The best Nintendo Switch controllers offer you different ways to play with your console, whether you want a multiplayer session with friends or to play on your TV. The Nintendo Switch and Switch OLED have Joy-Cons included, but they can’t replicate the feel of a traditional gaming controller. The best Switch controllers range in price and function from the mighty Nintendo Switch Pro Controller to cheaper third-party options.
At Pocket Tactics, we’ve been playing on Switch consoles for years, so we know which Nintendo Switch accessories are worth your money and what is little more than a gimmick. Whether you want different inputs for your gaming console or more controllers for parties, we’ve picked the best Switch controllers from trusted brands to help you pick the right one.
Why you can trust our advice ✔ At Pocket Tactics, our experts spend days testing games, phones, tech, and services. We always share honest opinions to help you buy the best. Find out how we test.
The best Nintendo Switch controllers in 2025:
Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons
The best Nintendo Switch controller.
Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons specifications:
Customizable buttons |
None |
Wired or Wireless? |
Wireless |
Battery life |
Around 20 hours |
Handheld or docked? |
Both |
Weight |
189.9g |
Pros
- Easy to slot onto your Switch
- Use in handheld or docked mode
- Motion control and HD rumble
Cons
- Slightly flimsy
- Prone to stick drifting
- Slightly expensive
There’s no better place to start on your Switch controllers journey than with Nintendo’s Joy-Cons. These versatile controllers support motion and HD Rumble, and you can whack them in a grip or split them into two, allowing for comfortable solo or impromptu multiplayer sessions.
For the majority of gamers, the Joy-Con will be just fine. It’s convenient that they can be used both when the Switch is docked and when you’re playing on the go. They’re also available in a number of different colors, many of which give them that quintessential Nintendo look, though, admittedly, they do feel a little flimsy.
Of course, you’ve probably heard of the dreaded Switch drift, where controllers move in certain directions without the player making them do so. Though newer models don’t really have this issue, think carefully before buying cheaper second-hand models because they might have this problem.
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
The best for docked play.
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller specifications:
Customizable buttons |
None |
Wired or wireless? |
Both |
Battery life |
Around 40 hours |
Handheld or docked? |
Docked |
Weight |
362.9g |
Pros
- Impressive battery life
- Sturdy design
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- No use for handheld gamers
If comfort is your absolute priority and you find yourself playing your Switch docked a lot of the time, we thoroughly recommend the official Pro Controller. It’s as premium in build quality as a DualShock 4 or Xbox One controller and features around 40 hours of battery life.
Of course, if you play in handheld mode a lot, you’ll find that it is considerably less useful for those occasions. In theory, it can still be played in handheld mode, but you have to put the Switch down and balance it on its kickstand to do so, which isn’t going to be possible in a lot of situations.
Other than that, though, there’s very little to say against this controller. It’s an official piece of Nintendo hardware, but it has never had drifting issues (like the Joy-Con). Plus, if you prefer the peace of mind that comes from knowing something won’t run out of power, you can also use it as a wired controller if you want to.
Hori D-Pad Joy-Con
The best for retro gamers.
Hori D-Pad Joy-Con specifications:
Customizable buttons |
None |
Wired or wireless? |
Slots onto Switch |
Battery life |
N/A |
Handheld or docked? |
Handheld |
Weight |
49.9g |
Cons
- Only works slotted into Switch
Play a load of retro games in handheld mode? Then the Hori D-Pad Joy-Con is a must-buy. This replaces your left Joy-Con and provides a traditional D-Pad, which is ideal for playing Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy games (or NES and SNES). The original games used a D-Pad, so those who grew up with them may find the standard Joy-Con’s controls off-putting (especially if you’re using a stick).
There is one pretty big limitation of this controller, though: you can only use it when it’s slotted into your Switch. It doesn’t have a power source of its own, so there’s absolutely no option for wireless play. This is a little strange considering the fact that normal Joy-Cons are able to do this.
Fortunately, the classics are best played in handheld mode anyway since the older graphics don’t always look so good when blown up on a big TV screen (that’s what I think anyway). Meanwhile, this is also one of the nicer-looking Switch controllers. The Zelda version is pictured above, but there’s also a Mario version, and both of them are pretty fantastic.
Worth noting is that when this controller first launched, it received a lot of bad press for draining the Switch’s battery really quickly when used. If you’ve heard this and it’s put you off getting one, rest assured that the problem was resolved following a Switch update, so unless you refuse all the system updates, it won’t affect you.
