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Best High-End Sim Racing Pedals: 2025 Buyers Guide
Discover our recommended high-end sim racing pedals. View our best active pedal, our best load cell pedal and our best hydraulic pedal recommendations.
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Sim racing pedals are often seen as the part of any sim racing setup that can drastically improve your consistency and speed. A good set of high-end load cell or premium pedals can give you a better feel under braking. And newer active pedals can even provide force feedback just like a racing wheel.
This means that if you are planning on spending money on improving your sim racing setup, a good set of pedals is one of the better investments. There are different forms of high-end sim racing pedal to choose from, including load cell, hydraulic and active pedals.
In this buyer’s guide, I’m going to share my recommended high-end pedals in each of these categories. I’ll also explore what makes a good high-end pedal, and the difference between passive and active pedals.
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Choosing the best high-end pedals presents us with a few key choices. Which style of pedal do you want? Are you looking for a premium hyrdraulic pedal to replicate a real-world car. Or an ActivePedal that provides force feedback based on in-game telemetry.
With a few different factors to consider, I have recommend the best high-end sim racing pedals that I’ve used over the past few years. Below are my top high-end pedal recommendations in a selection of different categories.
| Pedal | Category | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simucube ActivePedal Ultimate | Best active pedal | From €/$2399 |
 | MOZA ActivePedal | Best budget active pedal | €899 / $799 |
 | Asetek Invicta | Best hydraulic pedal | €759 / $759 |
 | Sim-Lab XP1 | Best load cell pedal | €402 / $399 |
 | Fanatec ClubSport V3 | Best PS5 high-end pedal | €399 / $399 |
 | MOZA CRP2 Pedals | Best Xbox high-end pedal | £399 / $399 |
What makes high-end pedals different to regular sim racing pedals?
Sim racing pedals differ greatly in technology, with premium or high-performance pedals including significantly more realistic technology. This strive for realism really seperates high-end pedals from more budget-friendly options.
As with most high-end sim racing hardware, premium pedals also feature a much-improved build quality with more emphasis on premium materials used in the construction. You often find you have greater levels of control over your pedal as well with a high-end product. There can be more customisation, and finer levels of adjustment available.
Different types of high-end sim racing pedal
There are three distinctly different technologies used in high-end sim racing pedals. These all come with their own set of pros and cons. Below is a comparison between load cell, hydraulic and active pedals.
| Load cell pedals | Hydraulic pedals | Active pedals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology | Passive pedal | