Best Keyboards for Programming in 2023 - Tested by Developers
As developers, we spend countless hours in front of our keyboards, so finding the best keyboards for programming for YOU can go a long way toward improving your efficiency, productivity, comfort, and health.
Because each of us is different, you’ll have to determine the features and, in the end, what programming keyboard best suits you. If tactile feedback and quick actuation are important for you, perhaps mechanical keyboards would be best; if you love customization and you don’t mind going away from a standard keyboard layout, there are some interesting options in the list below.
I work long hours coding and writing articles, so for me, comfort and layout are important factors. Since I have my keyboard always on the desk, I don’t need any portability features. For those reasons, I went with an ergonomic keyboard with a wrist rest (though it sells separately).
Our Top Pick
The Best Keyboards for Developers in 2023
Keychron K6 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard
Keychron K6 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard
The Keychron K6 keyboard is a great choice for those who want a robust, wireless mechanical keyboard with customizable RGB lighting and the ability to easily switch between multiple devices.
Reasons to buy:
- Robust keyboard
- Mechanical switches
- RGB backlighting
- Long battery life
- Easily switch between connected devices
Reasons to avoid:
- Quite heavy and bulky
- Not suitable for the go
Alternative variants:
Once again, Keychron continues to be my favorite keyboard, and I love the K6 (65% keyboard) model. I got mine with RGB, brown switches, and the palm rest. I have had it for more than a few years now, still works perfectly, though you can start telling some of the wear and tear (mostly my bad the coffee spilled all over it more than once, and it fell a few times, but still working, and still in one piece, which is pretty impressive).
So why a 65% keyboard ? It is the perfect size for me; I don’t need huge keyboards with functions I don’t regularly use, such as the numeric pad, but there are functions I must have, for example, the arrow keys, and smaller sizes won’t have those directly, but rather by using function keys.
What Keychron? The keyboard is super high quality, it is very robust and super comfortable, I do, however, have to say that you will probably need their palm rest as the keyboard is quite hard and it is not as comfortable without it. I bought the official wood one, but there are other cheaper options out there.
Another feature that I love is that it supports multiple devices, I don’t work with multiple computers at the same time, but I love that I just need to press one key to switch and connect the keyboard from my work laptop to my personal laptop to work on the blog.
Another great feature is the extended battery life, thanks to its 4000mAh battery, though I don’t take full advantage of it as the keyboard is almost always plugged in.
The keys feel right for me; I like that I need to put some pressure on the keys to make a keystroke, and I love the travel of the keys. It makes me type much faster than with other keyboards. Though, to be fair, I’m a big fan of brown switches in general.
On the downside, because of the battery and solid frame, the keyboard is quite heavy, so not great for traveling.
One last thing, it has support for Windows, Linux, and Mac, and it even provides a different set of keys for mac and windows so that you can customize it to your liking.
Apple Magic Keyboard
Apple Magic Keyboard
The Apple Magic Keyboard is the developer’s favorite. It has a sleek and wireless keyboard with a scissor mechanism for comfortable typing.
Reasons to buy:
- High-quality build
- Comfortable typing experience
- Responsive and low-profile keys
- Long battery life
Reasons to avoid:
- Relatively expensive
- Limited travel distance for the keys
Surprise, surprise. The Apple keyboard is known for being pretty much the default programming keyboard among Google, Meta, and other giants.
Though it is neither a mechanical nor an ergonomic keyboard, it provides all the benefits of the Apple ecosystem, like easy integration with your Mac (developers’ favorite laptop), Touch ID for authentication, and visually appealing, lightweight, and portable.
It is my secondary keyboard, the one that I take with me when I travel for a few days, as the Keychron is a bit bulky to carry around.
Ultimate Hacking Keyboard
Ultimate Hacking Keyboard
The Ultimate Hacking Keyboard is a great choice for those who want a highly customizable, ergonomic keyboard with modular design and numerous additional features.
Reasons to buy:
- Ergonomic design
- Modular design
- Highly customizable layout
- Programmable keys
- Multiple device connectivity
- High build quality
Reasons to avoid:
- Price
- Non-standard keycap size and layout
- May take some time to get used to
It is time for us to get weird, and the Ultimate Hacking Keyboard is definitely a champion in that category. This mechanical keyboard is fully customizable, to the point that they sell a version with no labels on the keycaps so that you can define what each key does, from letters, numbers, combinations, and even emojis.
