Best Keyboards for Programmers in 2024

Being a programmer can be challenging, but it’s a rewarding field that leads to high job satisfaction. First, however, you need the right equipment to do your job.

Of course, you also need to know coding and programming languages, but you need a suitable keyboard to use those languages. There are, of course, many keyboards from which to choose. However, looking online, you will find thousands for sale, making selecting the right one for programming quite challenging.

However, we’re here to help you navigate the different designs, layouts, and price points to find the best keyboard for your programming needs.

We will look at the top eight contenders for the best keyboards for programmers. We’ve compiled a list of the best options and did our best to provide unique yet versatile and functional options at all price points.

Best Keyboards for Programmers: Reviews

Logitech Craft Advanced Wireless Keyboard

This is a highly specialized keyboard with advanced functions, and it comes at a relatively affordable price.

Review

This keyboard from Logitech has one unique feature—the crown, a creative input dial that allows you to adapt to your specific applications.

The crown provides versatile functionality and instant control of your application or tool. You can access context-specific functions, change functions, and change the selected function’s value. Moreover, you can customize the crown dial for various programs, including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and applications.

Typing is effortless. The keys have a very low profile, a large striking area, and a spherical edition design. As a result, you can touch type with extreme precision, and it’s very easy to find keys without having to look. In addition, the matte surface of the keys allows you to effortlessly glide across them for quick programming and coding.

Moreover, the keys are also highly stable yet don’t need a lot of pressure to activate. They are also highly responsive while also being very quiet. In addition, the keys are backlit; as soon as your hands approach the keyboard, the keys will light up. This makes things easier to see, especially in dark conditions.

This keyboard is made of durable materials and is built to last. Even with the punishment you will put through while coding and programming, it should last a few years. One of the only downsides is that it doesn’t have an overly ergonomic design; it doesn’t have features that will keep you comfortable for a long day of typing.

Pros

• Reasonable price
• Durable design
• Easy typing
• Stable yet responsive keys
• Crown dial feature
• Very versatile

Cons

Could be more ergonomic

Kinesis Advantage2 Ergonomic Keyboard

If you want an ergonomic keyboard, this is an excellent option. However, although it is a comfortable and advanced keyboard with great functionality, it is expensive.

Review

The standout feature of this keyboard is its ergonomic design. First, it has split key wells, each with a concave shape. This means keeping your hands and wrists at the proper distance for all-day comfort.

Moreover, there’s up to 20 degrees of tenting, combined with an orthogonal layout, cushioned palm pads, and integrated palm supports.

This keyboard is designed for comfort, especially for your wrist and arm health. This could be one of the most comfortable keyboards on the list because of the variety of thumb keys, which are designed to reduce the workload of your pinkies and make your stronger thumbs do the work.

Moreover, this keyboard comes with Cherry MX Brown mechanical switches for an optimal typing feel and performance. These switches have a low activation force and tactile feedback, so you don’t have to press very hard to activate them. They also feature an extremely smooth design, so your fingers will effortlessly glide over them.

In addition, it comes with full onboard programmability so you can create custom key layouts, make specific keys do certain things, do on-the-fly macro recording, and even do one-touch key remapping and more. You can save your settings to the keyboard, which comes with four megabytes of flash memory. in addition

This keyboard features plug-and-play functionality compatible with all major operating systems. Furthermore, this keyboard is designed for over 50 million key presses and has very high manufacturing quality. Therefore, not only is this keyboard extremely functional, but also durable and comfortable.

Pros

• Super ergonomic design
• Very comfortable
• Fully programmable
• High level of durability
• Many advanced features

Cons

Expensive

Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard

Wait—Microsoft makes keyboards? Yep. This is a good one to consider if you want a relatively basic and inexpensive keyboard. It may not be the most expensive keyboard, but it still has excellent features and a high level of comfort.

Review

This keyboard is designed for all-day comfort. First, it has a split key set design that keeps your wrists further apart than a standard keyboard. This places your forearms in a relaxed and natural position.

Moreover, the keyboard also has a domed keyboard design, which allows your wrists to be positioned at a relaxed and natural angle. You get a cushioned palm rest that supports your palms and wrists.

This keyboard also features a natural arc key layout, which helps to mimic the curved shape of your fingertips. In addition, the keys are low-profile and have a smooth design, so you can effortlessly glide over them. At the same time, they also don’t require very much pressure to activate.

