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Between Steam, Xbox Game Pass, and even Itch.io, PC gamers have a nigh-endless amount of games to play. The best way to play a lot of these games is with a great controller, but finding the best PC controller for gaming is no easy task.
The best PC controllers combine a comfortable build with easy ways to customize their layouts. They also feature grippy joysticks, face buttons that feel satisfyingly tactile, and sleek designs. Most will even include extra buttons, built-in headphone jacks, and adjustable triggers.
I've tested a variety of PC gamepads across multiple games. And although I started with over a dozen options, I've narrowed my selection down to my four top picks for the best PC controller for gaming. No matter what your budget is, there's a fantastic controller waiting for you below. And if you're looking for new hardware to pair with one of these gamepads, be sure to check out our guides to the best gaming PC and best gaming laptop.
Our top picks for the best PC controller for gaming
Best overall: 8BitDo Ultimate Controller - See at Amazon
The 8BitDo Ultimate is comfortable, highly customizable, and comes with a convenient charging dock.
Best budget: HyperX Clutch Gladiate - See at Amazon
The HyperX Clutch Gladiate is a wired controller that offers adjustable triggers and extra buttons for an affordable price.
Best high-end: Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller - See at Best Buy
The Xbox Elite earns its name with an amazing rubber-and-plastic design, customizable controls, and interchangeable components.
Best with RGB lights: Asus ROG Raikiri Pro - See at Best Buy
The Asus ROG Raikiri Pro is expensive, but offers grippy handles and a sleek RGB-lit design.
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Pros: Finely textured handles, excellent rumble, loads of customization options, includes a convenient charging dock
Cons: Wireless mode on PC and Android requires a USB dongle, paddle buttons are sensitive
No matter what system you're playing on, it's hard to find a better gamepad than the 8BitDo Ultimate, which offers premier comfort and performance at a reasonable price.
Its textured grips feel great on the palms of your hands, and although the joysticks aren't as grippy as more expensive gamepads, they're still comfortable. And every button presses down with a satisfying click. I'm also a big fan of the Ultimate Controller's rumble, which feels more natural and consistent than any other gamepad I've used.
The 8BitDo Ultimate's most impressive quality is how customizable it is. Using the free 8BitDo Ultimate Software app (available for PC, Android, and iOS), you can edit any button input, adjust the joystick and trigger deadzones, and set the rumble strength. You can even set up macros, or short button combinations to perform complex tasks.
And if that's not enough, the controller also comes bundled with a charging dock, which makes it easy to store and charge the gamepad when not in use.
The Ultimate Controller's few flaws are minor. The standard wireless model can't connect to Windows or Android using Bluetooth, only 2.4GHz, which is a stronger connection but requires an included USB dongle. The paddle buttons on the back are useful, but easy to press accidentally. And the white edition of the controller picks up dirt easily.
8BitDo also sells a more expensive version of this gamepad called the Ultimate Bluetooth Controller. This model can connect not only to PC and Android, but also Mac, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, iPhone, and iPad. But its face buttons are designed to match Nintendo consoles, which means the A and B buttons are swapped compared to a typical Xbox-style layout. If that doesn't bother you, though, it's absolutely worth the extra money.
I love the 8BitDo Ultimate Controller, and give it my strongest recommendation as the best PC controller for gaming. Depending on your budget, you can pick between the standard wireless version, Bluetooth version, or the less expensive wired version.
Check out our 8BitDo Ultimate Controller review
William Antonelli/Insider
Pros: Adjustable triggers, remappable paddle buttons, built-in headphone jack, affordable
Cons: Wide handles can feel awkward, no wireless features, not very pretty
The wired version of our best overall pick, the 8BitDo Ultimate, is also a great budget controller, but if you're looking for an alternative, you can't go wrong with the HyperX Clutch Gladiate.
