Editorial desk
KeycapCompare Editorial
KeycapCompare Editorial is the publishing identity for KeycapCompare. It is a desk, not a person: no named author, no biography, no professional certifications.
Articles published under this byline are researched from primary sources — vendor and project documentation, published standards and specifications, research papers, and measurements published by whoever took them — drafted with AI assistance, and edited against those cited sources before publication. Nothing here is based on first-hand testing in a private lab, and any figure that appears is attributed to the source it came from.
Corrections go to hello@keycapcompare.com. More detail is on the about page and the editorial disclosure.
Posts (23)
- buying-guides
Best Keycaps for Hot Swap Keyboard Builds: 6 Picks
Six keycap sets for hot-swap boards, matched to socket type, LED orientation and budget, plus the Cherry-profile interference trap.
- buying-guides
Best Cherry Profile Keycaps Under $50: Five Picks
Compare five Cherry-profile keycap sets listed below $50 by material, legends, RGB support, kit inventory, and documented compatibility limits.
- care-and-installation
How to Clean PBT Keycaps Safely, Plus ABS Care
Clean PBT and ABS keycaps with mild soap, careful removal, thorough rinsing, and complete drying, plus practical guidance on shine and yellowing.
- profiles
Keycap Profile Height Chart (mm): Cherry, OEM, SA, XDA, DSA
Published keycap heights in mm: SA 16.5, KAT 13.5, OEM 11.9, MOA 9.8, Cherry 9.4, XDA 9.1, DSA and G20 7.6, with sources and measurement caveats.
- materials
Types of Keycaps: Materials, Legends, Mounts, and Kits
Understand types of keycaps by material, legend method, stem mount, and kit coverage, so you can read a product listing and check what fits.
- buying-guides
Akko ASA and PBT Keycaps: Profiles, Clear Sets, and Prices
Learn how Akko's ASA profile compares to Cherry, what doubleshot PBT means, which clear and shine-through sets it sells, and the $10 to $60 price range.
- buying-guides
Best Budget PBT Keycap Set 2026: $24-$40 Buying Guide
A guide to the best budget PBT keycap set in 2026, with verified prices on Cherry-profile dye-sub and double-shot sets and the kit-coverage traps to avoid.
- materials
Shine-Through and Clear Keycaps: Which Ones Let Light In
Shine-through keycaps pass LED light only through the legends; translucent and clear PC caps light the whole cap. See which legend methods glow and why.
- care-and-installation
How to Install and Remove Keycaps Without Damaging Them
Use a wire puller to remove and install keycaps, identify Cherry-style or Costar stabilizers, and check alignment before seating long keys.
- buying-guides
MX-Clone Switch Brands: Keycap Compatibility Checks
Compare Gateron and Kailh switch families when buying MX keycaps, with model, revision, mount, and return-policy checks before choosing a clone brand.
- buying-guides
Budget vs Premium Keycaps: Where Money Actually Matters
When spending more on keycaps is worth it and when it isn't: a decision guide separating what you feel daily from what you are mostly just paying for.
- materials
GMK vs PBT Keycaps: ABS, Clones, Price, and Value
Compare GMK vs PBT keycaps by product line, doubleshot legends, shine, kit cost, and availability, with sourced alternatives and clone-listing checks.
- profiles
Cherry vs OEM Profile Keycaps: Height, Shape, Which to Pick
OEM keycaps stand about 11.9 mm, Cherry about 9.4 mm. Compare row sculpt, prices, selection, mixing rules, and how to tell which profile you have.
- fit-and-compatibility
Keycap Kitting and Coverage: Base Kits, Extra Kits, Units
How keycap kitting works: base kit versus extension kits, the 'u' unit system, key counts, and how to plan coverage so a set fits your exact board.
- buying-guides
The Artisan Keycap Ecosystem: Sculpts, Casts, and Raffles
How artisan keycaps work: sculpts versus colorways, resin casting, raffles and group buys, sizing and compatibility, and how to enter the scene.
- profiles
SA Profile Deep-Dive: The Tall, Sculpted, Polarizing Classic
Understand SA keycaps through published profile specifications: tall spherical tops, sculpted and uniform rows, kit coverage, and fit checks.
- materials
Keycap Thickness and Sound: Reading the Specifications
Read keycap wall-thickness specifications, separate profile height from construction, and compare sound claims without assuming thicker means deeper.
- materials
Doubleshot vs Dye-Sub vs Pad Print: Keycap Legend Methods
Doubleshot, dye-sub, pad print, reverse dye-sub, and laser keycap legends are compared by durability, design limits, and ideal uses.
- buying-guides
Keycap Colorway Terms: Base, Novelties, Accents, Sublegends
Decode keycap colorway language: base kit, alphas, modifiers, accents, novelties and sublegends, and the terms that decide whether a set actually fits.
- buying-guides
Group Buy vs In-Stock Keycaps: Risks and Trade-Offs
Group buy keycaps require prepayment and long waits, while in-stock sets ship sooner. This guide covers timelines, risks, aftermarket costs, and use cases.
- fit-and-compatibility
Keycap Compatibility Checklist: Mounts, Widths, Rows, Kits
How to check keycap compatibility before you buy: MX stems, kit coverage, the modifiers that trip people up, and why a lovely set can still leave gaps.
- materials
PBT vs ABS Keycaps: Material, Shine, Sound, and Which to Buy
What actually separates PBT and ABS keycaps — texture, the dreaded shine, sound, legend durability, and the cases where ABS is genuinely the better choice.
- profiles
Keycap Profiles Explained: Shapes, Rows, and Typing
Compare keycap profiles by sculpt, top shape, and typing preferences, with Cherry, OEM, SA, MT3, KAT, DSA, XDA, and kit coverage explained.