The keyboard also features a split layout in what seems to be a 60% keyboard. It takes some time to get used to it (I never did, though 😔, but didn’t try enough), but people who went through its learning curve praise it for how comfortable and productive this keyboard can be.
The real juice of this keyboard is in its configuration and the potential to customize your workflows to boost your productivity to levels you simply can’t with other keyboards.
I understand this is not the type of keyboard for everyone, but if you are into this keyboard style, the UHK is an amazing option.
I almost forgot to mention the keyboard can also be extended with modules, which are also configurable.
Logitech MX Keys
Logitech MX Keys
The Logitech MX Keys keyboard is a great choice for those who want a comfortable, responsive, and versatile wireless keyboard with backlit keys and multi-device connectivity.
Reasons to buy:
- Easy switching between devices
- Comfortable typing experience
- Backlit keys for easy typing in low-light environments
- Multi-device connectivity (up to three devices)
- USB-C rechargeable battery
Reasons to avoid:
- Some users may not like the feel of the low-profile scissor switches
- No customizable RGB lighting
The coder keyboard from Logitech. Even though it’s not a mechanical keyboard, it’s praised by developers as some sort of Apple keyboard for Windows users. It’s pretty comfortable to type (and less noisy than its mechanical counterparts). Even though it’s a full-size keyboard, it’s pretty compact and has Windows, Linux, and Mac modes.
It’s a wireless keyboard with excellent battery life, lasting up to 10 days while using the backlight and up to 5 months without it (though I never tested this, those are the claims on their site).
As expected from Logitech, you can use their software to customize the keyboard, and you can connect up to 3 different devices in wireless mode using Bluetooth.
It is a great and affordable option considering it is a great keyboard.
Das Keyboard 6
Das Keyboard 6
The Das Keyboard 6 is a premium, high-performance mechanical keyboard with a sleek design, Cherry MX switches, and USB-C connectivity.
Reasons to buy:
- High build quality and durability
- Cherry MX switches for a satisfying typing experience
- Dedicated media controls and volume wheel
- USB-C connectivity
- Energy saving sleep button
Reasons to avoid:
- High price point
- No wireless
- Lacks some additional features offered by other premium keyboards
This is a significant update from the Das Keyboard 4. Even though it still feels familiar, the build quality on this one is fantastic. Built with premium aluminum enclosure, 2 USB-C high-speed hubs, Cheery MX switches <3, white backlight, and more.
The keyboard is not small; it is a full-size keyboard and a big one of those too. Being big makes it very comfortable, and the separate media keys are very useful, though the whole numeric pad is irrelevant to my workflow.
In this edition, they also added a sleep button for your computer. It is one of the ways they try to save your overall energy consumption. I never really tried it as I use this keyboard only on my Linux servers, that are never sleeping.
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Keyboards We Also Recommend to Developers
Ducky One 3 SF
Ducky One 3 SF
The Ducky One 3 keyboard is a great choice for those who want a high-quality, reliable, and customizable mechanical keyboard with a wide range of switch options and Ducky’s signature RGB lighting.
Reasons to buy:
- High build quality and durability
- Wide range of Cherry MX switches to choose from
- Ducky’s signature RGB lighting with numerous customization options
- Multiple layout options (including a 60% layout)
- Programmable macro keys
- Option for PBT keycaps for added durability
Reasons to avoid:
- No wireless connectivity option
- Premium price
- No dedicated media keys
Nothing but love for the Ducky One 3 SF. It is a masterpiece of a mechanical keyboard with excellent quality and builds, fantastic performance, and super comfortable.
There are two downsides to this keyboard, it is not wireless, and it’s on the expensive side, but it compensates with programmable macro keys, a fantastic layout, is super comfortable, and looks incredible!
And did I mention that it comes with Cherry MX switches? What not to love about that?
I don’t own the Ducky One 3, but I had the Ducky One 2 for a while until it suffered a coffee accident (it happens more often than I’d like to admit). I’m now thinking of getting myself this latest version as a Christmas gift. It is the only keyboard that may replace my keychron k6 from the main desk. We’ll see.
Kinesis Freestyle Edge
Kinesis Freestyle Edge
The Kinesis Freestyle Edge keyboard is a great choice for those who want a customizable and ergonomic mechanical keyboard with split design and various additional features to reduce wrist strain and improve typing comfort.
