Best buys · The trader's desk

The best macro keypad worth buying

Our pick is the Elgato Stream Deck. Below: why, what actually matters when buying one, what to get for less, the step up, and whether today's price is a good one.

The shortcut pad

Elgato Stream Deck

A block of programmable keys with their own small screens. Layouts, screenshots, the trading journal and the platform's hotkeys go on physical buttons you can find without looking.

Buy it for
Anyone who switches layouts or runs the same routine every session.
Skip it if
Your platform's keyboard shortcuts already cover everything you do.

What actually matters when buying a macro keypad

  1. Enough keys for your routine. Fifteen suits most desks; six is a taste.
  2. Software that supports the apps you use, through the maker's plugins.
  3. Folders or pages, so one key can open a whole set of others.

Either side of the pick