Streaming is a great way to earn money on the side. It’s also an exciting activity that can be done from home, at work, or even while on vacation. One of the best ways to stream well is using a keyboard designed specifically for streaming. Here are some of the top keyboards for streaming in 2023!
If you’ve ever used a streaming keyboard before, then you know that they are more versatile than your typical wired or wireless keyboards. They can be plugged into any device with an HDMI port and offer a comfortable experience – whether it’s for gaming, typing long documents, or watching movies. But how do you decide which ones are best? After all, there are so many different types and models on the market right now!
We’ve done some research to help you find the perfect streaming keyboard for your needs. We compiled a list of 7 great options that span just about every price range and type imaginable. Whether you want something high-tech like a mechanical keyboard or something simple like a membrane one, we have it here. Here are the top 7 best streaming keyboards for 2023 that you can choose from.
In a hurry? Here are our top 3 picks for the best keyboards for streaming in 2023!
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Before we dive into the top 7 best streaming keywords, let’s learn more about the essentials of streaming keyboards.
What Key Switches Do Streamers Use?
The first thing you’ll need to decide is what kind of switch you want. There are three main types: Cherry MX, Topre, and Rubber-dome switches.
Cherry MX switches come in various colors and styles, such as Blue, Brown, Red, Black, and Clear. Each type serves a different purpose, but they are all specifically engineered to offer the best experience possible for gamers.
Topre switches were designed by a Japanese company of the same name who wanted to design a switch that didn’t feel plastic-like and cheap. Their goal was to imitate the touch of a human heart – something very complicated – so they developed a switch that felt as close to a spring switch as possible. In fact, Topre switches are often compared to the legendary IBM Model M keyboards from decades ago.
Rubber-dome switches were the most common kind of switch before Cherry MX and Topre came onto the scene, but they still have their place in the market. They are usually quiet and inexpensive, making them ideal for use with membrane keyboards.
Why Do Streamers Have 2 Keyboards?
If you’re a beginner, you might be wondering why streamers have two keyboards. In truth, many streamers use two keyboards for convenience and to better distribute their workload. One keyboard is for chatting while the other is for typing or gaming. It’s a good idea to use an ergonomic keyboard if you type on it all the time, whether you are using one or two keyboards!
How Important Is the Keyboard for a Streamer?
The keyboard is a critical piece of equipment for any streamer. After all, it’s not just about streaming – it’s also about communicating with your audience. A good keyboard makes this easier and more comfortable, which in return makes the stream a better experience for everyone.
Furthermore, the majority of games require streamers to use the keyboard for the majority of the time, so it’s important to have a suitable streaming keyboard – one that feels comfortable and won’t slow you down. The last thing you want is for your viewers to catch a glimpse of your fingers struggling across the keys while they are trying to follow the action.
Now that you know more about streaming keyboards, let’s talk about the top 7 best ones for 2023!
KLIM Chroma Keyboard for Streaming – Top Recommendation
KLIM Chroma Wireless Gaming Keyboard for Streaming – Best Price to Quality Ratio
1. Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard — Best Overall
First up on our list is the Corsair K70, which is among the top gaming keyboard choices for professional streamers. This keyboard should be at the top of your list if you’re searching for a high-quality keyboard.
The Corsair K70 RGB is a high-end mechanical gaming keyboard that focuses on performance, aesthetics, and durability. Corsair keyboards are made for esports players who need to perform at their best under pressure while still being able to enhance their skills over time. This line of keyboards combines hyper-processing technology with lightning-quick 1ms reaction rates to provide the best input experience for pro-level gaming.
It also has a lightweight anodized aluminum frame with full RGB backlighting and robust media control, befitting a premium keyboard.
It has a media wheel and a USB pass-through connector for connecting devices to the keyboard rather than the computer.
It’s worth noting that this keyboard has a similar counterpart on the market, the Logitech K68. They seem almost identical, except the K68 has a plastic frame, lacks a media wheel, and lacks a USB pass-through connector while costing around the same as the K70.
As a result, we recommend you stick with the better K70 model.
Overall, if you’re looking for a high-quality, long-lasting option, this is the ideal keyboard for streaming.
Why Is This the Best Keyboard for Streaming in 2023?
Corsair’s K70 RGB TKL is an unabashedly gaming-focused keyboard, which is why we picked it as the best keyboard for streaming in 2022.
The K70 RGB TKL has all of the quality-of-life features you’d expect from a popular keyboard at this time, including excellent, sturdy keycaps, media keys, and volume dial, as well as a detachable USB-C cable. Some of its more gaming-centric features are borderline excessive, but they do not disrupt the experience.
2. Corsair K63 Compact Mechanical Gaming Keyboard — Budget Pick
If you’re looking for a less expensive keyboard for your gaming sessions, the Corsair K63 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard could be for you. It includes Cherry MX Red linear switches that are incredibly responsive, and it works well with a variety of operating systems.