Nintendo Switch Hori Split Pad Pro
The best for handheld mode.
Nintendo Switch Hori Split Pad Pro specifications:
Customizable buttons |
Two |
Wired or wireless? |
Slots onto Switch |
Battery life |
N/A |
Handheld or docked? |
Handheld |
Weight |
226.8h |
Pros
- Comfortable ergonomic design
- Cheaper than Joy-Cons
Cons
- Lacks many Joy-Cons features
- Can only use in handheld mode
Do you play your Switch more often in handheld mode? The Hori Split Pad Pro is an essential controller. This inexpensive option makes your Switch much more comfortable for longer playing sessions, feeling more like the Pro Controller.
It does sacrifice features like HD Rumble, NFC scanning, and motion controls, but it makes up for that with enhanced ergonomics. As much as there will be some gamers who are disappointed by the loss of these features, we know that there will be plenty of you who can take them or leave them – the best Switch games are still great without them.
It’s a little less versatile than other controllers in that it can only be used when directly slotted into the Switch. Not an issue at all if you only use your Switch in handheld mode (as a lot of people do), but it’s worth keeping in mind that you’ll need another controller if you want to play on your TV.
8Bitdo Zero 2
The most portable Switch controller.
8Bitdo Zero 2 specifications:
Customizable buttons |
None |
Wired or wireless? |
Wireless |
Battery life |
Around 8 hours |
Handheld or docked? |
Both |
Weight |
22.6h |
Pros
- Super portable
- Very affordable
- Works with other devices
Cons
- Too small for some
- Short battery life
This mighty but miniature controller is small enough to fit on your keys, but as an emergency controller, it’s a hit. Capable of playing Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android games, this snazzy-looking accessory could be the perfect addition to your setup.
We really need to emphasize how small it is, though. Do you think that a single Joy-Con makes for quite a small controller? Well, this is a lot smaller than a single controller. If you have large hands, it might even be uncomfortable for you to use.
But, frankly, it’s super cheap and does exactly what you need it to. We’d have liked a slightly longer battery life, but its portability is super convenient, and it’s pretty cute, too.
PowerA Spectra Enhanced Wired Controller
The best wired Switch controller.
PowerA Spectra Enhanced Wired Controller specifications:
Customizable buttons |
Two |
Wired or wireless? |
Wired |
Battery life |
N/A |
Handheld or docked? |
Handheld |
Weight |
241g |
Pros
- Well-designed
- Two programmable buttons
Cons
- No gyro, motion controls, or HD rumble
- No handheld play
If you’re after a wired option, you can’t get much better. With a nice weight, great-feeling analog sticks with anti-friction rings, mappable gaming buttons, and even controllable LED lights, there’s so much to love about the Spectra.
Not if you prefer playing in handheld mode, though, as this one can only be used when the Switch is in its dock. For a lot of people, the Joy-Cons are just fine for gaming on the go, so if you use them for handheld play and save this for when you’re sitting at home, you should be just fine.
It even has a couple of programmable buttons on the back, making it ideal for anybody who likes to play competitively. You can assign different functions to these so that you can conveniently use their function in a hurry. It’s a great way to help make the controller specific to your unique style of play.
Switch GameCube Controller
The best for GameCube fans.
Switch GameCube Controller specifications:
Customizable buttons |
None |
Wired or wireless? |
Wired |
Battery life |
N/A |
Handheld or docked? |
Docked |
Weight |
150.2g |
Pros
- Authentic GameCube controller
- Nice design
Cons
- Only works with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- No wireless WaveBird design
This is literally a GameCube controller with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate branding and a converter that allows it to work on Switch. Boy, it’s nice to buy a brand-new GameCube controller in 2025.
Sadly, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the only game that you can use it with (let’s hope for a future where GameCube games are part of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack and these work with them), so unless that’s the only game you play, you’re not going to be able to have it as your ‘main’ controller.
Still, as much as their usage is limited, we’re happy that these exist. Collectors will want to add them to their collection, and long-term fans will enjoy the chance to play Smash Bros. with this iconic controller once again. If you happen to have any old GameCube controllers already, you can just buy the adapter and use one of those.
8Bitdo Pro 2 Wireless Controller
The best multi-purpose controller.