Reasons to buy:
- Split design for improved ergonomics and reduced wrist strain
- Mechanical switches with good tactile feedback
- Backlit keys for easy typing in low-light environments
- Multiple additional features to reduce wrist strain, including cushioned palm supports
- Adjustable tilt angle
Reasons to avoid:
- No wireless connectivity option
- Premium price
- Non-standard keycap size and layout
- May take some time to get used to
The kinesis freestyle edge is not a regular keyboard. Rarely will you see one of these on a desk, and if you do, you will probably ask the owner about it. Its split layout calls attention immediately, as it is something we are not used to. However, users of this type of keyboard claim that they can type super fast and super comfortably.
In particular, this keyboard features Cherry MX switches, RGB lighting, and programmable keys.
On the downside, it takes some time to get used to it, but it promises great results once you do.
Microsoft Sculpt Keyboard
Microsoft Sculpt Keyboard
The Microsoft Sculpt Keyboard is a great choice for those who want an ergonomic and wireless keyboard with a split design and a separate number pad to reduce wrist strain and improve typing comfort.
Reasons to buy:
- Split design for improved ergonomics and reduced wrist strain
- Separate number pad for added flexibility and reduced clutter
- Comfortable typing experience with responsive keys
- Great with windows
Reasons to avoid:
- Some users may find the key travel distance too shallow
- Limited programmability compared to some other ergonomic keyboards
- No backlighting option
Microsoft is not very well known for hardware, but they do a job when it comes to keyboards, and the Microsoft Sculpt Keyboard is proof of that. I used this keyboard a few years back as my office keyboard. It’s not exactly a portable keyboard, but it’s super comfortable, and I could type super fast with it.
Its unique ergonomic shape makes it very special, and though it looks pretty different, I adapted very fast to it.
It is a good choice for an office keyboard if you use Windows or Linux, and though it’s not a keyboard I’d personally choose, it’s a keyboard I recommended to many people, and they were pleased they got it.
Corsair K100 RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Corsair K100 RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
The Corsair K100 RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is a top-of-the-line option for gamers who want a highly customizable and responsive keyboard with numerous additional features, including a customizable control wheel and dedicated macro keys.
Reasons to buy:
- Per-key RGB lighting
- Programmable macros
- Excellent build quality
- Fast and responsive Cherry MX Speed switches
- Detachable wrist rest and adjustable height for increased comfort
- N-Key rollover and anti-ghosting for improved accuracy during gaming sessions
Reasons to avoid:
- Premium price
- Overkill for just coding
- Large and bulky design may not be ideal for smaller desk setups
- No wireless connectivity option
This keyboard is all about performance. It is a ridiculously fast keyboard which makes it perfect for gaming. It also features many customization options, from macro keys to the multi-function iCUE control wheel, which is fully programmable.
This keyboard is a top-edge keyboard, perhaps not the best option if you just use it for programming, as it is pretty expensive, but a fantastic keyboard.
I was hesitant to add it to the list as its main benefits are around gaming. However, some of my gaming programmer friends love this keyboard and mentioned that it is worth it.
Me personally? I don’t play much, perhaps occasionally AoE II DE, so I don’t need a fancy gaming keyboard, and for the price, I definitely will stay out of this one.
How We Picked These Keyboards?
This is important to clarify, as some of these items are affiliate links (meaning I may receive a small commission for sales with no extra cost to you), and I don’t want to be just another list of random keyboards for programming.
The main answer is the question is experience. I’m a developer (though now I also blog), and I’ve been working as a developer for over 15 years, during which I tried multiple keyboards, going from ultra cheap, terrible keyboards, laptop keyboards, ergonomic keyboards, mechanical keyboards, you name it. I’m also a bit of a freak with productivity, so I went down the rabbit hole of trying different options and seeing which ones I felt more productive and comfortable with.
During those experiments, I accumulated some keyboards in my arsenal, some of which made it into this list. Nonetheless, I would like to disclaim that I haven’t purchased every keyboard on the list; some I simply tried in stores or borrowed from a friend to write this review.
How to Choose a Programming Keyboard?
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Juan Cruz Martinez
Juan has made it his mission to help aspiring developers unlock their full potential. With over two decades of hands-on programming experience, he understands the challenges and rewards of learning to code. By providing accessible and engaging educational content, Juan has cultivated a community of learners who share their passion for coding. Leveraging his expertise and empathetic teaching approach, Juan has successfully guided countless students on their journey to becoming skilled developers, transforming lives through the power of technology.