The Corsairs K63 keyboard has a “tenkeyless” design factor, which means it’s narrower thanks to the absence of the numeric keypad. That makes the product very portable, but we’re not sure why Corsair doesn’t provide a detachable USB cable. It’s permanent, and it might cause connectivity issues if users keep wrapping the cable around the keyboard while traveling.
As a Corsair keyboard, it does not skimp on features, including per-key lighting and the iCUE software, which allows you to customize your keyboard completely. As a result, you can assign commands and macros to any key or a group of keys.
In addition, despite being a small keyboard, it has multimedia controls for convenience.
The only disadvantage of this keyboard is that it lacks RGB color backlighting. The backlight is only available in red.
However, considering the price and features, this is the ideal keyboard for streaming games, especially for those searching for a compact form factor device with quiet keys.
3. SteelSeries Apex Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard — Premium Pick
If you’re looking for a mechanical gaming keyboard that you can customize to be completely “you,” the SteelSeries Apex Pro is the one for you. Anyone can admire its eye-catching design and appealing RGB lighting.
Hardcore gamers and fastidious typers, on the other hand, will appreciate the remarkable customizability provided by unique switches that let you adjust the actuation point for almost every key individually. A screen and other extras help to justify the keyboard’s premium price.
The SteelSeries Apex Pro is not just an excellent gaming keyboard, but it’s also fairly versatile. It includes a unique option that allows you to modify the amount of pre-travel distance required to press a keystroke, which increases or reduces its actuation force.
You can set it to a lower value for a more responsive gaming experience or a higher one to limit the frequency of typos and unintentional keystrokes while typing text. This keyboard is extremely well-built, with dedicated media keys and a convenient magnetic wrist rest.
Overall, this is the perfect keyboard for streaming, in our opinion, if you want a durable and premium keyboard and don’t mind a membrane keyboard.
4. Razer Huntsman Elite Gaming Keyboard — Runner Up
While Corsair currently holds the streaming keyboard crown with the K70, Razer plans to dethrone it with a whole new flagship keyboard, the Huntsman Elite. The Razer Huntsman Elite is an excellent full-size mechanical gaming keyboard.
The build quality is great, it has separate media controls, and it includes underglow LEDs and a wrist rest in addition to its full RGB lighting. All of the keys can be macro-programmed, including the volume dial. Some customizations are possible on the board, but Razer Synapse 3 is required to access complete customization options, which are only available on Windows.
Despite its colossal aspirations, the Huntsman Elite is Razer’s smallest keyboard to date due to its frameless design. All of Razer’s prior keyboards have had a thick plastic casing, but the Huntsman Elite does away with it in favor of a more minimalist appearance.
The Huntsman Elite ticks practically all of the boxes. You want silence and speed while streaming, both of which can be found on the Huntsman Elite. Its incredibly accurate and flexible actuation, which uses very sophisticated sensor switches, ensures that it is significantly more responsive than almost any other gaming keyboard on the market.
It is quite comfortable to use and provides decent feedback while typing or gaming.
5. Corsair K95 RGB Platinum Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
If you’re ready to spend a little more on a high-end mechanical gaming keyboard, the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT will not disappoint. It’s among the best keyboards for streaming, but it’s also somewhat pricey, owing in part to features that some may find unnecessary.
If you’re a streamer, the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum might be one of your best options for multiple reasons. To begin with, this keyboard has six dedicated macro keys that are completely programmable. Additionally, by using the Elgato Stream Deck software interface, these macro keys can be used to implement specific streaming commands.
This keyboard has Cherry MX Speed RGB Silver mechanical switches, which provide quick actuation times. The Corsair K95 RGB Platinum also has a removable magnetic leather wrist rest and per-key adjustable RGB lighting.
6. Razer BlackWidow Elite Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Next up is another well-known keyboard from Razer. This time, though, it’s a fully mechanical keyboard with Proprietary Orange switches for quiet and responsive gaming.
This tactile keyboard would be a pleasant difference from most of the quiet mechanical keys, which have a linear feel.
You’ll note that this keyboard resembles the Razer Ornata in appearance. It features a similar layout and a thick padded wrist rest.
It also has media control and a USB pass-through connector, in addition to completely mechanical switches. This keyboard has a dial that gives you complete control over your multimedia.
It also has an audio pass-through, which is a fantastic feature. While USB passthrough is widespread among high-end gaming keyboards, audio passthrough is uncommon.
Customers and reviewers alike have lauded this keyboard for its ease of use. The keys are quite comfortable to type on, and if you do a lot of remote typing, this will be a treat.
Regrettably, this is a pricey keyboard. However, if you have a decent budget, we strongly recommend this as the best keyboard for streaming if you value quality.
7. Razer Ornata Chroma Gaming Keyboard: Hybrid Mechanical Key Switches
The Razer Ornata is a low-cost keyboard with a novel approach to key switches.