This controller looks simple, but actually has a few cool features. It has switches on the back that let you change the trigger buttons from analog to digital, and vice versa. Also on the back are two extra paddle buttons that can be remapped to any other button, no software needed. And at the bottom, you'll find a 3.5mm jack for headphones and microphones.
Alongside these extra features, the Clutch Gladiate offers the same high-quality joysticks and face buttons you'd expect from a great PC controller.
The Clutch Gladiate's budget status does come across in its design, though. The handles don't have much grip, and they're wider than most other controllers', meaning they'll feel awkward in smaller hands. The aesthetic design isn't great — the joysticks and bumpers in particular look cheap, even though they feel fine. There also aren't any wireless options; you'll need to connect it to your PC with a USB-C cable.
Despite these flaws, the HyperX Clutch Gladiate is a reliable gamepad that will carry you comfortably through any game. If you want the best PC controller for gaming on a budget, this model should be high on your list.
Note: The HyperX Clutch Gladiate is currently sold out at most retailers, but HyperX says a restock is coming in mid-July.
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Pros: Comfortable premium rubber grips, interchangeable components, long battery life
Cons: Expensive, removable components can feel flimsy
The crown jewel of the PC gaming controller market is the Xbox Elite Series 2. Built with a mix of cool rubber and smooth plastic, it's hard to find a better controller from any manufacturer — if you can afford it.
The Xbox Elite excels in nearly every area. It features clicky, tactile face buttons and finely gripped joysticks. Two switches on the back let you adjust how hard you can press the trigger buttons before they register, ranging from analog to digital. The handles are covered in an amazingly comfortable rubber grip. And the Xbox Accessories app, free for Windows, lets you edit inputs, adjust vibration strength, configure joystick sensitivity, and more. You can save up to three profiles onto the same controller and switch on the fly.
But the Xbox Elite's biggest selling point is its interchangeable parts. The controller comes with a carrying case, and inside that case are a new D-pad, a variety of different joysticks, and paddles. You can easily remove the D-pad and joysticks that the controller already has — they're latched on with relatively weak magnets — and replace them. This gives you a massive amount of control over not only how your gamepad functions, but how it feels in your hands.
The replaceable parts aren't perfect. The paddles in particular feel flimsy, and it's easy to knock them out of place while playing. But the customizability, combined with the included charging dock and long battery life — up to 40 hours — makes the Xbox Elite a supremely convenient controller.
At a retail price of $176, the Xbox Elite is absolutely a premium buy. But if you have the budget and know that you'll be using it a lot, it's a worthwhile investment. Buyers should also keep in mind that Microsoft sells a cheaper version of this controller, called the Xbox Elite Series 2 Core. Both gamepads are the same, except that the Core package does not include the carrying case, charging dock, or extra buttons.
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Pros: Customizable RGB lighting, grips feel great, better paddles than most controllers
Cons: Expensive, built-in screen is gimmicky
Like most Asus products, the ROG Raikiri Pro is flashy and functional. Its front side is lit with a subtle RGB glow, which is sure to complement any RGB-enabled PC setup.
The Asus ROG Raikiri Pro is expensive ($170), but it earns its premium status. Finely gripped joysticks and handles make gaming comfortable, and responsive buttons mean you'll never miss an input. It also has one of the best circular D-pads I've ever used, and by far the best paddle buttons. These paddles are positioned in the exact right spot to make them easy to press when you want to, but hard to hit accidentally.
You can customize any of the buttons, along with the joysticks, using the free Armoury Crate PC app. This app also lets you edit the RGB lights by letting you choose new colors and new strobe effects. It offers a wonderful amount of personalization options.
The ROG Raikiri Pro's most striking feature is the small screen at the top of the controller, which can display the current battery life and profile. Using the Armoury Crate app, you can also design and run short animations on the screen while you play. But while it's fun to look at for the first few minutes, after that point, it's more annoying than interesting.
Between the sleek RGB lights and amazing grip design, the ROG Raikiri Pro both looks and feels great.
