The prospect of choosing the best budget mouse for your PC can be bewildering, particularly if you’re working with a limited budget. With so much choice out there, it can be difficult to know where to start if you’re looking to upgrade without spending a small fortune.
The good news is that this wealth of choice also offers up a wealth of quality, too, including many of the best mouse models from major brands like Razer, Logitech, and many more.
For gamers, having the best gaming mouse for your budget is a vital part of your setup, as one with inferior tracking capabilities and fewer customizable features is likely to have a negative impact on your performance, especially when it comes to competitive gameplay. Chances are, you’ll be looking for something responsive, with a high polling rate and low click latency.
If you’re looking for something to boost your productivity in the office, you might appreciate the clutter-free convenience of the best wireless mouse with programmable button functions, and a comfortable, ergonomic design. And if your workload requires you to review lots of data, using a mouse with an adjustable scroll speed can be a godsend, too.
The best budget mouse should elevate your PC experience by blending a smooth and comfortable performance with the right tools for the job at hand. And no matter whether you’re a gamer, creative, or just require something reliable for everyday office work, there is a budget mouse to accommodate your needs.
We have taken a deep dive into the pool of budget mice to bring you our carefully curated selection. Covering everything under the sun including comfort, precision, noise output, customizable button functions, wireless capabilities, and more, we have selected the best wired and wireless budget mice to help you find the right mouse for your needs and budget.
The best budget mouse in 2024
When the Microsoft IntelliMouse was introduced in 1996, it has a groundbreaking peripheral for its ergonomics, its then-high DPI, and the introduction of the ubiquitous mousewheel. With 2019's Classic IntelliMouse, Microsoft kept it simple with a classy five-button design that still fits comfortably in your hand—assuming you are right-handed, of course.
Microsoft's Classic IntelliMouse features a five-button design with 3200 DPI and a soft white lighting effect that gives it a modern feel while still sticking to its core brand identity as a modern enterprise peripheral.
Unlike its earlier predecessors, the wire-bound Classic IntelliMouse is hardly the best budget mouse for gaming or portability, but for everyday home or office use, its form factor and relatively high DPI will make it feel far superior to many standard mice out there. And for the price, it knows what it is and it does it very, very well.
Read the full review here: Microsoft Classic IntelliMouse review
Logitech is synonymous with computer peripherals and they've been putting out quality products at affordable prices for almost 40 years. While not as robust as some high-end gaming mice from Razer, Corsair, or HyperX, the Logitech G203 Prodigy is a quality gaming mouse directed at the more cost-conscious PC gamer.
That doesn't mean that the G203 Prodigy scrimps on the kind of features gamers expect from their mice. It has 8000 DPI and six programmable buttons which is more than enough for all but the semi-pro esports gamer contingent. The ergonomic design of the mouse is ambidextrous, though lefties will not be able to easily access the mouse's two side buttons.
Its sensors aren't the newest in Logitech's arsenal, either, but they are more than capable of providing the average gamer with the responsiveness they need, putting it in contention for the best budget mouse for gaming that you're likely to find. It is wired, so portability is an issue, but if you've got a gaming rig at home and you're looking for an affordable gaming mouse that will get the job done, the Logitech G203 Prodigy just might be it.
Read the full review here: Logitech G203 Prodigy
Razer has been the go-to maker of dedicated gaming peripherals for many years, and it's easy to see why. Their gaming mice have sleek, ergonomic designs, customizable LED backlighting, and nearly as many buttons as their keyboards. For a budget gaming mouse, the Razer DeathAdder Elite is well within this tradition and is aimed squarely at the FPS crowd.
With 16000 DPI and an exceptionally-high polling rate—the mouse state and position is updated at 1000 Hz, or 1000 times a second—this is a gaming mouse that is designed for precision control. That makes it perfect for FPS gamers where the slightest delay in responsiveness could mean the difference between a match-ending headshot and a potentially disasterous near-miss.
Its seven programmable buttons will likely be plenty for most gamers, but for the truly hardcore, this might seem rather limited, especially for a Razer gaming mouse. But considering that the Razer DeathAdder Elite packs some seriously high-end specs into a comfortable and affordable package, it is in contention for the best budget mouse for gamers who need precision control at a reasonable price point.
Logitech has been in the vanguard of the wireless mouse revolution over the last numbers of years and the Logitech M330 Silent Plus is a ideal distillation of the core design. With a focus on portability and a quiet mouseprint, the M330 Silent Plus is a great laptop mouse for when silent operation is desired.
Its specs are rather standard for an everyday general use mouse: it has 1000 DPI, three buttons, and ergonomic design. Its major selling point is that it is wireless and that it makes next to no noise while you're using it. No one wants to be that person making the distracting zush-zush, clickity-click, and clack-clap noises in a school library or local coffee shop and this mouse is made specifically to save you from the irritated scorn of the person one table over.
It most certainly wasn't made for gamers, however, and while the compact size and silent operation possibly make it the best budget mouse for students and the mobile workforce, even a freelancer will recognize the lack of features that comparable mice offer. For the price though, it's hard to beat if you just need something that points, clicks, and stays as quiet as a mouse while you work.
While most mice nowadays slap extra buttons on the every practical side of the mouse, at the end of the day the left and right mouse buttons end up doing about 95% of the work even on the most elite gaming mice.
If you're just looking for a wireless mouse that you can throw in your bag with a laptop for years to come, the Microsoft Bluetooth Mobile Mouse 3600 can't be beat. It has 1000 DPI, only two mouse buttons and a mousewheel, and an ergonomic, ambidextrous design that everyone will find comfortable to use.
The biggest selling point for the Bluetooth Mobile Mouse 3600 is right in its name: it uses built-in Bluetooth technology rather than your standard wireless radio connection. This frees the mouse from the tyranny of the tiny USB dongle, making it a top contender for the best budget mouse for anyone who needs portability, durability, and simplicity.
Which is the best affordable mouse?
Opinions will vary on the best affordable mouse, and it’s likely to depend on whether you’re looking for gaming prowess, productivity, or portability.
Both Razer and Logitech provide some of the best cheap wired gaming mice, and you’ll find picks from both in our list here.
There are some solid picks from Microsoft for good and cheap mice, which work well with laptops and are compact and portable for travel. These can be some of the most cost-efficient if you’re looking for basic functionality.
Whatever you’re looking for, there are near endless possibilities for dependable and cheap mice, to meet your requirements.
What is the best gaming mouse for $50?
Despite what you might think, there are some great gaming mice for under $50.
We recommend the Razer DeathAdder Elite or the Logitech G203, which both come in at under $50 and provide a smooth, responsive performance for a wired gaming mouse.
For cost-conscious buyers, the Razer DeathAdder Elite offers 16000 DPI and a high-polling rate for precision control, with customizable LED backlighting, and is ideal for FPS gameplay.
The Logitech G203 has an 8000 DPI and six programmable buttons, with an ambidextrous design. It is a lightweight wired mouse that offers excellent value for money, with a good all-round performance for more casual gameplay.
The best budget mouse: Today's best deals
