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keyboardsimulators

Switch library

Every mechanical keyboard switch that matters, 126 of them, from Cherry MX to Topre to IBM buckling spring. Tap play to hear any switch instantly, or open its page for full specs, force curve and head to head comparisons. 21 silent variants included, which no other simulator has.

Akko V3 Cream Yellow Pro

Linear · 50g actuation

muted creamy thock, budget icon

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Cherry MX Black

Linear · 60g actuation

deeper, firmer bottom-out than Red; controlled and solid

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Cherry MX Blue

Clicky · 50g actuation

high-pitched two-part click with a faint upstroke rattle

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Cherry MX Brown

Tactile · 45g actuation

soft, slightly sandy mid-pitch tap

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Cherry MX Red

Linear · 45g actuation

neutral mid-pitched clack with a faint scratch on the slide

Specs, force curve & comparisons

deep rounded thock with a snappy tactile knock

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Durock (JWK for PrimeKB) Alpaca

Linear · 62g bottom-out

smooth clacky-bright bottom-out, benchmark clean

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gateron Ink Black

Linear · 60g actuation

signature deep-yet-clacky Ink voice; smooth and resonant

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gateron Milky Yellow Pro

Linear · 50g actuation

deeper, muted, creamy bottom-out from the milky nylon housing

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gateron Oil King

Linear · 55g actuation · ~$0.65/sw

deep, muted, oily thock; dark and full-bodied

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gateron Yellow

Linear · 50g actuation

smooth, slightly deep clack; famously good for the money

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gazzew Boba U4

Tactile · Silent · 62g bottom-out

near-silence with a firm tactile knock underneath

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gazzew Boba U4T

Tactile · 62g bottom-out

the reference thock: deep, full, immediate

Specs, force curve & comparisons
IBM Model M Buckling Spring

Clicky · 67g actuation

loud full clack-click with steel-chassis ring

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Kailh BOX Jade

Clicky · 50g actuation

loud, crunchy, metallic double click; unapologetic

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Kailh BOX White

Clicky · 45g actuation

sharp, clean tick-tick; click bar snapping on press and release

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Kailh Choc Red

Linear · 50g actuation

thin, shallow clack; the sound of ergo split boards everywhere

Specs, force curve & comparisons
NovelKeys NK Cream

Linear · 55g actuation

unique rounded POM clack-thock, deep and resonant

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Topre 45g Electrocapacitive

Tactile · 45g actuation

the iconic HHKB thock: deep 'toc' with a pillowy landing

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Zeal PC Zealios

Tactile · 67g bottom-out · ~$1.00/sw

rounded clack behind a huge sharp top-of-stroke bump

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Akko CS Jelly Pink

Linear · 45g actuation

bright glassy clack from the full-PC housing

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Akko CS Lavender Purple

Tactile · 36g actuation

poppy snappy tap with an early bump

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Akko V3 Lavender Purple Pro

Tactile · 40g actuation

crisp poppy clack with a big up-front bump

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Alps SKCM Blue

Clicky · 70g actuation

full-bodied vintage click, crisp leaf snap with body

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Alps SKCM White

Clicky · 70g actuation

bright vintage click, slightly softer than Blue

Specs, force curve & comparisons
C³Equalz x TKC (JWK) Tangerine

Linear · 67g bottom-out

soft deep clack, gently muted by UHMWPE housings

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Cherry MX Silent Red

Linear · Silent · 45g actuation

rubber-cushioned thud, dampened in both directions

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Cherry MX Speed Silver

Linear · 45g actuation

short, tight clack that arrives early

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Drop + Invyr Holy Panda

Tactile · 67g bottom-out

thocky bottom-out with a hint of stock scratch

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Drop Holy Panda X

Tactile · 65g bottom-out

deep polished thock, smooth and rattle-free

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Durock T1

Tactile · 67g bottom-out

deep thocky tap with a big D-shaped bump

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Durock (JWK) Silent Alpaca

Linear · Silent · 62g bottom-out

muted cushioned patter, the silent-linear standard

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gateron Brown

Tactile · 55g actuation

soft mid-pitch tap, slightly rounder than MX Brown

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gateron G Pro Brown

Tactile · 55g actuation

smooth, softened tap; the polished light tactile

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gateron G Pro Red

Linear · 45g actuation

quieter, lube-sheened clack; smoother than standard Red

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gateron Red

Linear · 45g actuation

smooth, light clack with minimal scratch

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Glorious Panda

Tactile · 60g bottom-out

poppy thock with a touch of stock spring ping

Specs, force curve & comparisons
IBM Model F Buckling Spring

Clicky · 62g actuation

higher-pitched ringing ping-click off a metal backplate

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Kailh BOX Navy

Clicky · 60g actuation

the deepest, loudest, most forceful click in production

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Outemu Blue

Clicky · 60g actuation

harsh, loud, rattly click-jacket snap

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Outemu Silent Peach

Linear · Silent · 40g actuation

soft muted thud, unusually little mush

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Topre Silent 45g (Type-S)

