Best Stream Deck 2026: Elgato Models & Alternatives
Already own one? How to actually use a Stream Deck — Smart Profiles, Key Logic and Multi Actions.
The best stream deck for most streamers is the 15-key Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 ($149.99 list, often about $120 on Amazon). Go smaller with the Neo or Mini, pick the Stream Deck + if you want dials for audio, or skip hardware entirely: Elgato's Stream Deck Mobile app is free with six keys. Below are seven Elgato models, four alternatives and the free software options.
Prices and picks checked . Prices move — treat them as a guide, not a quote.
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What Is a Stream Deck?
A stream deck is a small controller of programmable keys, each with its own LCD icon. One press switches an OBS scene, mutes your mic, plays a sound effect or fires a multi-step macro, so you stop hunting for hotkeys while live. Elgato popularised the category and “Stream Deck” is its product name; other brands sell stream controllers, macro pads or control surfaces that do the same job, some with dials for audio. The keys are only half of it — the software and its plugins decide what each key can control.
Elgato Stream Deck Models
Prices are Elgato's US list prices. On September 26, 2026 Amazon sold most of them about 10–20% lower — the MK.2 at $119.99, the Mini at $49.99 and the XL at $199.99.
Elgato Stream Deck MK.2
TOP PICK15 LCD keysThe 15-key standard and the one to buy if you are unsure. Enough keys for scenes, mic, sounds and chat without folders; also sold as a Scissor Keys version with crisper switches at the same $149.99 list price.
$150
Buy
Elgato Stream Deck Neo
8 LCD keys + 2 touch pointsEight keys plus an info bar between two touch points that flips between key pages — the same plugins and profiles as the bigger models at a friendlier price.
$100
Buy
Elgato Stream Deck Mini
6 LCD keysSix keys for scene switching, mute and one or two sound effects. Pages and folders stretch it further, but you will outgrow it if you run more than three scenes.
$60
Buy
Elgato Stream Deck +
8 LCD keys + 4 dials + touch stripEight keys, four push-dials and a touch strip that shows the level of whatever each dial controls. The dials make it an audio mixer for mic, game, music and alerts — the reason to pick it over the MK.2.
$180
Buy
Elgato Stream Deck XL
32 LCD keysAn 8 × 4 grid of 32 keys, so every scene, source and sound sits on the top level with no folders. Worth it once you run a real production with many scenes.
$250
Buy
Elgato Stream Deck + XL
36 LCD keys + 6 dials + touch stripThe XL's key count and the +'s dials on one surface: 36 keys, six push-dials and a touch strip. The single-device answer if you would otherwise buy an XL and a + together.
$350
Buy
Elgato Stream Deck Pedal
3 foot pedalsThree foot switches running the same Stream Deck software, with swappable springs for soft, medium or hard presses. A companion, not a replacement: push-to-talk, mute or a replay while both hands stay on the game.
$90
BuyStream Deck Alternatives
Loupedeck, the old go-to alternative, is gone: Logitech ended Loupedeck sales on March 28, 2025 and moved development to the MX Creative Console, and the Loupedeck Live S was out of stock on Amazon US when we checked. Razer's 15-key Stream Controller X was out of stock too. These four are what is actually buyable instead of an Elgato.
Logitech MX Creative Console
9 LCD keys + dialpadLogitech's successor to Loupedeck: a 9-key LCD keypad plus a separate dialpad with a dial and roller. Logitech's own OBS Studio plugin covers scenes, sources and the audio mixer, and the Adobe integrations are the deepest here.
$200
Buy
Razer Stream Controller
12 keys + 6 dials + touchscreenTwelve haptic keys on an LCD touchscreen, six analog dials and eight layout buttons — the most dials for the money. It runs Loupedeck software, which confirmed on August 19, 2026 that Razer devices stay supported after briefly dropping them.
$160
Buy
SOOMFON Stream Controller
15 LCD keysFifteen LCD keys for the price of Elgato's six-key Mini, with its own software covering OBS Studio, Twitch and Spotify. Rated 4.1 out of 5 by more than 1,400 Amazon buyers; the trade-off is software that is rougher than Elgato's and no access to Elgato's plugins.
$60
Buy
Corsair Galleon 100 SD
Keyboard + 12 LCD keys + 2 dialsA full-size mechanical keyboard whose number pad is replaced by a Stream Deck: 12 LCD keys, two dials and a display, running Elgato's own Stream Deck software. One device on the desk instead of two.
Quick Comparison: Every Stream Deck and Alternative
| Product | Type | Price | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 | 15 LCD keys | $150 | Most streamers | 5.0 |
| Elgato Stream Deck Neo | 8 LCD keys + 2 touch points | $100 | First stream deck | 4.5 |
| Elgato Stream Deck Mini | 6 LCD keys | $60 | Tight budget, small desk | 4.5 |
| Elgato Stream Deck + | 8 LCD keys + 4 dials + touch strip | $180 | Audio control on dials | 5.0 |
| Elgato Stream Deck XL | 32 LCD keys | $250 | Big productions | 5.0 |
| Elgato Stream Deck + XL | 36 LCD keys + 6 dials + touch strip | $350 | Keys and dials in one | 4.5 |
| Elgato Stream Deck Pedal | 3 foot pedals | $90 | Hands-free push-to-talk | 4.5 |
| Logitech MX Creative Console | 9 LCD keys + dialpad | $200 | Streamers who also edit | 4.5 |
| Razer Stream Controller | 12 keys + 6 dials + touchscreen | $160 | Most dials for the money | 4.0 |
| SOOMFON Stream Controller | 15 LCD keys | $60 | Most keys under $60 | 4.0 |
| Corsair Galleon 100 SD | Keyboard + 12 LCD keys + 2 dials | $350 | One device instead of two | 4.0 |
Free and Phone-Based Stream Deck Alternatives
A phone or an old tablet on a stand does most of what a hardware deck does, minus the physical keys. It is the cheapest way to find out which buttons you actually press before you spend money.
