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.
Linear · 50g actuation
muted creamy thock, budget icon
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 60g actuation
deeper, firmer bottom-out than Red; controlled and solid
Specs, force curve & comparisonsClicky · 50g actuation
high-pitched two-part click with a faint upstroke rattle
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 45g actuation
soft, slightly sandy mid-pitch tap
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 45g actuation
neutral mid-pitched clack with a faint scratch on the slide
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 67g bottom-out
deep rounded thock with a snappy tactile knock
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 62g bottom-out
smooth clacky-bright bottom-out, benchmark clean
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 60g actuation
signature deep-yet-clacky Ink voice; smooth and resonant
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 50g actuation
deeper, muted, creamy bottom-out from the milky nylon housing
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 55g actuation · ~$0.65/sw
deep, muted, oily thock; dark and full-bodied
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 50g actuation
smooth, slightly deep clack; famously good for the money
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · Silent · 62g bottom-out
near-silence with a firm tactile knock underneath
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 62g bottom-out
the reference thock: deep, full, immediate
Specs, force curve & comparisonsClicky · 67g actuation
loud full clack-click with steel-chassis ring
Specs, force curve & comparisonsClicky · 50g actuation
loud, crunchy, metallic double click; unapologetic
Specs, force curve & comparisonsClicky · 45g actuation
sharp, clean tick-tick; click bar snapping on press and release
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 50g actuation
thin, shallow clack; the sound of ergo split boards everywhere
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 55g actuation
unique rounded POM clack-thock, deep and resonant
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 45g actuation
the iconic HHKB thock: deep 'toc' with a pillowy landing
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 67g bottom-out · ~$1.00/sw
rounded clack behind a huge sharp top-of-stroke bump
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 45g actuation
bright glassy clack from the full-PC housing
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 36g actuation
poppy snappy tap with an early bump
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 40g actuation
crisp poppy clack with a big up-front bump
Specs, force curve & comparisonsClicky · 70g actuation
full-bodied vintage click, crisp leaf snap with body
Specs, force curve & comparisonsClicky · 70g actuation
bright vintage click, slightly softer than Blue
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 67g bottom-out
soft deep clack, gently muted by UHMWPE housings
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · Silent · 45g actuation
rubber-cushioned thud, dampened in both directions
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 45g actuation
short, tight clack that arrives early
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 67g bottom-out
thocky bottom-out with a hint of stock scratch
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 65g bottom-out
deep polished thock, smooth and rattle-free
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 67g bottom-out
deep thocky tap with a big D-shaped bump
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · Silent · 62g bottom-out
muted cushioned patter, the silent-linear standard
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 55g actuation
soft mid-pitch tap, slightly rounder than MX Brown
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 55g actuation
smooth, softened tap; the polished light tactile
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 45g actuation
quieter, lube-sheened clack; smoother than standard Red
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 45g actuation
smooth, light clack with minimal scratch
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 60g bottom-out
poppy thock with a touch of stock spring ping
Specs, force curve & comparisonsClicky · 62g actuation
higher-pitched ringing ping-click off a metal backplate
Specs, force curve & comparisonsClicky · 60g actuation
the deepest, loudest, most forceful click in production
Specs, force curve & comparisonsClicky · 60g actuation
harsh, loud, rattly click-jacket snap
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · Silent · 40g actuation
soft muted thud, unusually little mush
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · Silent · 45g actuation
muted 'puc': the thock, whispered
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 42g actuation
poppy muted tap with a big rounded bump
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 37g actuation
feather-light soft patter, barely-there landing
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · Silent · 42g actuation
soft dampened 'puc', bump intact
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 67g bottom-out · ~$1.00/sw
bright, slightly hollow glassy clack
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 50g actuation
firm clacky bottom-out, a step deeper than Jelly Pink
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 40g actuation
clean mid-pitched tap, firm bump
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 36g actuation
soft rounded tap, gentle mid-pitch
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 43g actuation
soft light patter, easygoing and unobtrusive
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 45g actuation
muted rounded tap, soft landing
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 45g actuation
deep resonant thock, low-note landing
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · Silent · 70g actuation
rubber-cushioned thud both directions, 1980s proto-silent
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 60g actuation
clean deep tap, snappy and dry
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 70g actuation
firm deep tap with vintage snap
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 62g bottom-out
creamy deep thock, rounder than Tangerine
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 65g actuation
deep thud with a heavy, emphatic bottom-out
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 55g actuation
rounded, softened thud; hand-lubed smoothness
Specs, force curve & comparisonsClicky · 80g actuation
loud, slightly deeper click than Blue with a firm landing
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 45g actuation
shallow, brighter clack with little body
