If you’re looking to eliminate repetitive motion from mousing around too much, or if you’re running short on desk space, a trackball can be a great option. These mice remain stationary, instead relying on your fingers to spin a ball around to move your cursor where it needs to go, which can reduce strain in your shoulders and wrist.
You can find two types of trackballs: finger-operated and thumb-operated. Finger-operated trackballs have center-mounted balls and work for both right- and left-handed people, while thumb-operated trackballs are shaped similarly to traditional mice and may be easier to use initially. (For more information, see Should you switch to a trackball? below.) Although trackballs can help some people with some symptoms of repetitive stress injury, we recommend consulting a doctor first if you’re considering a trackball for that reason.
Our pick
Comfortable to use and easy to get the hang of, this model is a good choice for new trackball converts. Plus, it includes Bluetooth and USB wireless support.
The Nulea M501 Wireless Trackball Mouse is a thumb-operated trackball that’s easy to get the hang of if you’re switching over from a traditional mouse for the first time. It has a comfortable shape with a slight angle that feels natural to hold, and the lightweight ball is easy to spin. This model doesn’t have programmable buttons or software, so it’s ideal if you want a simple option and don’t need customizable features. You can pair it wirelessly with up to three devices through Bluetooth and the included USB-A receiver, and you can recharge it via USB-C.
Upgrade pick
MX Ergo is a new standard of comfort and precision. Logitech’s most advanced trackball for trackball enthusiasts and consumers searching for alternatives to mice and touchpads. Delivers less 20% muscular strain compared to a regular mouse. MX ERGO features a unique adjustable hinge for personalized comfort and the latest tracking, scrolling and power management technology. Logitech FLOW enables effortless multi-computer control.
Logitech’s MX Ergo Advanced Wireless Trackball Mouse is worth the splurge if you want the most comfortable and versatile thumb-operated trackball option. It’s better suited for creative work than our top pick because it has six programmable buttons that are easy to customize in the Logi Options+ software, and it has a convenient, built-in button that toggles a precision mode, which slows the pointer sensitivity down to inch across small areas on screen. It also offers two adjustable tilt angles, ample palm support, and wireless connectivity via Bluetooth or USB-A receiver.
Our pick
The Orbit is simple and affordable, and it’s best for people switching to a finger-operated trackball for the first time.
If a finger-operated trackball best fits your needs, the affordable Kensington Orbit Wireless Trackball with Scroll Ring offers a great starting point for beginners. Its ambidextrous design should work for both right- and left-handed people, and it has a basic layout that omits extra buttons. It can pair wirelessly over Bluetooth or with its USB-A receiver, and its midsize ball is easy and accurate to control.
Upgrade pick
This finger-operated trackball has a premium feel and a sturdier build than our top pick, but its large ball is polarizing.
The Kensington SlimBlade Pro Trackball represents a worthy step up from our top finger-operated pick thanks to its sturdier build quality and customizability. It has the largest ball of any of our picks—which was divisive for our testers—but it’s great if you want your cursor to travel across large screens with minimal movement on your part. It has four programmable buttons that make it more ideal for creative work than Kensington’s Orbit Wireless, and you can use it with a wired or wireless connection.