The Razer Ornata Chroma is equipped with the all-new Razer Mecha-Membrane, which blends the benefits of membrane rubber domes with mechanical switches to provide a streaming experience unlike any other.
Traditional rubber dome keyboards are famed for their nice cushioned touch, but their soft feel and absence of actuation control prevent them from delivering accurate tactility.
On the other hand, mechanical switches provide quick actuations and unique tactile feedback, although they may become tiresome after long gaming sessions. The Ornata Chroma mixes the feel of a mechanical keyboard with the quiet and gentle touch of a membrane keyboard.
As a result, if you’re looking for maximum comfort and silence, the Ornata Chroma could be the ideal keyboard for streaming.
This keyboard has a large cushioned removable wrist rest that adds to the comfort element, making it excellent for lengthy gaming sessions.
One of the most appealing features is that it is completely programmable. The software that comes with this keyboard simply allows you to set up macros. You can create macros for commands, actions, and spells that you can access by hitting the macro’s assigned key.
This keyboard has a solid RGB lighting interface, which is unusual for membrane keyboards.
In short, if you’re searching for a mid-range professional keyboard with hybrid key types, this is the best streaming keyboard.
How to Choose the Best Keyboard for Streaming in 2023?
The market has a wide range of keyboards for streaming, but you need to choose the best one. The following factors will help you choose the best keyboard for streaming.
Budget
Of course, the budget will be on top of your list when choosing a streaming keyboard in 2023 because you also need to think about other essential accessories for streaming, such as webcams and microphones.
However, keep in mind that you may have to pay more money if the keyboard comes equipped with additional features like RGB lighting or programmable keys. Conversely, you can save money by choosing a basic model that is affordable.
Purpose
Before you choose a keyboard for streaming, consider your needs. What do you want from your keyboard? Do you require the best streaming keyboard that offers a great typing experience, or is it okay if it doesn’t have mechanical switches? Knowing what exactly you need will help you choose the best keyboard for streaming.
Membrane vs. Mechanical Keyboard
The type of keyboard, whether mechanical or membrane, is perhaps the most important factor to consider. Most gamers prefer mechanical keyboards because the keys offer faster actuation speeds and shorter actuation distances.
The actuation time is defined as the time it takes for the user to press a key before the computer registers the keypress. Gamers can gain a competitive advantage by using faster actuation times.
Ergonomic
Ergonomic keyboards try to put your arms and wrists in a comfortable position while you type so that they don’t hurt as much as when you use a normal keyboard. The ways they do this vary a lot.
Some keyboards do this by bending the board’s body, allowing you to reach particular keys without having to stretch your fingers as far. Other boards are divided into two modules that you can spread out as much as you like to make your hands more comfortable.
If you suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome or other types of RSI (repetitive strain injury), an ergonomic keyboard may help relieve a lot of discomforts. However, as compared to traditional mechanical keyboards, they may be rather costly.
Keyboard Size
The keyboard size you choose is mainly determined by personal choice, the size of your desk, and portability. You can pick from three different keyboard sizes: tenkeyless (TKL), full size, and full premium size.
Given that this factor is more subjective, we’d want you to answer the following question: “Do you use the numeric keypad or the ten-key number pad on the right-hand side of the keyboard?” We know a lot of people use it for things like spreadsheet computations and other things.
If you answered no to the previous question, you should look at tenkeyless (TKL) keyboards, which are smaller and more compact. If you use the numeric pad, you can choose between the premium full-size and full-size keyboards, depending on your needs.
Build Quality
Although more affordable brands and mechanical keyboards are entering the market, not all will offer the same quality. As a result, selecting a high-quality gaming keyboard is important. The keyboard’s material determines its long-term endurance and durability.
In terms of build quality, buyers should consider the material used to build the gaming keyboard. In general, gaming keyboards are made up of different metals, PCBs, plastic keys, various plastics, and flexible rubber. We recommend mechanical keyboards over membrane keyboards because of their superior build quality.
Features
While choosing the best keyboard for streaming, consider its features such as backlit, RGB lighting, or macro keys. Also, check if your preferred keyboard of choice supports all of your devices.
Compatibility
It is best to choose a keyboard that works with all your hardware components, including headsets, controllers, mouses, etc. Before buying a streaming keyboard, do some research to ensure compatibility with most or all of your gadgets.
Final Thoughts
We hope that our guide to the best gaming keyboards for streaming has helped you find the right gaming keyboard for your needs. Since there are so many products on the market, it’s hard to list every type (for example, a split keyboard). Still, whether you pick a wired or wireless keyboard, you’ll be able to navigate the streaming environment using your arrow keys.
Fortunately, our entire hand-picked list of the best keyboards for streaming is very reliable, dependable, and games-focused, ensuring that your investment never goes to waste.
