The Ultimate Guide to the Best Keycap Brands for Mechanical Keyboard Enthusiasts

If you’re a gamer, typist, or keyboard enthusiast, finding the perfect set of keycaps is essential for your overall typing experience. Custom keycaps not only enhance the aesthetics of your keyboard but also provide better durability and performance. With so many brands and styles available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best keycap brands you should know and why they stand out. Whether you’re seeking premium options or budget-friendly alternatives, this article will help you navigate the world of custom keycaps and make an informed decision.

Why Are Keycaps Important?

Keycaps are more than just decorative covers for your keyboard. They have a significant impact on how a keyboard feels and functions. From typing comfort to durability, keycaps can transform a standard keyboard into a personalized tool suited to your unique needs. Here are a few reasons why investing in quality keycaps is worth it:

• Aesthetics: Custom keycaps allow you to express your personal style. Whether you prefer retro themes, minimalist designs, or vibrant colors, keycap sets are available in every style imaginable.
• Feel: Different materials and profiles create varied typing experiences. For instance, thick PBT keycaps offer a sturdy, textured feel, while thinner ABS keycaps may provide a smoother surface.
• Durability: High-quality keycaps, especially those made from PBT plastic, last longer and resist shine, fading, or wear over time.
• Customization: With swappable keycaps, you can easily customize your keyboard layout, color scheme, and even the keycap profile to match your preferences.

The Best Keycap Brands You Should Know

When choosing keycaps, it’s important to consider material, profile, and design. Here are the top brands that excel in these areas:

1. GMK: The Gold Standard in Premium ABS Keycaps

If you’re into custom mechanical keyboards, you’ve likely heard of GMK. Founded in Germany in 1992, GMK is renowned for its high-quality ABS plastic keycap sets and Cherry Profile keycaps. GMK uses original Cherry MX tooling, which results in thicker, more durable keycaps with consistent legends.

Key Features:

• Material: ABS plastic, known for its smooth feel and vibrant colors.
• Profile: Cherry Profile, which offers a sculpted shape for better typing ergonomics.
• Designs: GMK keycaps are famous for their collaborations with designers and popular colorways like GMK “Olivia,” GMK “Laser,” and GMK “Metropolis.”
• Durability: While ABS is typically less durable than PBT, GMK keycaps use high-quality doubleshot molding to ensure long-lasting legends that won’t fade over time.

GMK’s keycap sets are premium-priced, and they are typically sold via group buys, which can involve long waiting periods. However, the demand for GMK is so high that enthusiasts are willing to wait months to get their hands on these limited-edition sets.

2. EnjoyPBT: High-Quality PBT Keycaps for Durability

EnjoyPBT is another top-tier keycap manufacturer, known for producing durable PBT keycaps. Unlike GMK’s ABS plastic, EnjoyPBT uses thick PBT plastic, which is more resistant to shine and wear. The company is especially well-known for its Cherry Profile keycaps, offering enthusiasts a high-quality alternative to GMK at a slightly lower price point.

Key Features:

• Material: Premium thick PBT plastic.
• Profile: Cherry Profile, ideal for both typing and gaming.
• Durability: PBT is more resistant to shine and discoloration compared to ABS, making EnjoyPBT keycaps an excellent choice for long-term use.
• Designs: Popular sets include the EnjoyPBT “Japanese Hiragana” and the classic “Dolch” sets.

If you’re looking for a durable keycap set that maintains a high standard of quality, EnjoyPBT is a great option, especially for those who prefer PBT over ABS.

3. Drop: Unique Designs for Every Enthusiast

Drop, formerly known as Massdrop, is a well-known name among mechanical keyboard enthusiasts. They offer a wide range of keyboard accessories, including keycaps. Drop often collaborates with talented designers to produce unique and visually stunning keycap sets.