This model has a separate number pad that allows for greater flexibility. However, unlike other keyboards on our list, this one is not programmable; it doesn’t have backward keys and is not the most durable. Still, it should last for a few years. Moreover, we think it is an excellent product for the low price.

Pros

• Very affordable
• Ergonomic design
• Very comfortable
• Decent durability
• Great action and responsiveness

Cons

• No backlighting
• Not programmable

Das Keyboard

This highly functional keyboard is designed for fast typing. It comes reasonably priced yet has advanced features for a greater workflow.

Review

The ads for this keyboard claim it is the thinnest mechanical keyboard. It creates a psychoacoustic experience with a very tactile feel and is made with incredible craftsmanship.

What you get here is a highly smooth tactile experience thanks to the Cherry MX Brown mechanical key switches. These key switches provide audio and tactile feedback, so you can execute your keystrokes with great precision. In addition, the keys have factory lubricated stabilizers for extremely smooth typing.

Moreover, the keys have soft pressure points, which means that the keyboard is not as clicky but still provides a great tactile experience. You can feel and hear each key click, but it doesn’t take much pressure to activate them for high-speed typing. The keys have smooth surfaces, so your fingers can easily glide over them.

In addition, this keyboard is highly durable. It features laser-edged keycaps that are very tough, combined with those Cherry MX Brown switches. Your keyboard can be used for up to 50 million keystrokes before it wears down. These gold-plated switches are very high performance. Gold doesn’t rust, which increases the lifespan of this keyboard.

Then, this keyboard features full N-key rollover, allowing gamers, professionals, typists, etc., to be highly productive. In addition, you get two USB 3.0 ports to upload content through the keyboard and even charge your devices through it. The only downside is that it doesn’t feature a curved or ergonomic layout, which means that it might not be comfortable for hours of use.

Pros

• Smooth keys
• Great tactile responsiveness
• Good audio feedback without being too clicky
• Highly durable
• USB ports
• Full N-key rollover
• Reasonable price

Cons

No ergonomic comfort features

Cooler Master Sk-650-Gklr1-US SK650 Mechanical Keyboard

This is an excellent option if you are looking for a very affordable keyboard that still comes with great functionality and cool features.

Review

One of this keyboard’s most significant selling points is its high actuation and responsiveness. This keyboard uses Cherry MX Low Profile switches; the travel distance between your touch and the very low actuation point enables fast and accurate typing.

The low-profile switches are made with high-quality components. These are floating keycaps with a very minimalistic design. As a result, your fingers can easily move from one key to another. In addition, the key surfaces are smooth, and you can choose from flat and contoured keys. The flat keys may be best for programming, as they allow for excellent typing speed, but this is a personal preference.

Moreover, this keyboard has customizable backlighting, so you can easily see what you are doing. This is one of the most highly functional keyboards for its low price, especially for fast and accurate typing.

In addition, this keyboard comes with on-the-fly controls, making real-time adjustments to macros and lighting without additional software. Finally, the keyboard has a slightly angled design for wrist comfort. However, there are no other ergonomic features, so long typing sessions may become uncomfortable.

Pros

• Responsive and accurate typing
• Good backlighting
• Two key types to choose from
• Adjustable
• Fairly durable
• Great price

Cons

No real ergonomic features

Corsair K70 RGB PRO Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Corsair’s K70 RGB PRO Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard features backlighting, a durable design, and high functionality.

Review

This durable keyboard features a rugged aluminum frame for excellent impact resistance. Moreover, the mechanical and electronic components are made with high-quality parts. It’s not the most expensive keyboard on the list today, but it is one of the most durable. The polycarbonate plastic keycaps add to the durability.

Although it might not have many ergonomic features, it has a large and well-padded wrist section. As a result, your wrists will be well-supported and kept in a natural position. You can also adjust the angle of the keyboard for even more comfort.

However, what really stands out is the excellent action and responsiveness. The keyboard has hyper-processing technology for extreme performance. As a result, your inputs will be registered and transmitted up to 8 times faster than any conventional gaming keyboard. As a result, this keyboard allows for high-speed and accurate typing.

The action on this keyboard is very low, so you don’t have to press down very far. There’s also an audible click for a superb typing feel and experience.

