Nintendo’s official Joy-Cons are expensive, prone to “Joy-Con drift,” and uncomfortable for people with big hands. But don’t worry, third-party Joypads are nearly half the price of the real thing, and solve many of the Joy-Con problems that Nintendo refuses to address.
Looking for full-sized gamepads? Check out the best Switch controllers not made by Nintendo.
Note: Third-party Joy-Cons don’t work with ‘Super Mario Party,’ ‘Nintendo Labo’ toys, or ‘Ring Fit Adventure,’ and they may not fit in accessories intended for official Joy-Cons.
What to Look for in a Joy-Con Replacement
The days of crappy third-party controllers are long gone, but you still have to do a little thinking before you pull the trigger on replacement Joy-Cons. Some of the features from Nintendo’s Joy-Cons are absent from third-party options, and additional features, like turbo mode or macro buttons, vary from product to product.
Here’s everything you need to look out for in a set of third-party Joy-Cons:
- Usability: Nintendo’s Joy-Cons work in portable or handheld mode (attached to the console), in paired mode (to form a full-sized controller), and split mode (so you can share half the Joy-Con with a friend). Most third-party options can fill these three roles, though some Joypads, like the Hori Split Pad Pro, only work in certain configurations.
- Battery Life: The official Nintendo Joy-Cons last roughly 20 hours on a charge. Most third-party options advertise a 10-hour battery life, which is a bit of a trade-off for the lower price.
- Motion Controls: Some third-party Joy-Cons support motion controls for games like Splatoon and Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
- Rumble: Nintendo’s Joy-Cons have a feature called “HD rumble,” which allows for precise control over the vibration motors. While third-party Joypads do not support HD rumble, some have rudimentary vibration motors built-in.
- IR Support: Third-party Joy-Cons don’t have an IR camera, which is fine, because very few games require it (aside from 1, 2, Switch).
- Amiibo Support: Very few third-party Joypads feature Amiibo support for Nintendo’s action figures and trading cards. If you want Amiibo support for games like Animal Crossing and Smash Bros, grab the BestFire Joy-Cons.
- Turbo Mode and Macros: Many third-party Joypads feature an adjustable turbo setting to breeze through menus, plus macro buttons that can trigger a long string of pre-programmed commands (something that’s especially useful for combos in fighting games). The Joy-Cons in this guide do not need to be plugged into a computer for macro programming.
Now that you know what to look for, let’s cut to the chase. Here are the best third-party Joy-Cons for your Nintendo Switch.
Best Overall: ECHTPower Joy-Cons
They’re affordable, comfortable, and support rumble and motion control. The ECHTPower Joy-Cons are the best third-party option for most people. Their colorful ergonomic design is perfect for on the go gaming, and the controllers’ 10-hour battery life can withstand even the longest gaming session at your TV, whether you’re playing solo or in split mode with a friend.
ECHTPower Joy-Cons have a D-pad, two programmable macro buttons, and two turbo buttons. These Joy-Cons also come with a comfortable M-shaped grip for wireless gaming.
Best Overall
Best Premium Pick: Binbok RGB Joy-Cons
Binbok’s Joy-Cons are legendary for a reason. They feature an ergonomic design with a textured grip, rumble and motion support, a high-quality D-pad, and RGB lighting around the joysticks. With a 10-hour battery, an included Joy-Con grip, and support for portable, wireless, or split multiplayer mode, the Binbok Joy-Cons are a fantastic alternative to the real thing.
The Binbok Joy-Cons feature two programmable macro buttons and two turbo buttons. The RGB lighting features eight different colors, which you can change at any time through a button command (hold the turbo button and press down on the joystick).
Best Premium Pick
Best Portable-Only Option: Hori Split Pad Pro
Tired of cramped hands? The Hori Split Pad Pro only works in portable mode, but hey, who cares! It’s the closest you can get to a real controller while playing on the go. Just look at how the D-pad and action buttons are offset from the joysticks—a comfortable configuration that you won’t find on any other third-party Joy-Cons.
The Hori Split Pad Pro doesn’t support rumble or motion controls, but it does have two macro buttons, two turbo buttons, and two rear programmable buttons hidden behind the grip. Keep in mind that the Hori Split Pad Pro probably won’t fit in your Switch carrying case, and to reiterate, this controller only works in portable mode.
Best Portable-Only Option
Best with Amiibo Support: BestFire Joy-Cons
Need Amiibo support? BestFire’s affordable Joy-Cons pack rumble and Amiibo support into a Gamecube-inspired package. With a comfortable curved design, a D-pad, and a familiar button layout, the BestFire Joy-Cons are the perfect option for Smash Bros players with a large collection of Amiibo figurines.
This Joy-Con supports portable mode, paired mode, and split mode for mutliplayer. That said, the 6-hour battery life isn’t exactly ideal for playing on your TV, and the rearranged buttons and shrunk-down C-stick aren’t ideal for split multiplayer.
Best With Amiibo Support
If You Just Need a D-Pad: Hori D-Pad Joy-Con
I you already own a set of working Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons and just want one with a D-Pad, then buy the Hori D-Pad Joy-Con. It’s a replacement for your left Joy-Con that, you guessed it, replaces the awkward directional buttons with a proper D-Pad.
While the Hori D-Pad Joy-Con looks and feels like a regular Joy-Con, it doesn’t have rumble or motion support. Also, it only works in portable mode because it doesn’t have an internal battery or wireless hardware (that’s why it’s so inexpensive).
If You Just Need a D-Pad
