While you technically can make music without a MIDI controller keyboard, using a mouse and QWERTY keyboard for notes is obnoxiously impractical. MIDI controllers offer efficiency and flexibility when it comes to common music production processes like triggering synth sounds, controlling mix elements like volume or effects, and, most importantly, playing and recording musical parts.

Essentially, a MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) controller is a tool that allows you to configure different parameters for effects, sound sequences, and instruments on your DAW through keys, knobs, buttons, etc.

With so many capabilities and benefits, you might assume that MIDI controllers are expensive tools. While that may be true for some models, you can certainly find capable MIDI controller keyboards on sites like Amazon for the low price of $100 or less. 

So, without further ado, let’s get into the best MIDI controllers under $100 on Amazon.

1. Arturia MiniLab MkII

There aren’t many bigger names in the MIDI controller industry than Arturia, and the MiniLab MkII is a testament to their quality and prominence in this market. The MiniLab MkII is the pinnacle of bang for buck, as it offers stellar build quality and high compatibility with most DAWs.

The MkII features 25 velocity-sensitive slim keys, sustain pedal input, octave buttons, modulation strips, and two banks of eight high-quality pads. As previously mentioned, the build quality is superb, as you get a very clean design with slim keys and an overall durable build despite being all plastic.

The pads are pressure-sensitive as well as velocity-sensitive and backlit with editable RGB, while the one and nine rotary encoders also double as push buttons. Hardware aside, the MiniLab MkII also includes Ableton Live Light for the very affordable price of free. 

This is a pretty good deal since, other than being free, Ableton Live is one of the best and easiest-to-learn music DAWs. Arturia also includes a bundled software suite for automatic mapping to encoders and pads, although manual mapping is pretty easy to do yourself.

You can find the Arturia MiniLab MkII on Amazon for around $79.

2. AKAI MPK Mini Mk3

The Mini Mk2 is a beloved MIDI controller among artists, and the AKAI MPK Mini Mk3 model only added to what made its predecessor one of the highest-selling MIDI controllers ever. Like its popular predecessor, the Mini Mk3 offers 25 keys, eight large pads and rotary knobs, and a joystick pitch bend. 

However, with the Mk3 version, you also get improved mini keys that are more responsive and quieter, controller knobs that no longer jump values when changing plugins, and an even better velocity- and pressure-sensitive set of pads with the MPC series hardware.

Lastly, there’s the inclusion of the OLED display, which gives a more hands-on feel by displaying real-time feedback on MIDI channels, controller data, arpeggiator settings, etc. 

On the topic of arpeggiator settings, the Mini Mk3 features are pretty much the same as the Mk2 model: a wide-ranging arpeggiator, program changes from the pads, an A/B selector for switching between pad banks, options to control MIDI CCs, eight preassigned presets, and full velocity and note repeat pad options.

The AKAI MPK Mini Mk 3 is available on Amazon for around $99.

3. Nektar SE25 and Nektar SE49

If you’re looking for a MIDI controller that can get the job done for next to nothing, the Nektar SE25 is the best budget controller you can find. The SE25’s size makes it a compact and portable option for musicians on the go, as it’s roughly the width of the average laptop.

The SE25 offers 25 velocity-sensitive synth Mini-keys with three velocity curves, two assignable controller buttons (PB1 and PB2) for pitch bend, pan, and transpose, and S buttons for sustain and modulation.  

What the SE25 lacks in pads and knobs, it makes up for in the keys, as the playing feel is on par with some of the best controllers on the market.

Suppose you want more keys and a few extra features. In that case, the Nektar SE49 is also available with 49 synth-action keys and four velocity curves, pitch bend and modulation wheels, octave and transpose buttons, a volume fader, and sustain pedal input connectivity. Both the SE49 and SE25 are connected through a USB cable.

The Nektar SE25 and SE49 cost around $50 and $90 on Amazon, respectively.

4. Arturia MiniLab 3

You can never go wrong with Arturia MIDI controller keyboards; the same goes for the Arturia MiniLab 3. It offers plenty for its price range and is a favorite among musicians who do music through their iPad, too.

As with anything Arturia, the MiniLab 3 boasts a delicately durable build. It features a two-octave velocity-sensitive slim-key keyboard, nine continuous rotary encoders, four faders, and eight two-bank velocity- and pressure-sensitive RGB backlit pads. 

You can assign 16 samples to the pads and easily switch between the two sets with a dedicated button on the controller. The MiniLab 3 keyboard keys are virtually silent, and pitch bend and modulation are adjusted through two touch-sensitive strips that perform surprisingly well despite the usual imprecise nature of touch strips instead of wheels. 

In terms of software, similar to the MiniLab MkII, the MiniLab 3 offers lite versions of Analog Lab and Ableton Live, as well as the Model D piano emulator that makes for a practical, entry-level music software bundle. 

The only reason why the MiniLab isn't placed higher on this list is that it exceeds the under-$100 price limit by a mere $9 at an Amazon price of $109, which, in my opinion, is well worth it. 

Final Thoughts

Despite the plethora of options available for MIDI controllers on the market, a few models truly stand out. If you’re looking for a MIDI controller keyboard under $100, then you simply can’t go wrong with the products mentioned in this list.

I highly recommend the Arturia MiniLab 3 controller if you can slightly push your budget above $100. However, if that's not viable for you, the MkII is another excellent choice that won't let you down. Lastly, the Nektar SE25 is certainly the most you can get if you want to pay as little as possible.