What could be worse than inviting a friend over and finding yourself without a second controller to play together? Probably in the life of a gamer a few other things and here in fact a second pad is always useful in these situations, but also in many others. Very common situations, to which you can easily get ready by equipping yourself with one of the best economic solutions on the market.
For example, just think about when you forget to charge your main joystick, finding it with just a few second before starting to play. Unfortunately, buying a second pad is certainly not an indifferent expense, given that the original gamepads for the main game consoles often come to cost even more than 50 euros. That's why we've compiled for you the list of the best budget controllers on the market, whatever your favorite gaming platform.
Before diving into the best budget controllers you can buy nowadays, we would also like to underline what are our buying guides dedicated to wireless gaming headsets and cheap gaming chairs, to always have a top station.
Best Cheap Controllers
Nacon Compact Controller - Best for PlayStation PowerA wired controller - Best for Xbox PowerA wired controller - Best for Nintendo Switch Zexrow - Best for PC 8Bitdo Zero2 - The best alternative
Nacon Compact Controller - The best for PlayStation
If you are looking for the best cheap PS4 controllers, the Nacon Compact Controllers are sure to come to your rescue. This is a series of very high quality gamepads, which will certainly not make you regret the classic PS4 controllers. Successful design, 3 meter cable, jack input and equipped with the share, options and PS buttons: the Nacon Compact are affordable controllers of all respect, perfect for any PS4. Finally, to make everything even more interesting is a large number of different colors, able to satisfy practically every taste. What more could you want? In case you need a good cheap Xbox controller, PowerA, a high quality wired product with official Microsoft license, is right for you. In addition to the classic keys, the PowerA also has two additional programmable buttons on the back, a very remarkable feature for a product sold at a budget price. Let's be clear: can you really resist this beautiful design dedicated to that Cuphead masterpiece? PS: in case you want something more traditional, this great budget controller is also available in classic black and white colors.
View on Amazon
View on eBay
PowerA wired controller - The best for Nintendo Switch
The best cheap controllers for Nintendo Switch are called PowerA, which is a series of very good quality gamepads sold at a very low price. . In addition to being officially licensed by Nintendo, these products feature an ergonomic design, a detachable three-meter usb cable, and most importantly, a large number of different prints. To play economically and in style.
View on Amazon
View on eBay
Zexrow - The best for PC
Although the PC has historically been the kingdom of the combination mouse and keyboard, in some games a good joystick can always be useful. Therefore, as the best budget controller for PC we recommend the Zexcrow, a device that is very reminiscent of the unforgettable Xbox 360 gamepad, emulating its quality at a very low price. In case this solution does not convince you, we remind you that most of the other economic controllers recommended in this article are also compatible on PC, although they have recommended them for other gaming platforms. When we say spoiled for choice.
See Zexrow on Amazon
8BitDo Zero2 - The best alternative
Do you feel particularly alternative or do you want an inexpensive controller that is easy to carry around? In this case, the 8Bitdo Zero2 is definitely the one for you, a beautiful mini device compatible with Nintendo Switch, PC and Android designed to play in total freedom and particularly recommended for indie games. A unique product, with an irresistible design, weighing only 20 grams and characterized by a very low price: the 8Bitdo Zero2 is a real gem.
View on Amazon
View on eBay
How to choose the best cheap controllers
When you find yourself buying a cheap controller you need to be clear in mind how you will most likely find yourself in your hands after the purchase a product that is valid, but which in any case fails to achieve the same quality as the standard controllers for the various gaming platforms. Precisely for this reason it is good and right to get information as much as possible, in order to obtain the highest possible quality / price ratio.
Brand
One of the first aspects to check is definitely that relating to the brand of a controller. When we go to choose a second pad or even any type of accessory and we do not want to turn to offers from manufacturers such as Sony or Microsoft, it is always good to consider the brand you are going to buy. Beyond the reviews, very few manufacturers have a license to produce a controller, so before making a purchase it is always good to check that the company has a license to produce accessories, such as Nacon and PowerA.
Type of connection
One of the main things to consider before buying a cheap controller is the type of connection. Wireless or wired: both have their pros and cons, but it is good to consider how the first is more difficult to find in a product at a reduced price and how without adequate quality the wireless connection risks "giving away" some bad joke. too much. Not to be forgotten is how a wireless controller needs to be recharged from time to time. In short, if you want a cheap wireless controller, read the various reviews even more carefully.
Ergonomics
What is a controller? A device that we will be called upon to use even for several hours without interruption. So pay attention to ergonomics. Avoiding minor annoyances during and after use must in fact be a priority and it is precisely for this reason that we have included in this list of the best cheap controllers on the market only devices with good ergonomics.
Compatibility
The compatibility of the various inexpensive controllers is not an aspect to be underestimated. Although certain products are marketed only for certain gaming platforms, they are proven to be compatible with others and, almost always, even with PCs. A deeper look at user descriptions and feedback could therefore save you several euros.
Analog layout
Although they are devices aimed at making us play, each controller is different and for years the videogame community has been discussing the layout of analogs on a controller. Better arranged symmetrically, such as in PS5's DualSense, or asymmetrically, as per the Xbox tradition? Unfortunately, there is no perfect answer for everyone and for this reason we have decided with the products recommended in this list to satisfy as many palates as possible.
Price
Another important aspect concerns the price of the controller. Normally a wired controller costs less than a wireless one. It all depends on how much you intend to spend on a device which on balance will certainly help in emergency situations but will not be used constantly. If you prefer to play wirelessly then the expense will certainly be greater. Depending on your tastes, the ideal would be to spend from 29.99 euros upwards for a good wired controller, while with about twenty euros more you can already find good deals on wireless controllers. Attention also to any limited editions or with the classic wording "pro": in that case the price rises dramatically.