Moreover, the keys are highly smooth and flat, so your fingers can easily glide across them. Finally, backlighting lets you see what you are doing even in less than ideal lighting conditions.

Pros

• Extreme durability
• Good backlighting
• Good wrist pad
• Adjustable angle
• Smooth and flat keys
• Great action and responsiveness
• Super-fast keystroke processing

Cons

• Could use some other ergonomic features
• Not the cheapest keyboard around

Logitech MX Keys Mini Minimalist Wireless Illuminated Keyboard

Yet another Logitech keyboard makes it to our “Top Keyboards for Programmers” list, and for a good reason: They put a lot of research and development into their products and listen to what consumers need. So if you want a small, lightweight, and portable keyboard for being on the go while being very cost-effective, this is our recommendation.

Review

This is by far the slimmest, smallest, and most lightweight keyboard on our list. If you are always on the go and need to take your keyboard along, it will fit in a small computer bag. In addition, it doesn’t take much space, making it the perfect little travel keyboard.

It’s relatively comfortable to use, although it’s not the most ergonomically friendly product on our list. The design has a slight angle, which helps keep your wrists in a natural position. However, it is a very small keyboard, and your hands will be close together. After all, it is designed more for portability than comfort.

However, this keyboard features very low action for fast and easy keystrokes. Therefore, it can be suitable for coding and programming because you barely need to touch the keys for a response, and the response is swift and accurate thanks to the excellent processing power. This means you can type quickly with this keyboard and with great precision and accuracy.

Moreover, this keyboard has concave keycaps, so your fingers can easily find each key for accurate and fast typing. Finally, the smart backlighting will allow you to see what is happening at all times.

In addition, there’s a USB C charging port so you can easily charge it when you are on the go. This is a wireless keyboard, but it is easy to recharge. It’s also worth noting that this keyboard is made of highly durable materials, so it should last for quite some time.

Finally, you can team this keyboard up with MX Master 3 or MX Anywhere 3 to type across multiple computers or laptops in one single fluid workflow.

Pros

• Very affordable
• Portable
• Angled design
• Good precision and responsiveness
• Fairly durable
• Good price
• Easy charging

Cons

• Battery life is not the best
• Could be more ergonomic
• Might be too small for some

Cloud Nine ErgoTKL Ergonomic Tenkeyless Mechanical Keyboard

This is one of the most comfortable, functional, and advanced keyboards on our list, and if you don’t mind paying the price, it’s a fantastic option.

Review

This is one of the most comfortable keyboards, which is vital for coders and programmers. First, the main feature is the split keyboard design that separates the left and right half by up to 6.5 inches. Both sections are connected by a wire, so you can easily adjust the two halves’ position, spacing, and angle. Furthermore, this keyboard has tented palm support. This means that it has a side slope of 7°, so your wrists are angled at a natural position.

Furthermore, this keyboard has a padded memory foam palm wrapped in premium vegan leather. This helps keep your wrists in a natural position and also helps to keep them off of your desk. All in all, it has to be one of the most comfortable keyboards on our list.

However, comfort is not the only feature of this keyboard because it’s also highly accurate and responsive. It has high-quality, professional-grade mechanical Cherry MX RGB switches for over 50 million key hits.

These switches are highly responsive and don’t have much movement; you don’t have to press down on the keys very hard to activate them. The concave keycaps allow you to easily find all of the keys. Moreover, the surfaces of the keycaps are very smooth, allowing your fingers to easily glide over them.

In addition, this keyboard is highly responsive and has excellent processing power, so you can type quickly while maintaining accuracy. At the same time, the keys feature backlighting so you can easily see what’s happening even in nonideal light conditions. You also get programmable hotkeys, a USB pass-through port, and more. There’s a center-located scrolling dial for easy control.

Finally, this gaming and coding keyboard is highly durable due to its high-quality materials. This keyboard can handle punishment over several years and still won’t break down.

Pros

• Great durability
• High-quality components
• Very responsive and accurate
• Fast and easy typing
• Superior ergonomics
• Backlighting

Cons

Relatively high price

Buyer’s Guide

Before you buy a keyboard for programming and coding, there are a few considerations to keep in mind so you can choose the best for your purposes.