Tactile · Silent · 45g actuation

muted 'puc': the thock, whispered

Specs, force curve & comparisons
TTC Bluish White

Tactile · 42g actuation

poppy muted tap with a big rounded bump

Specs, force curve & comparisons
TTC Gold Pink

Linear · 37g actuation

feather-light soft patter, barely-there landing

Specs, force curve & comparisons
TTC Silent Bluish White

Tactile · Silent · 42g actuation

soft dampened 'puc', bump intact

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Zeal PC Tealios

Linear · 67g bottom-out · ~$1.00/sw

bright, slightly hollow glassy clack

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Akko CS Jelly Black

Linear · 50g actuation

firm clacky bottom-out, a step deeper than Jelly Pink

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Akko CS Jelly Purple

Tactile · 40g actuation

clean mid-pitched tap, firm bump

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Akko CS Ocean Blue

Tactile · 36g actuation

soft rounded tap, gentle mid-pitch

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Akko CS Rose Red

Linear · 43g actuation

soft light patter, easygoing and unobtrusive

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Akko V3 Cream Blue Pro

Tactile · 45g actuation

muted rounded tap, soft landing

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Akko V3 Piano Pro

Linear · 45g actuation

deep resonant thock, low-note landing

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Alps SKCM Cream Damped

Tactile · Silent · 70g actuation

rubber-cushioned thud both directions, 1980s proto-silent

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Alps SKCM Orange

Tactile · 60g actuation

clean deep tap, snappy and dry

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Alps SKCM Salmon

Tactile · 70g actuation

firm deep tap with vintage snap

Specs, force curve & comparisons
C³Equalz x TKC (JWK) Banana Split

Linear · 62g bottom-out

creamy deep thock, rounder than Tangerine

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Cherry MX Clear

Tactile · 65g actuation

deep thud with a heavy, emphatic bottom-out

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Cherry MX Ergo Clear

Tactile · 55g actuation

rounded, softened thud; hand-lubed smoothness

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Cherry MX Green

Clicky · 80g actuation

loud, slightly deeper click than Blue with a firm landing

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Cherry MX Low Profile Red

Linear · 45g actuation

shallow, brighter clack with little body

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Cherry MX Silent Black

Linear · Silent · 60g actuation

dampened and deeper; a muffled, weighty press

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Durock Daybreak

Linear · Silent · 67g bottom-out

very refined hush, minimal pad mush

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gateron Baby Kangaroo

Tactile · 59g actuation

poppy, clacky tactile snap with a lively rebound

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gateron Black

Linear · 60g actuation

firm, deeper clack with a planted landing

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gateron Blue

Clicky · 60g actuation

bright, slightly rattly click-jacket snap

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gateron Ink Yellow

Linear · 60g actuation

the Ink voice on a compressed stroke; deep, crisp, quick to land

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gateron Low Profile Red (KS-33)

Linear · 45g actuation

shallow, brighter clack; slim-board voice

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gateron Silent Black

Linear · Silent · 60g actuation

muffled, deeper press; quiet with substance

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gateron Silent Red

Linear · Silent · 45g actuation

soft dampened patter, both strokes cushioned

Specs, force curve & comparisons
JWICK (JWK) Black

Linear · 58.5g bottom-out

clean smooth clack, Alpaca-adjacent on a budget

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Kailh BOX Black

Linear · 60g actuation

firm, clean clack with no rattle

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Kailh BOX Red

Linear · 45g actuation

clean, slightly hollow clack; tight and consistent

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Kailh Choc Brown

Tactile · 50g actuation

small sharp tick; compact tactile feedback

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Kailh Choc V2 Red

Linear · 50g actuation

shallow clack with a touch more body than V1

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Kailh Choc White

Clicky · 50g actuation

bright, thin double-click from a miniature click bar

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Kailh Speed Silver

Linear · 40g actuation

short, sharp clack that fires early

Specs, force curve & comparisons
NiZ EC 45g

Tactile · 45g actuation

thock-lite: softer, lighter take on the Topre voice

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Outemu Brown

Tactile · 50g actuation

mid-pitched tap with a light rattle

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Outemu Red

Linear · 45g actuation

light thin clack with a whisper of spring ping

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Outemu Silent Lime

Tactile · Silent · 35g actuation

muted tactile patter, dampened both strokes

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Topre 30g / 35g Electrocapacitive

Tactile · 30g actuation

feather-light softened thock

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Topre 55g Electrocapacitive

Tactile · 55g actuation

deeper, firmer thock with authority

Specs, force curve & comparisons
TTC Ace

Linear · 53g actuation

refined muted clack, condensed and clean

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Unicomp New Model M

Clicky · 65g actuation

the Model M voice in a slightly smaller case

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Zeal PC Healios

Linear · Silent · 63.5g bottom-out · ~$1.00/sw

cushioned near-silence, softest of the silent linears

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Zeal PC Zilents

Tactile · Silent · 67g bottom-out · ~$1.00/sw

near-silent soft 'muc' with the full Zealios bump

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Akko CS Silver

Linear · 43g actuation

short bright tick, quick and shallow

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Akko V3 Matcha Green Pro

Linear · 50g actuation

smooth muted glide, understated bottom-out

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Alps SKCL Green

Linear · 50g actuation

smooth dry vintage glide, muted landing

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Alps SKCM Black

Tactile · 70g actuation

duller, softer vintage tap

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Cherry MX Grey (Tactile)