8Bitdo Pro 2 Wireless Controller specifications:
Customizable buttons |
13 |
Wired or wireless? |
Both |
Battery life |
Around 20 hours |
Handheld or docked? |
Both |
Weight |
226.8g |
Pros
- Works on multiple devices
- Loads of customization options
Cons
- No HD rumble or NFC scanner
An absolute workhorse of a controller, this is one of the nearest things to a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller you will find in terms of functionality, though it’s still missing a couple of small features. A gorgeous design is aided by a lovely tactile feel, and it’s even compatible with pretty much any device that supports Bluetooth. This is a great option to tuck away in your bag and use either with your Switch or your smart device for mobile gaming sessions!
Almost every button (sans Start and Select) is remappable, and you can save up to four different configuration profiles. This means that you can adjust how it works for different devices and easily switch between the setups with the flick of a switch.
If you love collecting and using amiibo, you may be a little disappointed because this controller lacks an NFC scanner. It also lacks the HD Rumble feature that you can get with official Nintendo controllers, so your gaming experience might be a little less immersive. If those don’t sound like huge losses to you, the 8Bitdo Pro 2 is a great choice.
8BitDo Ultimate Controller
The best third-party controller.
8BitDo Ultimate Controller specifications:
Customizable buttons |
13 |
Wired or wireless? |
Wireless |
Battery life |
Around 20 hours |
Handheld or docked? |
Docked |
Weight |
616.9g |
Pros
- Comes with a charging dock
- Plenty of customization options
Cons
- No NFC scanner
- Slightly pricey
The best controller 8BitDo has ever made, but with a price to match, the 8BitDo Ultimate is a true contender for the Switch Pro controller, but with a few extra bells and whistles that just might make it the best controller on the market.
The one thing it doesn’t do (compared to the Switch Pro) is scan amiibo. We know that there will be a small dedicated group of fans who spend hours training up amiibo in Smash Bros. and then battling them with friends, but as there’s significantly much less amiibo content on the Switch compared to older consoles, you won’t be missing out much.
Meanwhile, it still has the gyro and motion controls, and it still has HD Rumble, too. Not a lot of third-party controllers manage to include that, and impressively, it still gives you plenty of customization options. Buttons can be remapped, and profiles can be saved. It’s by far the most comprehensive third-party controller on the market.
Read our full thoughts in our 8BitDo Ultimate controller review.
How we chose the best Switch controllers
When narrowing down the options for this list, we used the following criteria to decide what was worth including:
- Pricing: We wanted options for gamers on every budget. There are some amazing premium Switch controllers, but we also felt it was important to include some cheaper ones that still manage to pack a punch.
- Portability: As much as the Nintendo Switch is a hybrid, there are a lot of people who like to play their console on the go. We’ve included options that shouldn’t be too difficult to bring with you when playing in handheld mode (except for those explicitly made for docked play).
- Switch Pro features: The Switch Pro is an impressive controller that offers many fancy bells and whistles, from gyro and motion controls to NFC scanning and HD Rumble. Not everyone will want or need these, but when it comes to third-party controllers, those that can match this are the ones that have the most to offer.
- Customization: Nintendo rarely lets players customize things for some reason. No doubt some arrogant notion about knowing best. If you need a controller with programmable buttons, you’ll have to go for a third-party choice. Fortunately, we’ve covered a couple of these on this list.
- Aesthetics: Who doesn’t like their controller to look good? Though it’s more of a secondary concern for us, we didn’t want to include any hideous cheap-o controllers.
If you have any more questions about how we put this list together, read our how we test page. Still got lingering questions? Read the FAQs below:
What type of controller is best for the Nintendo Switch?
Generally speaking, we’d advise going for options created by Nintendo themselves. They’re optimized for Nintendo games and tend to have features that third-party manufacturers miss out on. However, if you want remappable buttons and other customization options, then you’ll have to look beyond Nintendo.
How many different Nintendo Switch controllers are there?
Too many to count, honestly. There are countless manufacturers trying to cash in on the Switch’s success by making their own controllers. We recommend sticking to those made by Nintendo itself or respected brands like PowerA or 8Bitdo.
Is there a Switch controller that doesn’t drift?
Yes. In fact, modern Joy-Cons don’t have that problem. It was a big problem in the earlier days of the console, but Nintendo has made updates to the hardware, and you’ll find Joy-Cons to be much more reliable now.
For more Nintendo Switch accessories, check out our guides to the best MicroSD cards for Switch and the best Nintendo Switch cases.