Key Features:

• Material: Both ABS and PBT keycaps.
• Profile: Drop offers keycaps in a variety of profiles, including Cherry, XDA, DSA, and the in-house designed MT3 profile, which is known for its deep, sculpted shape that enhances typing feel.
• Collaborations: Drop is famous for its collaborations, such as the MT3 “Godspeed” set and the SA “Pulse” set.
• Durability: Depending on the set, Drop’s keycaps can be either ABS or PBT. Their doubleshot PBT sets are highly durable, while the ABS sets provide vibrant color options.

Drop’s keycaps are a favorite for enthusiasts looking for creative, one-of-a-kind designs, and they regularly release new sets through their website.

4. Epomaker Akko: Affordable and Stylish Keycaps

For those on a budget, Epomaker Akko offers stylish and high-quality keycap sets without the premium price tag. Akko has made a name for itself by producing affordable mechanical keyboards and keycap sets that don’t compromise on quality.

Key Features:

• Material: PBT plastic.
• Profile: Akko’s keycaps are often available in OEM and Cherry profiles.
• Designs: Akko keycaps come in a wide range of vibrant, colorful designs, including themed sets like Akko “World Tour Tokyo” and Akko “Neon”.
• Durability: Made from durable PBT plastic, Akko’s keycaps resist wear and fading over time, making them a solid choice for budget-conscious buyers.

Akko’s keycap sets are perfect for users looking for fun, stylish designs at a more affordable price. Despite their lower cost, Akko’s products have earned a reputation for quality and durability.

5. Ducky: Reliable Keycap Sets for Gamers and Typists

Ducky is a popular name in the mechanical keyboard space, known for its high-quality keyboards and keycap sets. While Ducky’s primary focus is on pre-built keyboards, they also sell keycaps that are sought after by gamers and typists alike.

Key Features:

• Material: PBT plastic.
• Profile: Ducky keycaps are typically available in OEM and Cherry profiles.
• Durability: Ducky keycaps are highly durable and are made from thick PBT plastic, making them resistant to shine and wear.
• Designs: Ducky offers clean, minimalist keycap designs as well as vibrant colorways, such as the “One 2 Mini” series.

Ducky’s keycap sets are often praised for their affordability and reliability, making them a great option for users who want high-quality keycaps without paying a premium.

6. Tai-Hao: A Budget-Friendly Option

For mechanical keyboard enthusiasts on a budget, Tai-Hao is one of the most affordable options on the market. Tai-Hao offers keycaps made from both ABS and PBT plastic and is known for its extensive color options and retro-themed sets.

Key Features:

• Material: Both ABS and PBT plastic.
• Profile: Available in OEM and Cherry profiles.
• Durability: Tai-Hao’s PBT keycaps offer better durability compared to their ABS sets, but even the ABS sets are made to a high standard.
• Designs: Tai-Hao is famous for its wide range of color options, including neon and retro designs like the Miami Keycap Set.

Tai-Hao’s keycaps are perfect for beginners or those who want to experiment with different styles without breaking the bank.

Keycap Profiles Explained

When choosing keycaps, it’s important to understand the profile of the keycap set. Here’s a quick overview of the most popular keycap profiles:

• Cherry Profile: A sculpted, lower-profile design known for its comfort during extended typing sessions.
• OEM Profile: The most common profile, with a slightly taller and more aggressive slope than Cherry.
• SA Profile: A tall, spherical profile with a retro feel, often preferred by enthusiasts who like a deep keypress.
• XDA Profile: A uniform, flat profile with a large surface area for each keycap, providing a smooth, consistent typing feel.
• DSA Profile: Similar to XDA, but with a slightly lower height, DSA keycaps offer a uniform shape across all rows.

Each profile offers a different typing experience, so it’s important to try out a few options to see what feels best for you.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Keycap Set

Whether you’re after the premium quality of GMK, the durability of EnjoyPBT, or the unique designs from Drop and Epomaker Akko, there’s a keycap set out there for every keyboard enthusiast. It all comes down to your personal preference for material, profile, and aesthetic. Remember, investing in high-quality keycaps not only enhances your typing experience but also lets you personalize your keyboard in a way that reflects your unique style.

By understanding the different brands and profiles, you’ll be well on your way to finding the perfect keycaps that