeker design, a longer included cable and support for Xbox Series X/S. Right now, it’s my pick as the best PC game controller you can buy.
However, not everything has changed and GameSir has incorporated the T4’s most productive features 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 precise control of both.
The Kaleid also has microswitch buttons (although a slightly less expensive membrane 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 rear paddles, which the Kaleid looks the part. Best of all, everything is only $49, making Kaleid an option for Xbox and/or PC users on a budget.
The Kaleid is only stressed, so you need to connect it directly to your PC or console. It’s also very lightweight, which may not be your preference. However, these are minor bugs and don’t do much to mess up this fantastic controller.
Read our full review of Gamesir Kaleid.
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 do it. worry about charging it. The HyperX Clutch Gladiate is the newest PC controller from PC accessory maker HyperX and offers plenty of pro-grade features for just $35.
On the back of the HyperX Clutch Gladiate, locate two remappable rear buttons and 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 pro controller you will likely use for years. This is due to its anti-drift thumbsticks, microswitch buttons and the included hard-shell case for safer charging and storage.At $200, the Turtle Beach Steal Ultra is expensive. However, it’s in a league of its own among other pro controllers as it’s the only one that can connect to the Xbox Series X/S wirelessly, albeit with a dongle. While the Command Display in its center may seem like a gimmick, you can use it to fully customize the controller’s functionality, RGB lighting and fine-tune the audio coming from your headset, unlike with the OLED screen on the Asus ROG Rakiri Pro.
Based on our experience using the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra on both Xbox and PC, we wouldn’t be surprised if its release has pushed forward Microsoft’s plans for the inevitable Elite Series 3 controller. This controller may be expensive but you get what you pay for and then some. The Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra has earned its place among the best Xbox controllers as well as the best PC controllers and it will be interesting to see other controller manufacturers try to top it.
Read our full review of the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra.
Our opinion:
At $100, the PowerA Ops V3 Pro is the ideal pro controller for PC gamers on a budget. Supplied with rubber grips, textured guards and triggers, tactical mechanical buttons, six remappable buttons (four on the back, two on the top) and, most importantly, Hall effect joysticks and triggers to save stick 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 2.4 GHz adapter. It also supports Bluetooth but many gamers prefer the low latency that you get when using a USB dongle instead. To keep the price down though, the OPS v3 Pro doesn’t come with a carrying case.
Another thing PowerA is known for is their Lumectra RGB lighting. These integrated RGB lighting devices are located around the OPS V3 Pro and, as with the rear buttons and the two additional remappable buttons on the 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 expert review:
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, albeit 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 festival in the PC market, going up against recent heavyweights like the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra, which benefits from more tactile microswitches and drift-free Hall-effect analog sticks. But the battlepad and modularity of the Victrix Pro BFG would possibly make it more useful for some gamers.
Overall, the appeal of the Pro BFG will vary depending on the platform: for PC, this is more specialized advice that caters exclusively to its modularity. For the PS5, its long battery life, paddles, and modularity make it much warmer advice. .
Read our full PDP Victrix Pro BFG review.
Our expert review:
The Razer Wolverine V3 Pro is the ultimate premium controller for Xbox and PC. Just as comfortable and capable, Wolverine offers everything for players of other skill levels, with plenty of features you can customize. This is for other people who need another design of the popular Xbox controller that maintains the most productive aspects of this device.
The Wolverine V3 Pro features Hall Effect triggers and thumbsticks, ensuring maximum performance and durability. The premium build, with its lightly textured plastic and grippy texture on the back, not only looks great but also feels good in your hands. The Wolverine strikes a perfect balance between lightness and quality, especially compared to other third-party controllers we’ve tested.
The responsive switches work like a dream, no matter what game being played. In a fighting game like Guilty Gear Strive, we noticed a greater improvement in functionality, which gave us a merit in the games. The switches give you the confidence to hit the right inputs for combos, making you feel like you have more control.
There are some drawbacks, however. Holding the controller might take some time to get used to due to the prominent back buttons that force you to hold the controller in a specific (and perhaps unnatural) way. The hefty $200 asking price is pretty extreme, even compared to other expensive “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 Razer Wolverine V3 Pro review.
8BitDo Pro 2: $34 @ AmazonThe 8BitDo Pro 2 is a great option if you’re coming from PS5 or PS4 and need a PC gamepad with symmetrical joysticks. However, it is also suitable for older platforms and titles as its D-pad and buttons line up.
GameSir G7 SE: $44 @ AmazonThe G7 SE is a great controller, featuring Hall Effect analog triggers and thumbsticks for a vital accuracy boost. Nifty back paddles and an impressive level of customization within the companion app put the gamepad ahead of first-party controllers. Keep in mind, though, that the controller is wired only, which is one of the few downsides versus the competition.
GameSir Tarantula Pro: $69 @ AmazonBoasting the latest TMR thumbstick sensors, with a unique rotating face button that works literally like clockwork, the GameSir Tarantula Pro leads the way when it comes to PC and Switch controllers. The only thing holding the controller back are its bland appearance, somewhat subpar construction and confusing shortcuts that affect user-friendliness.
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 — Core (White): was $114 now $110 @ AmazonAll the great features of the original Xbox Elite Series 2 controller, without such a high price tag. You may skip out on all the extra components, but the Xbox Elite Series 2 Core controller offers the same level of customization and adaptability, complete with an internal battery and rubberized grip. All in a stunning two-tone design.
When it comes to opting for the most productive PC gaming controller for you, many points come into play and you need to ask yourself a few questions first.
To begin with, do you surely want a wireless controller or would a worn-out controller be suitable?Similarly, do you prefer 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” features that you can customize?Whether or not you want back buttons or back paddles is another thing to consider. And two will be enough or do you want four to be able to remap all the buttons on your Controller’s face to them?
Once you’ve answered those questions and thought carefully about what type of controller is most productive for you, the next thing you need to consider is the price. Controllers like the Xbox Series Elite 2 or DualSense Edge are much more expensive than the popular Xbox wireless controller, as well as third-party controllers from corporations like 8BitDo, GameSir, and HyperX.
At the same time, if joystick drift has been a factor for you in the past, then you’ll want a controller with Hall effect joysticks like the GameSir T4 Kaleid or the 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth. Connectivity is another main concern, especially if you prefer a wireless controller. While Bluetooth is arguably more convenient, it introduces a bit more lag than employing a controller that comes with a 2. 4 Ghz USB dongle. However, if delay is something you’re really worried about, then stress will be your most productive bet.
Fortunately, there are loads of different controllers on this list for every kind of PC gamer and every type of budget. We’re also constantly reviewing new models and trying out different kinds of controllers to build out this list further, so stay tuned.
When it comes to testing PC gaming controllers, we take a two-step approach.
First, we play with them ourselves and test them with a variety of games from other genres. This helps us determine how each driver will hold up over time and whether a specific driver is more likely to experience issues or other issues in the future. We also check all of its other connection features and see how well they work using a wireless or stressed connection or a USB dongle, if one is available.
From here, we then use Hardware Tester’s Gamepad Tester to check for errors with the joysticks and buttons. If a controller manufacturer has their own customization software, we load it onto one of the best gaming PCs and see how intuitive it is to use for button remapping and other types of customization like changing the dead zones on a controller’s joysticks. If there isn’t any customization software available, we use programs like reWASD to try 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 spare 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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