If you're looking for an RGB-enabled controller that isn't as expensive, consider the Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma. It's not as comfortable, but has great lightning effects too.
William Antonelli/Insider
How much should I expect to spend on a PC gaming controller?
PC controllers tend to retail at three different price points.
Budget controllers cost between $25 and $40. These controllers usually require a wired connection and don't have extra features like paddle buttons or input customization. Depending on the brand, they might also be made with cheaper plastic.
Standard PC gaming controllers retail at around $70. They'll have grippy handles and joysticks, tactile buttons, and usually include a few special features, like customizable controls and extra buttons. Most can be played wirelessly.
High-end controllers cost around $180. Controllers that expensive will have all the great features of a standard controller, but usually include interchangeable components and incredibly sleek designs. They're also built with sturdy plastic, rubber, or metal.
But which kind of controller should you buy? In my experience, a standard PC gaming controller — around $70 — is perfect for most gamers. Premium controllers are nice, but they come with a big jump in price that the extra features rarely make up for.
Do all wireless controllers use Bluetooth? What is 2.4GHz?
These days, Bluetooth is the most common way that wireless devices connect to each other. But although many of the best PC controllers for gaming do offer a Bluetooth option, most connect using a different kind of wireless signal called 2.4GHz.
2.4GHz signals are stronger than Bluetooth, and transfer your button inputs faster. This makes 2.4GHz great for certain genres, like fighting games, that demand quick inputs. You also don't need to mess around with confusing Bluetooth menus — you can just plug the included USB dongle into your computer, turn on the controller, and start playing.
Before buying a controller, check whether it uses Bluetooth, 2.4Ghz, or both.
What are trigger locks or trigger switches?
Many newer PC gaming controllers have special switches on the back called trigger locks. Flipping these switches lets you change how far you need to press the trigger buttons before they register an input.
By default, the triggers will be unlocked, or set to "analog" mode. This means that the triggers have a full range of motion, and can track exactly how much pressure you're putting on them. The most common use for this feature is in racing games — the harder you press the trigger, the harder you jam your foot down on the gas pedal.
When you flip the switches to lock the triggers, you're setting them to "digital" mode. Digital triggers don't move very far, and only track whether you're pressing them at all. They're not pressure-sensitive. This is great in shooting games, where you need to press the triggers as fast as possible.
Can I use a console controller on my PC?
If you already own a gaming console, you can definitely use the controller that comes with it.
Nearly all wireless controllers can connect to your PC using Bluetooth. Just put them into pairing mode and open your PC's Bluetooth menu to search for connections. And if that doesn't work, just connect the controller to your computer using a USB cable. It should connect immediately.
Although we don't recommend them as the best PC controller for gaming, both the official Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and PlayStation DualSense/DualShock are also solid PC gamepads. And the standard Xbox controller is specifically designed to work with both Xbox and PC.
Depending on how you play your games, you might need to configure the gamepad's controls to work with your PC. Steam should automatically sense what kind of controller you have, but other platforms like Xbox Game Pass might not.
The only console controllers that you can't use are old ones. If your console controller was made before the seventh console generation (in other words, before the Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360), you'll need to buy a special adapter to use it with your PC. And if you're trying to connect your Nintendo Switch's Joy-Cons, you'll likely have to use each Joy-Con as a separate controller.
William Antonelli/Insider
Every gamepad in this guide went through hours of individual testing in multiple games, including Tekken 7, Grand Theft Auto V, Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered, and Elden Ring. The best PC controllers for gaming featured here only represent a small subset of the many controllers I tested.
I evaluate every controller across a number of categories, including comfort, button feel and responsiveness, extra or missing features, and price. The best PC controller for gaming will excel in all these areas, but I may occasionally recommend a controller that's only average in certain areas if it goes above and beyond in another category.
As I test and write, I also consult existing reviews of the controllers I'm testing. This gives me insight on other gamers' experiences with the controller, and tells me whether my experience has been typical. All of this helps me write the most useful and well-rounded reviews possible.
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