| App | Free | Paid | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stream Deck Mobile (Elgato) | 6 keys, forever | Pro: $2.99/month, $24.99/year or $49.99 lifetime, up to 64 keys | iOS and Android. Same plugins and profiles as the hardware. |
| Virtual Stream Deck (Elgato) | Up to 64 on-screen keys per panel | Unlocks only with a Stream Deck device connected | An on-screen deck on your PC or Mac — extra keys for owners, not a replacement. |
| Touch Portal | 2 pages, 4 × 2 buttons | Pro: $13.99 one-time | Phone or tablet over Wi-Fi; Windows, macOS and Linux hosts. |
| Deckboard | Free with ads, smaller grid | PRO: $4.99 one-time on iOS | OBS Studio and Streamlabs control through OBS WebSocket. |
Best Stream Deck by Budget
- $0: Stream Deck Mobile, free with six keys on the phone you already own.
- Around $60: Stream Deck Mini for Elgato's software, or the SOOMFON 15-key if you need more keys and accept weaker software.
- Around $100: Stream Deck Neo — eight keys and the full Elgato plugin library.
- Under $150: Stream Deck MK.2, the default pick for most streamers.
- Under $200: Stream Deck + if you want dials for your audio mix, or the Logitech MX Creative Console if you also edit video.
- Under $350: Stream Deck XL, or XL plus Pedal ($339.98 at list) for hands and feet, or the Stream Deck + XL for keys and dials on one surface.
What to Check Before You Buy
Keys vs folders
Every model supports folders and pages, but opening a folder mid-fight is the thing a deck is meant to remove. Buy enough keys that your live actions sit on the top level.
Dials for audio
If you want an audio controller deck, dials (knobs) beat keys: turn mic, game and music up or down instead of pressing plus and minus. The Stream Deck +, + XL and Razer Stream Controller do this; for real hardware mixing see our audio interfaces.
Software and plugins
Elgato's marketplace has free OBS Studio, Streamlabs Desktop, Twitch and YouTube plugins; Kick runs through OBS, so the OBS plugin covers it. For chat-driven automations, pair any deck with a bot like Streamer.bot. If you are still setting up scenes, start with our OBS setup guide.
Desk space
The XL and + XL are the size of a small tablet on a stand. On a cramped desk the Neo, Mini or a keyboard with a deck built in, like the Galleon 100 SD, fits where a second device will not.
Building a first setup from scratch? A deck is a later purchase — see the streaming setup under $500 for what to buy first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a stream deck used for?
A stream deck is a pad of programmable keys with small LCD screens under each one. Each key triggers an action or a chain of actions: switch an OBS scene, mute your mic, play a sound effect, post a chat message or start a recording. It replaces a head full of keyboard shortcuts with labelled buttons you can hit without looking away from the game.
What is the best stream deck in 2026?
The 15-key Elgato Stream Deck MK.2, at $149.99 list and often around $120 on Amazon, is the best stream deck for most streamers: enough keys to avoid folders and the largest plugin library. Buy the Stream Deck + instead if you want dials for audio, and the Stream Deck XL or + XL if you run a large production.
Which Stream Deck size should I buy?
Count the actions you use every stream. Up to six — scenes, mute, one sound — fits the Mini. Eight to fifteen fits the Neo or MK.2. More than fifteen, or several scenes plus a soundboard, is XL territory at 32 keys, or the + XL at 36 keys with dials. You can move your profiles to a bigger Elgato model later, so starting small costs little.
Should I get the Stream Deck or the Stream Deck XL?
Get the 15-key Stream Deck unless you already use folders on it constantly. The XL's 32 keys cost $100 more at list price and need a much bigger spot on the desk; they are worth it when every scene, camera and sound needs its own key during a live show, not for a standard game stream.
What is the best Stream Deck alternative?
The Logitech MX Creative Console ($199.99) is the strongest hardware alternative now that Logitech has stopped selling Loupedeck. The Razer Stream Controller gives the most dials for the money at about $160, and SOOMFON's 15-key controller costs about $60. If you want to spend nothing, Elgato's Stream Deck Mobile app is free with six keys.
Can I use a Stream Deck without buying the hardware?
Yes. Elgato's Stream Deck Mobile app turns a phone or tablet into a six-key deck for free, and Pro unlocks up to 64 keys for $2.99 a month, $24.99 a year or $49.99 once. Touch Portal and Deckboard are cheaper one-time alternatives. Elgato's Virtual Stream Deck, an on-screen deck for your computer, only unlocks when a physical Stream Deck is connected.
Do Stream Decks work with OBS, Streamlabs, Twitch, YouTube and Kick?
Yes. Elgato's marketplace has free plugins for OBS Studio, Streamlabs Desktop, Twitch and YouTube. Kick streams run through OBS, so the OBS plugin covers scenes and sources there. For chained actions and chat-driven automation, pair the deck with Streamer.bot.
What is the difference between the Stream Deck MK.2 and Scissor Keys?
Only the key feel. Both have the same 15 LCD keys, software and $149.99 list price; the classic keys use membrane switches with a soft, cushioned press, while the Scissor Keys version has a crisper, more responsive click.
Is a stream deck worth it for small streamers?
If you stream alone and juggle scenes, audio and chat at once, yes — it removes the moment where you alt-tab mid-game and your viewers watch a desktop. Start with the free mobile app to learn which keys you actually press, then buy the Neo or MK.2 once you know.