Checked September 2026 · 43 picks · 43 compared

Best MIDI Controllers (2026)

The best MIDI controllers are Ableton Push 3, Akai APC64 and Akai MPC Live III. Ableton Push 3 is best for ableton live users who want an expressive pad instrument or a standalone rig (price not published). Akai APC64 is best for ableton live performance and hardware sequencing (price not published). Akai MPC Live III is best for producers who want portable standalone production and live performance (price not published).

1. 

   #1Ableton

   Ableton Push 3

   PAID

   A standalone or tethered instrument with 64 MPE pads, built-in audio interface and CV/gate ports for Ableton Live.

   VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
2. 

   #2Akai Professional

   Akai APC64

   PAID

   An Ableton Live controller with 64 RGB pads, 8 touch strips and a standalone 32-step sequencer with 8 CV/Gate outputs.

   VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
3. 

   #3Akai Professional

   Akai MPC Live III

   PAID

   A standalone MPC with MPCe 3D-sensing pads, 7-inch multi-touch display, built-in speakers and rechargeable battery.

   VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
4. 

   #4Akai Professional

   Akai MPC One+

   PAID

   A standalone MPC with 16 velocity and pressure-sensitive pads, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 16 GB storage.

   VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
5. 

   #5Akai Professional

   Akai MPK Mini Play MK3

   PAID

   A compact battery-powered MIDI keyboard with a built-in speaker and 128+ onboard instruments and drum kits.

   VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
6. 

   #6Akai Professional

   Akai MPK225

   PAID

   A 25-key MIDI controller with semi-weighted keys, aftertouch and MPC pads.

   VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
7. 

   #7Akai Professional

   Akai MPK249

   PAID

   A 49-key MIDI controller with semi-weighted keys, aftertouch and MPC pads.

   VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
8. 

   #8Akai Professional

   Akai MPK261

   PAID

   A 61-key MIDI controller with semi-weighted keys, aftertouch and MPC pads.

   VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
9. 

   #9Akai Professional

   Akai Professional APC Mini MK2

   PAID

   A slim 64-pad and fader controller built for hands-on Ableton Live control.

   VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
10. 

    #10Akai Professional

    Akai Professional MPD218

    PAID

    A MIDI-over-USB pad controller with 16 velocity- and pressure-sensitive MPC pads and 6 assignable knobs.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported+ iOS
11. 

    #11Akai Professional

    Akai Professional MPK Mini IV

    $99once

    Compact 25-key USB-C MIDI controller with pitch/mod wheels, 8 pads, and 5-pin DIN MIDI output.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported+ iOS
12. 

    #12Arturia

    Arturia BeatStep Pro

    PAID

    A hardware sequencer and controller with two melodic sequencers, a drum sequencer and 16 pressure-sensitive pads.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
13. 

    #13Arturia

    Arturia KeyLab 49 mk3

    PAID

    A 49-key controller keyboard with semi-weighted aftertouch keybed, RGB pads and DAW control.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
14. 

    #14Arturia

    Arturia KeyLab 61 mk3

    PAID

    A 61-key controller keyboard with semi-weighted aftertouch keybed, RGB pads and DAW control.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
15. 

    #15Arturia

    Arturia KeyLab Essential 49 mk3

    $299once

    49-key USB-MIDI controller with LCD display, arpeggiator, and Analog Lab V integration.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
16. 

    #16Arturia

    Arturia KeyStep 37 mk2

    PAID

    A compact controller sequencer with arpeggiator and CV/Gate, MIDI DIN and USB-C connectivity.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
17. 

    #17Arturia

    Arturia MiniLab 3

    $149once

    A 25-key universal MIDI controller with pads, faders, encoders, and a bundled software suite.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
18. 

    #18Korg

    Korg microKEY Air

    PAID

    A Bluetooth MIDI keyboard that also works over USB and runs on two AA batteries.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
19. 

    #19Korg

    Korg nanoKONTROL2

    PAID

    A slim USB control surface with eight channels of knobs, faders and buttons plus transport controls.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
20. 

    #20M-Audio

    M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro

    PAID

    An 88-key graded hammer-action USB MIDI controller with Smart Controls and auto-mapping.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
21. 

    #21M-Audio

    M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 MK3

    PAID

    An ultra-portable 32 mini-key USB MIDI keyboard controller for Mac and PC.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported+ iOS
22. 

