This sim racing buyers guide takes a look at the best budget sim racing pedals. I recommend the top 5 cheap sim racing pedals that you can buy to improve your sim racing setup.
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Sim racing pedals are widely considered one part of your sim racing setup that can help you improve your lap times. A good set of pedals, and most importantly, a good quality brake pedal can improve your consistency and braking performance. Brands such as Fanatec, Thrustmaster and MOZA have introduced load cell technology into their budget sim racing pedals, meaning, if you choose a good set of cheap sim racing pedals, you can potentially improve your lap times and consistency.
Your sim racing pedals are one of the most important parts of your sim racing setup. You can find a variety of sim racing bundles that include budget sim racing pedals that really aren’t very good. However, by upgrading your sim racing pedals to a better set that includes more realistic technology such as a load cell sensor can have a dramatic impact on your performance, consistency and enjoyment while sim racing.
The good news is, that upgrading your sim racing pedals doesn’t have to be expensive. You can find a range of budget sim racing pedals that are much better than many pedals that are included in sim racing bundles.
In this guide, I’m going to look at the 5 best cheap sim racing pedal sets in 2024. Many of these pedal sets offer good compatibility with PS5 and Xbox consoles and they include superior technology that makes your sim racing experience as enjoyable as possible.
While shopping for a new sim racing pedal set, there are some key areas that you should look at. Each of these areas will change which products you can use with the pedals, which console you can sim race on, and how much enjoyment you can get from your new pedal set.
The first area that I would always recommend checking is that your new pedal set is compatible with other sim racing products that you’re using. If you are sim racing on a PC, this isn’t too much of an issue as almost all sim racing products can be connected directly to your PC and used with any other piece of sim racing hardware.
This isn’t the case with console sim racing though. If you are planning on racing on an Xbox or PlayStation console, your entire sim racing setup needs to be from the same brand. This is because you can only have one single USB connection from your sim racing wheel to your Xbox or PS5. All other pieces of hardware including pedals need to be connected to your racing wheel.
The restriction here is that because everything needs to be connected to your racing wheel, it is almost impossible to connect a set of say Thrustmaster pedals to a Fanatec wheel base and vice versa. While there are some third-party adapters and solutions, they can be incredibly tricky and technical to implement.
My best advice if you are racing on an Xbox or PS5, is to buy all your hardware from a single brand. That way, you’ll ensure that your pedals will be compatible with your racing wheel.
While sticking to the topic of compatibility, you should also keep an eye out on the console compatibility of your pedals and racing wheel. Most sim racing products can only be used with either Xbox or PlayStation, and not both, other than some stand-out products like the Fanatec ClubSport DD racing wheel for example that can be used with both.
All of the budget sim racing pedals that I’m recommending in this buyer’s guide (other than the MOZA Racing pedals), do work with both consoles. However, the main restriction comes into play with your racing wheel. Most racing wheels work on either Xbox or PS5. If you already own a racing wheel that is compatible with your console, perfect.
You can simply purchase a set of new sim racing pedals from the same brand as your racing wheel and you can almost guarantee compatibility. But if you don’t currently own a racing wheel, double-check when buying it that it does offer the correct console support that you’re after. Also, check your steering wheel and any other peripherals that you plan to use.
Right, now that we’ve covered compatibility, we can start talking about the pedals in more detail. Sim racing pedals vary in the technology that they use. Typically, the more premium the pedals, the more realistic the technology used.
| Potentiometer | Load cell | Hydraulic |
|---|---|---|
| Measures pedal distance which isn’t realistic | Simulates a realistic pressure-based input | Most realistic |
| Most budget technology | Included in some budget pedals | Highest price tag |
Budget sim racing pedals that are bundled with racing wheels often use potentiometers to translate pedal travel into in-game inputs. This is the most basic form of pedal technology, and only measures the distance of your pedal travel.
A step up from potentiometers are load cell sensors. These tiny sensors measure the amount of force that you apply to a pedal rather than the pedal travel. This is a much more realistic way of measuring braking force in particular.