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · Silent · 60g actuation
dampened and deeper; a muffled, weighty press
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · Silent · 67g bottom-out
very refined hush, minimal pad mush
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 59g actuation
poppy, clacky tactile snap with a lively rebound
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 60g actuation
firm, deeper clack with a planted landing
Specs, force curve & comparisonsClicky · 60g actuation
bright, slightly rattly click-jacket snap
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 60g actuation
the Ink voice on a compressed stroke; deep, crisp, quick to land
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 45g actuation
shallow, brighter clack; slim-board voice
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · Silent · 60g actuation
muffled, deeper press; quiet with substance
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · Silent · 45g actuation
soft dampened patter, both strokes cushioned
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 58.5g bottom-out
clean smooth clack, Alpaca-adjacent on a budget
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 60g actuation
firm, clean clack with no rattle
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 45g actuation
clean, slightly hollow clack; tight and consistent
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 50g actuation
small sharp tick; compact tactile feedback
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 50g actuation
shallow clack with a touch more body than V1
Specs, force curve & comparisonsClicky · 50g actuation
bright, thin double-click from a miniature click bar
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 40g actuation
short, sharp clack that fires early
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 45g actuation
thock-lite: softer, lighter take on the Topre voice
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 50g actuation
mid-pitched tap with a light rattle
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 45g actuation
light thin clack with a whisper of spring ping
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · Silent · 35g actuation
muted tactile patter, dampened both strokes
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 30g actuation
feather-light softened thock
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 55g actuation
deeper, firmer thock with authority
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 53g actuation
refined muted clack, condensed and clean
Specs, force curve & comparisonsClicky · 65g actuation
the Model M voice in a slightly smaller case
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · Silent · 63.5g bottom-out · ~$1.00/sw
cushioned near-silence, softest of the silent linears
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · Silent · 67g bottom-out · ~$1.00/sw
near-silent soft 'muc' with the full Zealios bump
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 43g actuation
short bright tick, quick and shallow
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 50g actuation
smooth muted glide, understated bottom-out
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 50g actuation
smooth dry vintage glide, muted landing
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 80g actuation
deep, dense thud; heavyweight tactile landing
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 45g actuation
shallow and fast; a quick, clipped tick
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 55g actuation
balanced clack, sitting between Red's lightness and Black's depth
Specs, force curve & comparisonsClicky · 80g actuation
muted, duller click; a clicky that half-whispers
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 62g bottom-out
slightly brighter tap than the standard HPX
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · Silent · 62g bottom-out
muted deeper patter, low-pitched hush
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 67g bottom-out
thocky rounded tap, T1-family bump
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · Silent · 67g bottom-out
big bump, muted dampened landing
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 50g actuation
Ink depth with a tighter, boxed-in clack over a short stroke
Specs, force curve & comparisonsClicky · 80g actuation
louder, deeper click backed by a heavy spring
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 45g actuation
light and airy with the Ink housing's deep undertone
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · Silent · 55g actuation
muted light-tactile tap; a whisper with a bump
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · Silent · 62g bottom-out
ultra-quiet cushioned patter, barely there
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 55g bottom-out
deep muted linear thud in a Boba shell
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 45g actuation
muted, rounded tap; tidy and controlled
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 50g actuation
light sandy tap, classic budget tactile
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 50g actuation
familiar MX-clone clack with a touch more scratch
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 40g actuation
bright early tap; the bump arrives immediately
Specs, force curve & comparisonsClicky · 50g actuation
crisp double click high in the stroke
Specs, force curve & comparisonsClicky · 60g actuation
modern Alps-style click, brighter than vintage
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · Silent · 60g actuation
damped Alps-style thud, office-safe
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · Silent · 45g actuation
dampened tactile tap, low and dry
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 45g actuation
smooth light glide, gentle bottom-out
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · Silent · 39g actuation
hushed dampened patter, both strokes softened
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 45g actuation
measured mid-pitch tap, medium bump
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 45g actuation
short bright tick, rapid-fire cadence
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 60g bottom-out
deep POM knock, tight and short-travel
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear
hollow panda-housing clack (donor switch)
Specs, force curve & comparisonsLinear · 80g actuation
deep and heavy; a slow, weighty clack
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 65g actuation
crisp laptop-like tick, shallow and precise
Specs, force curve & comparisonsTactile · 55g actuation
deep heavy thud after a long wall of a bump
Specs, force curve & comparisonsClicky · 55g actuation
a sharp bottle-cap pop, brighter than a click bar
Specs, force curve & comparisonsFrequently 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.