Tactile · 80g actuation

deep, dense thud; heavyweight tactile landing

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Cherry MX Low Profile Speed

Linear · 45g actuation

shallow and fast; a quick, clipped tick

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Cherry MX Nature White

Linear · 55g actuation

balanced clack, sitting between Red's lightness and Black's depth

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Cherry MX White

Clicky · 80g actuation

muted, duller click; a clicky that half-whispers

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Drop Holy Panda X Clear

Tactile · 62g bottom-out

slightly brighter tap than the standard HPX

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Durock Dolphin

Linear · Silent · 62g bottom-out

muted deeper patter, low-pitched hush

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Durock Koala

Tactile · 67g bottom-out

thocky rounded tap, T1-family bump

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Durock POM Linear

Linear · 63.5g bottom-out

deep rounded POM knock

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Durock T1 Shrimp

Tactile · Silent · 67g bottom-out

big bump, muted dampened landing

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gateron Box Ink Pink

Linear · 50g actuation

Ink depth with a tighter, boxed-in clack over a short stroke

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gateron Green

Clicky · 80g actuation

louder, deeper click backed by a heavy spring

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gateron Ink Red

Linear · 45g actuation

light and airy with the Ink housing's deep undertone

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gateron Silent Brown

Tactile · Silent · 55g actuation

muted light-tactile tap; a whisper with a bump

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gazzew Boba Gum

Linear · Silent · 62g bottom-out

ultra-quiet cushioned patter, barely there

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Gazzew Boba LT

Linear · 55g bottom-out

deep muted linear thud in a Boba shell

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Kailh Blue

Clicky · 50g actuation

bright budget click-jacket rattle

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Kailh BOX Brown

Tactile · 45g actuation

muted, rounded tap; tidy and controlled

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Kailh Brown

Tactile · 50g actuation

light sandy tap, classic budget tactile

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Kailh Red

Linear · 50g actuation

familiar MX-clone clack with a touch more scratch

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Kailh Speed Copper

Tactile · 40g actuation

bright early tap; the bump arrives immediately

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Kailh Speed Gold

Clicky · 50g actuation

crisp double click high in the stroke

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Matias Click

Clicky · 60g actuation

modern Alps-style click, brighter than vintage

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Matias Quiet Click

Tactile · Silent · 60g actuation

damped Alps-style thud, office-safe

Specs, force curve & comparisons

soft, well-lubed nylon linear; low and even

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Outemu Black

Linear · 60g actuation

firm mid-pitched budget clack

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Outemu Cream Yellow

Tactile · Silent · 45g actuation

dampened tactile tap, low and dry

Specs, force curve & comparisons
TTC Flame Red

Linear · 45g actuation

smooth light glide, gentle bottom-out

Specs, force curve & comparisons
TTC Frozen

Linear · Silent · 39g actuation

hushed dampened patter, both strokes softened

Specs, force curve & comparisons
TTC Golden Brown

Tactile · 45g actuation

measured mid-pitch tap, medium bump

Specs, force curve & comparisons
TTC Speed Silver

Linear · 45g actuation

short bright tick, rapid-fire cadence

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Wuque Studio WS Morandi

Linear · 60g bottom-out

deep POM knock, tight and short-travel

Specs, force curve & comparisons

hollow panda-housing clack (donor switch)

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Cherry MX Linear Grey

Linear · 80g actuation

deep and heavy; a slow, weighty clack

Specs, force curve & comparisons
Cherry MX Ultra Low Profile

Tactile · 65g actuation

crisp laptop-like tick, shallow and precise

Specs, force curve & comparisons
NovelKeys NK Blueberry

Tactile · 55g actuation

deep heavy thud after a long wall of a bump

Specs, force curve & comparisons
NovelKeys NK Cream Clickie

Clicky · 55g actuation

a sharp bottle-cap pop, brighter than a click bar

Specs, force curve & comparisons

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between linear, tactile and clicky switches?

Linear switches move smoothly from top to bottom with no feedback, which is why they are popular for gaming. Tactile switches add a physical bump at the actuation point so you can feel exactly when a keypress registers. Clicky switches add an audible click on top of the bump, satisfying to many typists and disruptive in shared spaces.

What do the force numbers (grams) mean?

Force is how hard you have to press. Actuation force is the weight needed for a keypress to register; bottom-out force is the weight at full travel. Beware: some brands advertise actuation (Cherry, Gateron), others advertise bottom-out (Gazzew, most boutique brands), so we label which basis each spec uses and you can compare fairly.

Which switches are quietest for an office?

Dampened "silent" switches, such as Gazzew Boba U4, Outemu Silent Peach or Cherry MX Silent Red, use rubber pads inside the stem to soften both the bottom-out and the release clack. Hear them all with the play buttons above, then see our quietest-switches ranking.