For you, the first board ever

safe pick · easy entry · forgiving

Coming from a laptop or membrane keyboard. Hot-swap so you can change switches later without soldering, assembled out of the box, and broadly liked by the community.

Rainy 75
01Rainy 75
Rainy

The community's most-recommended first custom: aluminum 75% with creamy stock sound around $90. The board that defined what a budget endgame feels like.

build · solidsound · thockylayout · 75%
Epomaker Galaxy 100

Aluminum full-size with numpad and knob under $90 — hot-swap PCB and VIA out of the box. Solid build that owners say feels like much more.

build · solidsound · creamylayout · full
Yunzii AL80
03Yunzii AL80
Yunzii

Around $84 for an aluminum 75% with bundled keycaps and a sound close to the Rainy 75. The all-rounder pick if the Rainy is out of stock.

build · solidsound · thockylayout · 75%
Redragon K742
05Redragon K742
Redragon

Cheapest path to a 96% with a knob — and real QMK firmware, not just marketing. VIA works out of the box, rare at this price.

build · solidcustomizability · via
Womier SK71 Pro

Tank-like 75% with VIA and hot-swap on a budget. A first hot-swap board with a hall-effect variant if gaming is also in the mix.

build · solidlayout · 75%material · aluminum
Ajazz AK820

The tightest-budget option here — plastic 75% with surprisingly satisfying red linears. Pick this when cheap and serviceable beats premium feel.

build · solidsound · thockylayout · 75%