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Best Sim Racing Button Boxes

4 picks · Updated 19 October 2026 · Based on 10 owner posts and reviews

A button box puts brake bias, traction control, pit limiter and other settings on physical controls so you do not reach for a keyboard mid-race. Almost all of them are PC only. This is a small list because most dedicated boxes we checked were sold out on 19 October.

Only one pick has owner evidence: the Apex Race Deck XL, from ten customer reviews on Apex's own product page. Those reviews are positive and short, and they sit on the seller's site, so read them with that in mind. The three Elgato Stream Deck picks are spec-checked: price, stock and specs come from Elgato's US page, with no owner evidence behind them.

We dropped the boxes that were not buyable. Apex's own Race Deck, Black Box Mini, Downforce, Slim Racer, Push To Talk and Apex Button Box V1 and V2 were all unavailable on apexsimracing.com. Sim Motion showed the Racebox GT3-PRO, GTE V3 and VNM Button Box V1 as sold out on their pages.

We can’t test everything, so each pick is labelled with where the evidence comes from. How we research and test. Some links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you (disclosure).

PickProductPriceEvidence
Best dedicated box with a Stream Deck built inApex Sim Racing Race Deck XL Button Box$174.99Owner-reported
Most keysElgato Stream Deck XL$249.99Spec-checked
Best Stream Deck with dialsElgato Stream Deck +$179.99Spec-checked
Cheapest way to add macro keysElgato Stream Deck (15 keys)$149.99Spec-checked

1. Best dedicated box with a Stream Deck built in

Apex Sim Racing Race Deck XL Button Box

$174.99
Owner-reportedPC only (one USB connection)

Apex's box wraps an Elgato Stream Deck XL in a carbon-fibre panel with four encoders and ten push buttons wired to its own circuit board. Customers on the Apex page mostly praise the build and finish and say it is easy to install. The price is for the box only: you also need a $249.99 Stream Deck XL, which brings the total to roughly $425.

What owners report · from 10 owner posts and reviews we read

  • Build quality and finish praised: carbon-fibre plates, solid feel (most reviewers)
  • Easy to install and looks good on a rig (several owners)
  • One buyer said the Stream Deck XL did not fit well without modification and shifted in use (one owner)
  • One buyer wanted an aluminium knob on the 7-way switch (one owner)
Owner threads we read (1)
Controls
4 CTS rotary encoders and 10 x 12 mm aluminium push buttons (9 with the optional 7-way switch)
Display
Houses an Elgato Stream Deck XL (not included)
Front and rear plates
2 mm matte twill carbon fibre
Enclosure
3D-printed, hand-finished
Size
H 220 x W 205 x D 45 mm
Mounting
VESA 100x100 rear inserts
Connection
One USB connection to PC; a USB-C to USB-A cable is needed for the internal PCB (not included)
Stock on 19 Oct
Shown as low stock, 8 left
Best for
PC racers who want encoders and buttons plus a macro screen in one panel.
Worth knowing
The box does not include the Stream Deck XL, and a USB-C to USB-A cable is also not included. One buyer said the Stream Deck XL did not fit well without modification.
Check price at apexsimracing.com

Price seen at apexsimracing.com, 19 Oct 2026 ($199.99 with the 7-way multi-switch; Stream Deck XL sold separately).

2. Most keys

Elgato Stream Deck XL

$249.99
Spec-checkedPC (Windows 11 or newer); also macOS 13 or newer

The biggest Stream Deck, with 32 LCD keys. It is not made for sim racing and Elgato's page does not mention it, but Apex lists the XL for iRacing and sells mounts and boxes built around it. Its keys are macro buttons run by Elgato's software, so check that your sim accepts the key presses you assign.

Keys
32 customisable LCD keys (8 x 4)
Interface
USB 2.0, USB-C to USB-C cable included (150 cm)
Software
Free Stream Deck software
Stock on 19 Oct
Add to cart shown
Best for
Sim racers who want many pages of controls and will mount it themselves or in an Apex or Trak Racer panel.
Worth knowing
No encoders or toggles, and it is a macro screen rather than a game controller. Price is high for what it adds.
Check price at elgato.com

Price seen at elgato.com, 19 Oct 2026.

