Arcade Stick Comparison Chart 2020
On this page you’ll find the current best arcade sticks, or fightsticks, on the market for different platforms They are laid out in a handy table format, so it’s easy to compare and find the one that best fits your needs.
If you’re not entirely sure if arcade sticks are for you, or how much you should be prepared to pay for a proper stick, you may find some pointers in the Introduction to Arcade Sticks.
When your mind is set, maybe you’ll find some more guidance about choosing the right fightstick from the Buyer’s Guide to Buying an Arcade Stick.
PS4 Budget Arcade Sticks
| Name | Mayflash F300 | Mayflash F500 | Qanba Drone | Hori Fighting Stick Mini 4 | Venom Arcade Stick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picture |  |  |  |  |  |
| Platforms | PS4*, PS3, Xbox 360*, Xbox One*, PC, Switch | PS4*, PS3, Xbox 360*, Xbox One*, PC, Switch | PS4, PS3, PC | PS4, PS3 | PS4, PS3, PC** |
| Cable Length (approx.) | 9.8 ft (3 m) | 9.8 ft (3 m) | 7.5 ft (2.2 m) | 8.2 ft (2.5 m) | 9.8 ft (3 m) |
| Cable Management | Cable Management | Cable Management | Cable Management | Cable Management | Cable Management |
| Weight | - | - | - | - | - |
| Buttons | Unbranded (30mm) | Unbranded (30mm) | Qanba (30 mm) | Unbranded (non-standard size) | Unbranded (30 mm) |
| Joystick | Unbranded | Unbranded | Qanba | Unbranded | Unbranded |
| Gate | Square | Square (nowadays it ships with an additional Octagonal gate) | Square | Square | Square |
| Headphone Jack | Headphone jack | Headphone jack | Headphone jack | Headphone jack | Headphone jack |
| Mod-Friendly | Mod-friendly | Mod-friendly | Mod-friendly * | Mod-friendly | Mod-friendly |
| Short Summary | Works well for beginners, but it's likely you'll soon outgrow it. That's where the modding comes in: you can make it feel like a completely different stick with new parts, relatively cheaply. | Big brother to F300. It's bigger, heavier, and has metal top and bottom, and easily changeable artwork under a plexi panel. | Slightly better-feeling joystick and buttons than on Mayflash, but parts are still proprietary and not a match for Sanwa and the like. | Very, very small arcade stick, and really quite awkward to handle. For tiny hands... I can't really recommend this stick for any kind of serious gaming. | Seems to be built around Mayflash 500's case, but has Sony's official license. Joystick and buttons are on the same level as on F300/F500, i.e. you will probably want to upgrade them sooner than later. |
| Notes | * You need to connect this arcade stick to your regular gaming controller with a USB cable. | * You need to connect this arcade stick to your regular gaming controller with a USB cable. | Officially licensed by Sony. *Note: Changing the joystick to Sanwa seems to require a bit more effort, like soldering or cutting and twisting cables together. | - | Officially licensed by Sony. This stick is only sold in Europe. ** May require additional software to work properly |
| Pricing | Check current price at Amazon | Check current price at Amazon | Check current price at Amazon | Check current price at Amazon | Check current price at Amazon UK |
PS4 Arcade Sticks
| Name | Hori Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai | Hori Real Arcade Pro.N Hayabusa | Hori Real Arcade Pro Tekken 7 Edition | Qanba Obsidian | Razer Panthera |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picture |  |  |  |  |  |
| Platforms | PS4, PS3, PC | PS4, PS3, PC | PS4, PS3, PC | PS4, PS3, PC | PS4, PS3, PC |
| Cable Length (approx.) | 10 ft (3 m) | 10 ft (3 m) | 10 ft (3 m) | 8.8 ft (2.7 m) | 10-14 ft (3-4 m) |
| Cable Management | Cable Management | Cable Management | Cable Management | Cable Management | Cable Management |
| Weight | 4.8 lbs (2.2 kg) | 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) | 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) | 7 lbs (3 kg) | - |
| Buttons | Hayabusa* (30 mm) | Hayabusa (30 mm) | Hayabusa (30 mm) | Sanwa (30 mm) | Sanwa (30 mm) |
| Joystick | Hayabusa | Hayabusa | Hayabusa | Sanwa | Sanwa |
| Gate | Square | Square | Square | Square | Square |
| Headphone Jack | Headphone jack | Headphone jack | Headphone jack | Headphone jack | Headphone jack |
| Mod-Friendly | Mod-friendly | Mod-friendly | Mod-friendly | Mod-friendly | Mod-friendly |