    #22M-Audio

    M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49

    PAID

    A 49-key USB-powered MIDI controller with Smart Controls and auto-mapping.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
23. 

    #23M-Audio

    M-Audio Oxygen Pro 61

    PAID

    A 61-key USB-powered MIDI controller with Smart Controls and auto-mapping.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
24. 

    #24Native Instruments

    Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol M32

    $139once

    NI's smallest keyboard controller with 32 synth-action keys and deep NKS/Komplete integration.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
25. 

    #25Native Instruments

    Native Instruments Kontrol S49 MK3

    PAID

    A 49-key semi-weighted keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch, Light Guide and deep Komplete Kontrol integration.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
26. 

    #26Native Instruments

    Native Instruments Kontrol S61 MK3

    PAID

    A 61-key semi-weighted keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch, Light Guide and deep Komplete Kontrol integration.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
27. 

    #27Native Instruments

    Native Instruments Maschine Mikro MK3

    PAID

    A compact beatmaking controller with 16 velocity-sensitive pads and a dual-touch Smart Strip.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
28. 

    #28Native Instruments

    Native Instruments Maschine+

    PAID

    A standalone groovebox with two color screens, 16 pads and a 96 kHz / 24-bit audio interface.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
29. 

    #29Nektar Technology

    Nektar Impact GX61

    PAID

    A 61-key USB MIDI controller keyboard with built-in Nektar DAW integration.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
30. 

    #30Nektar

    Nektar Impact LX49+

    PAID

    A 49-key USB MIDI controller with DAW integration, nine faders, eight encoders and eight pads.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
31. 

    #31Nektar

    Nektar Impact LX61+

    PAID

    A 61-key USB MIDI controller with DAW integration, nine faders, eight encoders and eight pads.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
32. N

    #32Novation

    Novation FLkey 37 MK2

    $239.99once

    A 37-key MIDI keyboard built for FL Studio with dedicated FL Studio function buttons and six months of FL Studio Producer Edition.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
33. N

    #33Novation

    Novation FLkey 49 MK2

    $289.99once

    A 49-key MIDI keyboard built for FL Studio with dedicated FL Studio function buttons and six months of FL Studio Producer Edition.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
34. N

    #34Novation

    Novation FLkey Mini 25 MK2

    $139.99once

    A 25-key mini keyboard built for FL Studio with an OLED display and six months of FL Studio Producer Edition.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
35. N

    #35Novation

    Novation Launchkey 25 MK4

    $209.99once

    A 25-key DAW controller with Scale and Chord modes, 16 velocity-sensitive pads and custom controls for any DAW.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
36. N

    #36Novation

    Novation Launchkey 37 MK4

    $239.99once

    A 37-key DAW controller with Scale and Chord modes, 16 velocity-sensitive pads and custom controls for any DAW.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
37. N

    #37Novation

    Novation Launchkey 49 MK4

    $289.99once

    A 49-key DAW controller with Scale and Chord modes, 16 velocity-sensitive pads and custom controls for any DAW.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
38. N

    #38Novation

    Novation Launchkey 61 MK4

    $339.99once

    A 61-key DAW controller with Scale and Chord modes, 16 velocity-sensitive pads and custom controls for any DAW.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
39. N

    #39Novation

    Novation Launchkey Mini 25 MK4

    $139.99once

    A 25 mini-key DAW controller with polyphonic-aftertouch pads, Scale/Chord modes, and an arpeggiator.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
40. N

    #40Novation

    Novation Launchpad Mini

    $129.99once

    A compact 64 RGB-pad MIDI grid controller for clip launching in Ableton Live.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
41. N

    #41Novation

    Novation Launchpad Pro MK3

    $409.99once

    A grid controller for Ableton Live and Logic Pro with a standalone 32-step sequencer and 64 velocity and pressure-sensitive pads.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
42. N

    #42Novation

    Novation Launchpad X

    $229.99once

    A 64-pad RGB grid controller for Ableton Live and Logic Pro with velocity-sensitive pads and polyphonic aftertouch.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
43. R

    #43Roland

    Roland A-88MKII

    PAID

    An 88-note hammer-action MIDI keyboard controller with MIDI 2.0, USB-C, RGB knobs and pads.

    VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

Comparison table