3. Best Stream Deck with dials

Elgato Stream Deck +

$179.99
Spec-checkedPC (Windows 11 or newer); also macOS 13 or newer

The only Elgato model here with rotary dials, which suit settings you step up and down, such as brake bias. It has fewer keys than the XL. Elgato does not market it for sim racing, so treat the fit as your own call.

Keys
8 customisable LCD keys
Dials
4 x 360-degree encoders with push function
Touch strip
108 x 14 mm LCD
Interface
USB 2.0 per the tech specs; a USB 3.0 or later Type-C port is recommended
Stock on 19 Oct
Add to cart shown
Best for
Racers who want a few dials and a touch strip rather than lots of keys.
Worth knowing
Only 8 keys, so it holds fewer pages of controls than the XL.
Check price at elgato.com

Price seen at elgato.com, 19 Oct 2026.

4. Cheapest way to add macro keys

Elgato Stream Deck (15 keys)

$149.99
Spec-checkedPC (Windows 11 or newer); also macOS 13 or newer

The entry model, with 15 LCD keys. It is a macro pad and not a purpose-built sim racing box, but it is the lowest-priced item on this list. We have no owner reports for it in a sim racing role.

Keys
15 customisable LCD keys
Interface
USB 2.0; a USB Type-C port is recommended
Stock on 19 Oct
Add to cart shown on the black model; some colour editions out of stock
Best for
Drivers who just want a handful of programmable keys for pit and radio commands.
Worth knowing
No encoders or toggles, and fewer keys than the XL.
Check price at elgato.com

Price seen at elgato.com, 19 Oct 2026.

How to choose

Dedicated button box or Stream Deck

A dedicated box has real push buttons, toggles and rotary encoders. The Apex Race Deck XL pairs encoders and buttons with a Stream Deck XL screen. A Stream Deck by itself is a grid of programmable LCD keys, with four dials on the Stream Deck +.

The Stream Deck software assigns key presses and macros, so your sim needs to accept those inputs. A dedicated board that shows up as a game controller is simpler for some sims. Check how your sim handles bindings before you buy.

Which controls you need

For brake bias, traction control and ABS, encoders and rotary switches are easier than keys, because you click them up and down. Apex's Race Deck XL page lists headlights, wipers, pit limiter, ignition, brake bias, ABS and black boxes as inputs it can drive. Toggles suit on and off functions such as ignition or pit limiter.

Count what you actually press during a race. We cannot say what suits your cars.

Mounting

Apex lists a Stream Deck XL Mount at $100 (carbon-fibre plates, 100x100 VESA) and a basic Stream Deck Mount at $75, both available on 19 October. The Race Deck XL has VESA 100x100 rear inserts. Trak Racer sells mount kits for Stream Decks, tablets and button boxes from $59 for aluminium-extrusion cockpits.

If you use a desk, Apex's listing says the Stream Deck XL box includes a magnetic stand.

PC only

Every product here is PC only. The Race Deck XL page lists one USB connection to PC. Elgato lists Windows 11 or newer and macOS 13 or newer. None is listed for PlayStation or Xbox, so console racers should check their wheel brand's own button modules.

Questions buyers ask

Do sim racing button boxes work on PS5 or Xbox?+

Not the products on this list. Apex lists PC for the Race Deck XL, and Elgato lists Windows and macOS for the Stream Deck. Console racers should check their wheel brand for button modules.

How much does the Apex Race Deck XL really cost?+

The box is $174.99, or $199.99 with the 7-way multi-switch. The Stream Deck XL is sold separately at $249.99 on elgato.com, and a USB-C to USB-A cable is also needed. That puts the total near $425.

Can I use a Stream Deck as a button box?+

Yes. Apex sells Stream Deck mounts and lists the Stream Deck XL for iRacing. Elgato does not market it for sim racing, so you map its keys through the Stream Deck software and check your sim accepts them.

Which Stream Deck has dials?+

The Stream Deck +, at $179.99. It has 8 LCD keys and 4 push-to-click 360-degree encoders, plus a touch strip.

Why is the list so short?+

Most dedicated boxes we checked were sold out or backordered on 19 October, including Apex's own Race Deck, Black Box Mini, Downforce and Slim Racer, and Sim Motion's Racebox models. We only list products you can buy now.

Do I need a button box?+

No. Many sims let you change settings with wheel buttons or a keyboard. A box helps if your wheel lacks controls or you use many in-race adjustments.

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