Choosing a switch is the single biggest decision in how your keyboard feels and sounds. The short answer: linear switches press straight down with no bump (best for gaming and smooth typing), tactile switches have a small bump you feel mid-press (best for typing feedback without noise), and clicky switches add an audible click to that bump (satisfying, but loud enough to annoy coworkers).
What is a linear switch?
A linear switch moves smoothly from top to bottom with no tactile bump and no click. The keypress feels consistent all the way down, which is why fast typists and gamers tend to prefer them — there's nothing interrupting rapid repeated presses.
Two great examples: Cherry MX2A Black switches are the classic medium-weight linear, while Gateron Milky Yellow Pro switches are famous in the hobby for feeling smooth and sounding deep right out of the box. Both are MX-style, so they fit any standard hot-swap board.
What is a tactile switch?
A tactile switch has a small bump partway through the keypress that you feel but don't hear. That bump tells your fingers the key registered, so you can type with a lighter touch instead of bottoming out every key.
The most popular tactile of all time is the Cherry MX Brown family — our Cherry MX2A Brown switches are the updated version with smoother travel. Tactiles are the safe default if you're coming from a laptop or membrane keyboard and want feedback without noise.
What is a clicky switch?
A clicky switch pairs the tactile bump with a sharp clicking sound made by a small internal mechanism. They feel and sound extremely satisfying, but they're the loudest option by far — great for a home office, risky for shared spaces. (We don't stock clickies at TypeTide; most of our customers build for shared desks.)
Which switch should you choose?
- Gaming first? Go linear. The uninterrupted travel makes double-taps and rapid presses easier.
- Typing all day? Go tactile. The bump trains lighter keystrokes and reduces finger fatigue.
- Chasing the perfect sound? Linears like the Milky Yellow Pro are the community favorite for deep, "thocky" sound tests.
- Not sure? Tactile is the middle ground most beginners end up loving.
Try them in a real build
The cheapest way to find your preference is to build it: grab the Holy60 barebones kit (hot-swap, so switches press in with no soldering), a couple of 18-packs of switches to compare, and you're typing in an evening. Use code LAUNCH10 for 10% off through October 7, 2026 at typetide.shop.
Keep reading
- Alps Switches: The Lost Rival of Cherry MX (and Why Enthusiasts Still Hunt Them)
- Topre and the HHKB Cult: Why People Pay $300 for 'Rubber Domes'
- Beam Springs: The 1970s IBM Switch Enthusiasts Call the Best Ever Made
- Cherry MX2A Black Linear Switches (18-pack)
- Gateron KS-3 Milky Yellow Pro Linear Switches (18-pack)
Hero photo: Wikimedia Commons user Cherrymxblue, CC BY-SA 3.0.