Load cells allow for much more consistency while braking and can dramatically change how you brake while sim racing. Load cell brake pedals can be found in budget sim racing pedals, and I’ll recommend a few of the better budget load cell pedals in this guide.
The king of sim racing pedal technology is hydraulic pedals. These can sometimes be close to identical to how a real-world pedal system works. They include hydraulic dampers to provide the most realistic braking sensation. However, they do come with a large price tag, making this a technology that is only ever found in the best sim racing pedals.
As with any sim racing product, the overall build quality is a big buying factor. Sim racing pedals that utilise plastic construction can feel more like a toy than a realistic set of pedals. Also, with pedals being one of the parts of a sim racing setup that take the most abuse, a plastic construction can lead to failures if used too hard or too much.
Most sim racing pedals are constructed from metal, with the best budget pedals using metal instead of plastic. This makes the pedals much more durable, and will also increase the premium feel of your pedal set.
Finally, you will notice while shopping for a new set of pedals, that you can buy most pedal sets with either two or three-pedal layouts. A full three-pedal set includes a clutch that can be used while racing a car with a manual gearbox. If you opt for a two-pedal set, you can still sim race with a manual car, but would have to either use an automatic clutch driving assist or assign the clutch input to another button on your steering wheel.
Almost always, a two-pedal set will be cheaper than a three-pedal set. If you’re only planning on racing Formula 1 cars or GT3 cars, you may never need a third pedal and can save some money.
Most pedal sets like those from Fanatec and MOZA Racing allow you to upgrade to a third pedal at any time, meaning you could save some money initially by opting for a two-pedal set. And then you can upgrade to a three-pedal set over time.
Opting for a more premium set of sim racing pedals is one of the better investments in sim racing. Sim racing can be an expensive hobby, so choosing to upgrade parts of your setup that will provide the most impact is a wise choice. Upgrading from a budget set of potentiometer pedals to a pedal set that includes a load cell brake is one of the most impactful upgrades you can make.
Using a load cell brake pedal can change how you approach braking while sim racing. Most potentiometer pedals offer very little resistance, while a load cell brake pedal can be incredibly stiff to push. This is more realistic, as most race cars don’t offer much pedal travel while braking.
A pressure-based brake will let you develop muscle memory over time which can lead to much higher levels of consistency. Many sim racers also note an improvement in their lap times and shorter braking zones with a load cell. Applying pressure and releasing it to trail brake feels much more realistic with a set of load cell brake pedals.
The good news is that load cell sensors are available in budget sim racing pedals. Many of the pedals that I’m recommending in this guide incorporate a load cell sensor in the brake pedal. This makes this more realistic technology more accessible than ever.
Before I look at each budget sim racing pedal set individually in more detail, I first wanted to show you my overview of the 5 best budget sim racing pedals. These are my top picks for the best cheap sim racing pedals that you can buy in 2024.
I’ve tried to ensure each pedal set stays within a budget price range, as some pedal sets can be rather expensive. Check out our guide of the very best sim racing pedals in 2024 for a complete rundown of the best pedal sets you can buy.
| Pedals | Price | |
|---|---|---|
 | Fanatec CSL Pedals | From €79.95 |
 | Fanatec CSL Elite Pedals V2 | €299.95 |
 | Thrustmaster T-LCM Pedals | £199.99 |
 | MOZA Racing SR-P Pedals | £149.00 |
 | Logitech G923 Pedals | £269.99 (Bundle) |
My first recommendation for the best budget sim racing pedals has to be the Fanatec CSL Pedals. This pedal set was introduced around the same time as the Fanatec CSL DD wheel base, and marked a big improvement over the German brand’s old budget lineup.
This pedal set was designed to replace the older CSL Elite pedals with a new design that fits better with Fanatec’s new wave of products. You get an all-metal construction, other than the face plates that are plastic (although these can be swapped out for metal alternatives).
