The Best Macropads in 2024

While MMO mice are the go-to for many gamers looking for macro support, macropads are becoming a much more prevalent option that can seriously up anyone’s game and not weigh down your mouse simultaneously. However, it doesn’t stop with just gaming. Whether you are looking to make your workflow more efficient when it comes to creative tasks or being able to run a stream with just a couple of button presses, macropads are a great way to simplify the way you interact with your computer.

While there are more pre-built macropads to choose from now than ever, the market is still mainly in the DIY space and hasn’t entirely made it to the mainstream yet. So, many of the brand names you will see in this guide will probably be new to you, but they are all vetted and stand up to our high standards to be considered the best macropads in 2024.

Game Rant’s Best Macropads in 2024

The Elgato Stream Deck is probably one of the most iconic macropads in recent memory, so it’s no surprise that the MK.2 has just improved on the already excellent reputation of the first. Whether you are a streamer looking for a better way to control and interact with your stream or a gamer who wants access to macros, the Stream Deck MK.2 is a great way to do it while being very accessible.

Even though the Stream Deck MK.2 has fewer buttons than most other macropads in this guide, it makes up for it, with each button also being an LED display. This means whatever you program to each key can easily be labeled with an image or text of your choice. There’s no need to swap out the keycap like you would have to on the Megalodon Triple Knob macropad. Not only do you not have to memorize the layout of each of your macros, but you can have pages upon pages of macros created and quickly flip through them, effectively making the 15 keys a much larger number.

Besides the keys being able to change labels as needed, the other accessible point of the Stream Deck is Elgato’s lovely software. Unlike VIA, which relies solely on code and a bit of a visual editor to make changes to your macropad, Elgato’s software makes it easy for rookies and pros alike to navigate. There is a selection of preset controls you can choose from to get started, and you can also create custom actions that can get quite complex if need be.

While the Stream Deck MK.2 is an excellent option for many users, not everyone can get by with just buttons for all their macro controls. This macropad is terrific for creative use. It has a ton of open customization options for gamers and streamers, and it can easily be integrated into a productivity setup, all for a very reasonable price.

While the keypad with 16 keys is very responsive and a delight to use, the main standout feature on this macropad is the three rotary knobs off to the side. It is getting more common to see rotary knobs included on keyboards, and there is a good reason for that, as they are super helpful for a variety of use cases. With three to choose from, you are not just limited to volume control, and with the powerful VIA software, you can program these wheels to pretty much whatever you like.

For example, for video editors, the large wheel can be used to scrub through your timeline frame by frame, and one of the smaller wheels can be used to jump through it quickly from cut to cut. Anybody who has worked on projects longer than a few minutes knows how tiring scrolling back and forth with a mouse wheel can be, and this macropad makes it a dream to navigate around.

While VIA is incredibly powerful, for first-time users, the interface and amount of options can be intimidating; luckily, there is a pretty big community around VIA willing to help out with questions you may run into. After getting the basics down, VIA can make the world your oyster, at least in terms of macropads. Whatever you dream of being accessible at the press of a button is likely possible to accomplish with VIA and this macropad.

Razer has been making its way into the streaming space lately with a selection of microphones and even lights. With the Stream Controller, you can have a full Razer streaming setup. While the Razer Stream Controller is a bit pricey compared to most other options in this guide, it more than makes up for it with the amount and variety of inputs it provides as well as its powerful and accessible software.

People who have been looking around for macropads, especially for streaming, might have a bit of déjà vu with the Razer Stream Controller as it is very similar to the Loupedeck Live. This should not be seen as a bad thing, though. Both of these macropads have a great selection of inputs that give you many different ways to control your streams, as well as creative work and gaming.

Macropads with more options than just buttons. In this case, the Stream Controller also offers rotary knobs that provide an excellent tactile way to interact with things like audio, but where it does lose some tactile points is the fact that a majority of the buttons are a touchscreen. While the touchscreen is responsive and bright, it is a bit harder to operate out of the corner of your eye than the Elgato Stream Deck. After some practice, it gets easier, but for fans of that sure keypress, the Razer Stream controller might not be the way to go.