Purpose

One of the primary considerations is the purpose you will be using it for. For example, you might be using it primarily for normal internet surfing and basic use, fast typing your work, high-speed gaming, or programming and coding.

For programming and coding, you need a high-quality keyboard. In addition, you need a highly responsive keyboard with great mechanical switches. A tactile feel and responsiveness are required for fast and accurate coding because your precision with every key matters.

Also, look for a highly ergonomic and comfortable keyboard for all-day use. Programmers and coders often work 8 to 16 hours daily, so the keyboard needs to be comfortable. However, this means that you will likely spend a good deal on a high-quality keyboard that will be both comfortable and responsive for programming and coding.

Key Type

Another feature to consider is the type of keys, specifically switches under the keys. Here, you should go for a mechanical keyboard. A small mechanical switch is located under each keycap, which activates when pressed.

Mechanical keyboards are generally d best for coding because they are highly responsive and have great action. By action, we mean you don’t have to press down very far on the key to get it to respond. The less you have to press on a key to get it to respond, the faster you can work.

At the same time, the keyboard should have great processing speed; the more processing speed it has, the faster you can work.

On that note, the keys should be slightly concave, allowing you to find each key with or without looking at the keyboard. However, some prefer flat keys, as they will enable their fingers to easily glide over them.

Ergonomic Design

When it comes to prolonged programming, coding, and comfort, look for a keyboard with a highly ergonomic design.

This generally means the keyboard is split into left and right sections. This allows your wrists and arms to be in a natural position, keeping you comfortable all day long.

The halves of the keyboard should be slightly angled, with your thumbs higher than your pinkies. This places your wrists in a natural position and prevents them from bending inwards.

Furthermore, look for a keyboard with good wrist support so that your wrists aren’t bent upwards while also being well supported from below.

Wired or Wireless

Consider the difference between wired and wireless keyboards. Many prefer wired keyboards as they don’t require batteries; you plug them into your computer or laptop, and they will be good for as long as your computer or laptop is turned on.

Moreover, wired keyboards are a bit faster and more responsive because they are directly connected to your machine with a physical.

However, on the other hand, wireless keyboards are convenient when finding the right spot for it on your desk. Moreover, wireless keyboards are ideal because you don’t have to deal with wires or cables being in your way, which can be very important if your laptop doesn’t have many USB ports.

When it comes down to it, you’re probably better using a wired keyboard because you never have to worry about battery life.

Price

As you can see from our list of keyboard reviews, many of the best programming and coding keyboards are expensive.

Generally, you will spend anywhere from $100 to $400 for a decent keyboard. However, remember that you often get what you pay for, and when it comes to your work, you don’t want to cheap out.

In other words, we recommend making the investment because it’s something you will use daily.

Size

A lesser consideration is the size of the keyboard. Generally speaking, the larger the keyboard, the more space you have to work with, and the easier it is to hit the keys, as they have good spacing.

However, a larger keyboard takes up space and is not nearly as portable. This is not one of the most significant considerations, although it is something to keep in mind.

Quality Materials

Next, look at the materials the keyboard is made of. Again, look for a keyboard made with highly durable materials for the frame and mechanical and electronic components.

You want a durable keyboard to withstand the punishment you will put it through daily. Once again, in this case, mechanical keyboards are generally best.

Backlighting

A keyboard with backlighting enables you to easily see all the keys, even in low-light conditions.

FAQ

Is a Mechanical Keyboard Better For Coding?

Mechanical keyboards are generally better for coding. The spring-loaded switches provide tactile feedback, responsiveness, and accuracy while typing.

Which Keyboard Switch Is Best For Programming?

The best mechanical switch for programming is the tactile switch. They have a tactile bump that lets you feel a slight click before it bottoms out. This allows for very efficient, accurate, and precise typing.

Are 60% Keyboards Good For Coding?

This type of keyboard is only 60% of a standard keyboard’s size and has fewer keys; it’s not considered ideal for coding because it doesn’t have enough versatility.

Are Ergonomic Keyboards Worth It?

Typing for long periods can cause pain and long-term damage to the hands, wrist, and forearms. Therefore, an ergonomic keyboard that provides a natural and comfortable position should be considered.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for the best programming keyboard in terms of comfort, durability, and functionality, the Kinesis Advantage2 Ergonomic Keyboard is our top recommendation. It may be expensive, but we think it is worth the investment.