Unlike Fanatec pedals of the past that used an all-black design, these CSL Pedals feature a lot of exposed metal throughout offering a two-tone design. There is a good amount of customisation available as you can position each pedal across the width of the heel plate thanks to a range of different mounting positions.
The CSL Pedals come in a variety of different formats that make them incredibly accessible for sim racers shopping on a tight budget. You can buy them in a two-pedal configuration, although this isn’t the layout I would recommend.
The two-pedal pedal set includes a throttle and brake pedal without a clutch. However, the important thing to know about the two-pedal set is that it does not include a load cell brake. Instead, both the throttle and brake are incredibly similar, with the brake pedal including a foam damper to add some resistance.
Opting for the CSL Pedals LC will give you a third pedal, and importantly, the third pedal will be a load cell brake. With this configuration, you get two almost identical pedals that are used for the throttle and the clutch. Then you get an upgraded brake pedal that is much better than the brake found in the two-pedal configuration.
You can always purchase the two-pedal layout and you will have the option of upgrading to the full three-pedal set at a later date. However, this route will cost you ever so slightly more than buying the three-pedal set outright.
Pedals – Fanatec CSL Pedals
Compatibility – PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox Series X|S
Price – From €/$79.95
Where to buy –
Buy from Fanatec EU /
Buy from Fanatec US
The Fanatec CSL Elite V2 Pedals are the most expensive pedal set in this guide, but they go a long way to providing the best overall sim racing experience. The design may look very familiar to long-time sim racers, as it is almost identical to the design used on the original CSL Elite pedal set that has been around for a long time.
This iteration of Fanatec’s entry-level sim racing pedal set includes a range of improvements over the original pedal set. There is a new load cell brake pedal along with magnetic hall sensors for the throttle and clutch pedals. This use of improved technology makes the pedals more durable thanks to the contactless sensors.
Importantly, the brake pedal has seen the biggest improvements, and this is the part that really matters while sim racing. There is a new 90kg load cell sensor that is paired with a two-stage braking motion. There is both a spring and a set of elastomers that are designed to mimic a real-world car’s brake.
You can only buy this set of sim racing pedals in a three-pedal configuration. This makes them slightly less accessible than other budget sim racing pedals with a higher upfront payment. This makes the Fanatec CSL Elite V2 pedal set more expensive than the CSL Pedals despite being rather similar.
This is due to the more premium design and construction and the reworked technology that powers this pedal set. If you have a slightly larger budget, this CSL Elite V2 pedal set could be worth the jump, however in most scenarios I would recommend the cheaper CSL Pedals.
Pedals – Fanatec ClubSport Pedals V3
Compatibility – PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox Series X|S
Price – €/$399.95
Where to buy –
Buy from Fanatec EU /
Buy from Fanatec US
Moving away from Fanatec, I want to also recommend budget sim racing pedals from other brands. As mentioned earlier in this guide, when sim racing on a console, you should ensure that your pedals are created by the same brand as your racing wheel.
If you own a Thrustmaster racing wheel, there is no better set of budget pedals than the T-LCM pedal set. This is a three-pedal set that includes a load cell sensor on the brake pedal, much like both of the Fanatec pedals above.
Unlike both Fanatec pedals above, the Thrustmaster T-LCM pedals do utilise some plastic in their construction. However, the important areas, the pedal face plates and the pedal arms are constructed from metal which leads to good durability.
The Best F1 24 Racing WheelsWhile you can’t move each pedal horizontally along the base, you do get a lot of adjustment for each pedal individually. You get 6 individual springs that let you change how still the pressure is on your brake pedal, and you can adjust the height, and angle of each pedal.
The load cell itself offers up to 100kg of pressure to be applied to the sensor, making them incredibly high-performing. Combine this with the 16-bit resolution and you get a huge amount of accuracy from these sim racing pedals.
The Thrustmaster T-LCM pedals are compatible with all consoles and practically all Thrustmaster racing wheels making them one of the most versatile sets of budget sim racing pedals on the market.