The Keychron Q0 Max is probably one of the most normal-looking macropads in this guide. From the outside, it just looks like your typical numpad, but after diving into the settings and making it work for your needs, the Q0 Max is a very useful macropad for a ton of use cases, not to mention it’s fully wireless as well.

Because macropads are still reasonably new in the mainstream market, there are not many wireless options currently available, but with Keychron constantly pushing the envelope and bringing more boutique keyboard trends to the mainstream, it makes sense that they would offer a fantastic wireless macropad. If you have a clean wireless setup, free of cable clutter, and have been wanting a macropad to improve your productivity or gaming.

While upfront, the best use case is to use the numpad as a typical numpad and the extra keys for macros and hotkeys. Using VIA, you can program any of these keys to be macros or control whatever you want. For example, with Helldivers II, you can have this macropad as a separate input for calling in stratagems.

While most of the other macropads in this guide are made for more general use and creative users are kind of a plus, the Tourbox Neo is made for creatives, like video editors, photo editors, and designers from the ground up. This compact little macropad is an excellent addition to any creative workflow.

There are larger, more involved macropads like the Loupedeck+, but it is hard to compete with how compact and powerful the Tourbox Neo is. Whether you don’t have a ton of desk real estate or are a laptop user who likes to work on the go, the Neo is hard to beat. While there is still a bit of a learning curve when switching to the Neo from a keyboard, the switch feels much more natural than many other options. All the buttons on the Neo are different shapes and textures, making them incredibly easy to identify by feeling alone, allowing you to concentrate on your screen and not interrupt your workflow fully.

The customization software for the Neo is straightforward to navigate and get set up for your software of choice. Adobe Creative Cloud users will be able to have this macropad set in no time, and if you use other software like DaVinci Resolve or Capture One, you can download presets to make the setup easier. The only downside of the Neo is the customization is pretty limited to these presets. Unless you are willing to homebrew some code, there is no way to introduce multi-function macros like on the Megalodon Triple Knob or Elgato Stream Deck.

A few years ago, Worklouder’s Creator board became very popular in the mechanical keyboard world. To build on that, the Creator Micro is a compact and distilled-down version of the Creator Board, offering a great way to have the quick-access functions you need to make any workflow, from creative to general office work and coding, more efficient and productive.

Like the Megalodon Triple Knob and Keychron Q0 Max, the Creator Micro uses VIA for its customization software, which, as discussed, has its hurdles. Once you get over them, it is easily one of the most powerful macropad customization software out there. The rotary knob and scroll wheel are not quite as versatile for creative software use as other options, but when it comes to office work, they are great for quickly navigating spreadsheets and other similar tasks.

The customization with the Creator Micro doesn’t stop and end with the macros and controls. It goes a step further with the whole build and makeup of the macropad also being fully customizable. You can get it with a blank set of keycaps or one of Worklouder’s pre-printed keycaps that can be placed, but you like to make your vision of how you want to use this macropad come true. Of course, you can source your keycaps if you prefer, but the ones from Worklouder are incredibly high quality.

Critical Factors For Choosing The Best Macro Pad For You

• Amount of Buttons and Features: Depending on what you want to accomplish with a macropad, whether it makes work more efficient, allows you to control streaming elements with a single push of a button, or gaming, you need the right number of buttons and controls to make that possible.
• App Support: Many of the macropads we listed in this guide are not tied to specific apps, but the Elgato Stream Deck and Razer Stream controller and others like these need support for the apps you want to use them with for the best results.
• Form Factor: Like keyboards, macropads come in many shapes and sizes. While the buttons and features should be your main deciding factor, having a macropad that doesn’t fit in your setup will not make anything easier.

FAQ

Q: What is a macropad for?

Macropads are typically smaller keyboards with programmable buttons that you use alongside your regular keyboard. These buttons can be assigned to standard keys on a keyboard, keyboard shortcuts, or even macros (hence the name) that can run codes to do things like launch programs or even complete work setups with just one button press.

Q: Can all keyboards have macros?

While some gaming keyboards offer programmable or macro keys, they rarely provide the same amount that a macropad can, and a lot of the software that comes with these keyboards is pretty limiting when it comes to programming the macros.