| Short Summary | Most bang for your buck! The already classic RAP4 design pleases many, and with the easy modding capabilities, it's been a hit among the players. Hayabusa parts have garnered their own fanbase. | If you don't like RAP4's wide but slender case, but would rather prefer a heavier, roomier box-styled case, this is the one! It uses the less common Noir layout for buttons. | Came a bit earlier than RAP.N Hayabusa, so it's essentially the same with Tekken 7 branding. It has 4 small rubber feet at the bottom, compared to RAP.N's big rubber pads that cover most of the bottom plate. | This is one shiny, premium-looking stick with aluminium panels, Sanwa parts, and LED lights on the sides. Stylish! | It's a big, heavy box with premium Sanwa parts. The top cover is openable, and hydraulic bars will keep it open while you stash the USB cable inside - or change parts. Very cool! |
| Notes | Officially licensed by Sony. Multiple colors available. *Early versions had Kuro buttons | Officially licensed by Sony. Button layout is Noir (right-most buttons curve downwards more), instead of the more traditional Vewlix. | Officially licensed by Sony. Button layout is Noir (right-most buttons curve downwards more), instead of the more traditional Vewlix. | Officially licensed by Sony. | |
| Pricing | Check current price at Amazon | Check current price at Amazon | Check current price at Amazon | Check current price at Amazon | Check current price at Amazon |
Xbox One Arcade Sticks
| Name | Hori Real Arcade Pro.V Kai | Razer Atrox for Xbox One | Mayflash F500 | Hori Real Arcade Pro Tekken 7 Edition | Mayflash F300 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picture |  |  | |  | |
| Platforms | XB1, X360, PC | XB1, PC (Win8, Win10) | PS4*, PS3, Xbox 360*, Xbox One*, PC, Switch | XB1, X360, PC | PS4*, PS3, Xbox 360*, Xbox One*, PC, Switch |
| Cable Length (approx.) | 10 ft (3 m) | 13 ft (4 m), detachable | 9.8 ft (3 m) | 10 ft (3 m) | 9.8 ft (3 m) |
| Cable Management | Cable Management | Cable Management | Cable Management | Cable Management | Cable Management |
| Weight | - | - | - | - | - |
| Buttons | Kuro (30 mm) | Sanwa (30 mm) | Unbranded (30 mm) | Hayabusa (30 mm) | Unbranded (30 mm) |
| Joystick | Hayabusa | Sanwa | Unbranded | Hayabusa | Unbranded |
| Gate | Square | Square | Square (nowadays it ships with an additional Octagonal gate) | Square | Square |
| Headphone Jack | Headphone jack | Headphone jack | Headphone jack | Headphone jack | Headphone jack |
| Mod-Friendly | Mod-friendly | Mod-friendly | Mod-friendly | Mod-friendly | Mod-friendly |
| Short Summary | Basically the same stick as RAP4 for PS4. In 2018, this stick was updated to use the newer, smoother Hayabusa buttons (while the older revisions use the older Kuro buttons). | Very similar to Panthera. Top panel opens with a push of a button, allowing you to access storage compartments inside and easily change the parts. Durable braided cable. | Big brother to F300. It's bigger, heavier, and has metal top and bottom, and easily changeable artwork under a plexi panel. | If you don't like RAP4's wide but slender case, but would rather prefer a heavier, roomier box-styled case, this is the one! It uses the less common Noir layout for buttons. Tekken 7 branding. | Works well for beginners, but it's likely you'll soon outgrow it. That's where the modding comes in: you can make it feel like a completely different stick with new parts, relatively cheaply. |
| Notes | Officially licensed by Microsoft. | - | * You need to connect this arcade stick to your regular gaming controller with a USB cable. | Officially licensed by Microsoft. Button layout is Noir (right-most buttons curve downwards more), instead of the more traditional Vewlix. | * You need to connect this arcade stick to your regular controller with a USB cable. |
| Pricing | Check current price at Amazon | Check current price at Amazon | Check current price at Amazon | Check current price at Amazon | Check current price at Amazon |
PC Arcade Sticks
| Name | Hori Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai | Mayflash F500 | Mayflash F300 | Qanba Obsidian | Hori Real Arcade Pro.N Hayabusa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picture | | | | | |
| Platforms | PC, PS4, PS3 | PC, PS4*, PS3, Xbox 360*, XB1*, Switch | PC, PS4*, PS3, Xbox 360*, XB1*, Switch | PC, PS4, PS3 | PC, PS4, PS3 |
| Cable Length (approx.) | 9.8 ft (3 m) | 9.8 ft (3 m) | 9.8 ft (3 m) | 8.8 ft (2.7 m) | 9.8 ft (3 m) |
| Cable Management | Cable Management | Cable Management | Cable Management | Cable Management | Cable Management |
| Weight | 4.8 lbs / 2.2 kg | - | - | - | 6.4 lbs / 2.9 kg |
| Buttons | Hayabusa (30 mm) | Unbranded (30 mm) | Unbranded (30 mm) | Sanwa (30 mm) | Hayabusa (30 mm) |
| Joystick | Hayabusa | Unbranded | Unbranded | Sanwa | Hayabusa |
| Gate | Square | Square (nowadays it ships with an additional Octagonal gate) | Square | Square | Square |
| Headphone Jack | Headphone jack | Headphone jack | Headphone jack | Headphone jack | Headphone jack |
| Mod-Friendly | Mod-friendly | Mod-friendly | Mod-friendly | Mod-friendly | Mod-friendly |
| Input Support | Direct Input, X-Input (early models didn't support X-Input*) | Direct Input, X-Input | Direct Input, X-Input | Direct Input, X-Input | Direct Input, X-Input |
| Short Summary | Most bang for your buck! The already classic RAP4 design pleases many, and with the easy modding capabilities, it's been a hit among the players. Hayabusa parts have garnered their own fanbase. | Big brother to F300. It's bigger, heavier, and has metal top and bottom, and easily changeable artwork under a plexi panel. | Works well for beginners, and is also easily moddable. This could be a good stick for a little Raspberry Pi arcade machine project. | This is one shiny, premium-looking stick with aluminium panels, Sanwa parts, and LED lights on the sides. Stylish! | If you don't like RAP4's wide but slender case, but would rather prefer a heavier, roomier box-styled case, this is the one! It uses the less common Noir layout for buttons. |
| Notes | Officially licensed by Sony. * The older RAP4 Kai model with Kuro buttons is missing the PC switch, and doesn't support X-Input | * You need to connect this arcade stick to your regular gaming controller with a USB cable when playing with a console. | - | - | Button layout is Noir (right-most buttons curve downwards more), instead of the more traditional Vewlix. |
| Pricing | Check current price at Amazon | Check current price at Amazon | Check current price at Amazon | Check current price at Amazon | Check current price at Amazon |
Nintendo Switch Arcade Sticks
| Name | Hori Real Arcade Pro.V Hayabusa for Nintendo Switch | 8Bitdo N30 Arcade Stick | Mayflash F300 | Mayflash F500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picture |  |  | | |
| Platforms | Swich, PC | Switch, PC, Mac, Android | PS4*, PS3, Xbox 360*, Xbox One*, PC, Switch | PS4*, PS3, Xbox 360*, Xbox One*, PC, Switch |
| Cable Length (approx.) | 9.8 ft. (3 m) | Wireless, USB* 9.8 ft (3 m) | 9.8 ft (3 m) | 9.8 ft (3 m) |
| Cable Management | Cable Management | Cable Management | Cable Management | Cable Management |
| Weight | 4.8 lbs (2.2 kg) | 3 lbs (1.4 kg) | - | - |
| Buttons | Hayabusa (30 mm) | Unbranded (30 mm) | Unbranded (30 mm) | Unbranded (30mm) |
| Joystick | Hayabusa | Unbranded | Unbranded | Unbranded |
| Gate | Square | Square | Square | Square (nowadays it ships with an additional Octagonal gate) |
| Headphone Jack | Headphone jack | Headphone jack | Headphone jack | Headphone jack (has one, but doesn't work with Switch) |
| Mod-Friendly | Mod-friendly | Mod-friendly | Mod-friendly | Mod-friendly |
| Short Summary | Great quality stick that offers the best bang for the buck - if your budget allows it. Absolute best stick currently available for Switch. It follows in the steps of the tried-and-true RAP4 for PS4. | A wireless budget stick based on the case of Mayflash F300. Works well for casual gaming, but if having the least possible lag is important, a wireless stick won't do. | Works well for beginners, but it's likely you'll soon outgrow it. That's where the modding comes in: you can make it feel like a completely different stick with new parts, relatively cheaply. | Big brother to F300. It's bigger, heavier, and has metal top and bottom, and easily changeable artwork under a plexi panel. |
| Notes | - | * Direct USB connection is compatible with PC only | - | - |
| Pricing | Check current price at Amazon | Check current price at Amazon | Check current price at Amazon | Check current price at Amazon |