Pedals – Thrustmaster T-LCM Pedals
Compatibility – PC, PS5, Xbox
Price – £199.99/$199.99
Where to buy – Buy T-LCM Pedals
The next set of budget sim racing pedals I’m recommending are ideal for a sim racer who races on a PC and not a console. That is because the MOZA Racing SR-P Pedals are currently only PC-compatible. This does come with the advantage of the pedals being useable with a racing wheel from any brand.
MOZA Racing are currently in the process of releasing sim racing products with console compatibility in the form of the MOZA R3 racing wheel. So it may be that in the future either these SR-P pedals or a revised set will be one day usable with consoles. However, I wouldn’t currently purchase them with that in mind as nothing has been confirmed.
The SR-P pedals follow a similar design language to the Fanatec CSL pedals which is no surprise as MOZA Racing has made a big push to challenge more established sim racing brands. With the SR-P pedals, you get an all-metal construction and a very similar heel plate that features adjustable mounting positions for each pedal.
You also get the choice of a two or three-pedal configuration. The real bonus with these MOZA Racing budget pedals is that the two-pedal configuration does include a load cell brake. That means, that no matter what configuration you opt for, you will always have a load cell brake.
This is great news for those who race F1 or GT3 cars and don’t need a third pedal. In this scenario, you can buy the two-pedal configuration and potentially save some money by leaving out the additional clutch pedal.
Pedals – MOZA SR-P Pedals
Compatibility – PC
Price – From £179/$179
Where to buy –
Buy from MOZA
To round out my selection of the best cheap sim racing pedals, I have to include the Logitech G923 pedals. These sim racing pedals cannot be purchased individually unless bought pre-owned. However, the bundle that they come a part of includes the brilliant Logitech G923 racing wheel which is one of the best budget racing wheels around.
Also, the price for the complete Logitech G923 bundle comes in at a price that isn’t too much more expensive than some of the other budget sim racing pedals I’ve recommended. If you currently don’t have any sim racing gear and are looking to get started, the Logitech G923 racing wheel bundle is easily one of the best picks for your first sim racing wheel.
What makes the Logitech G923 racing wheel so good is the overall quality that you get for the price. While the official RRP is around £399, you can often find a Logitech G923 at a much lower price brand new on retailers such as Amazon.
The racing wheel produces around 2.5Nm of peak torque which is enough to allow you to really feel how your car is reacting with the track surface. The TrueForce technology that is a part of the Logitech G923 racing wheel also translates in-game audio into vibrations that can be felt through the steering wheel. These vibrations provide an added sense of immersion to your overall sim racing gameplay by letting you feel the engine’s revs.
Moving on to the Logitech Driving Force Pedals, these are actually some of the better budget sim racing pedals. They don’t offer load cell technology like some of my other recommendations do. However, the brake pedal includes a rather stiff damper that tries to emulate the feel of a real brake pedal.
This stiff damper provides a lot of resistance to the brake pedal, making these pedals feel much more premium and realistic compared to other sim racing pedals that are included in various bundles.
Racing Wheel – Logitech G923
Compatibility – PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox Series X|S
Price – £379/$399
Where to buy –
Buy Logitech G923 UK/EU /
Buy Logitech G923 US
When shopping for a good set of budget sim racing pedals in 2024, you have more high-quality options than ever before. Many budget pedals now incorporate load cell sensors that really improve the overall quality and performance that can be extracted from the brake pedal.
All of the recommended budget pedal sets above are great options, however, I’d highly recommend picking a set of pedals that match your racing wheel’s brand to ensure console compatibility.
You can use the links below to shop for your favourite sim racing products, or for any products that we may have recommended. These links are affiliate links, and will earn us a small commission, with no additional cost for you.
Rich is the co-founder, and one of the main F1 setup creators and content writers for SimRacingSetups. With over a decade of experience as a graphic designer, marketing director, competitive sim racer and avid motorsport fan, Rich founded SimRacingSetup.com to share his passion and knowledge of sim racing and Formula 1 with other sim racers.
View all articles written by Rich
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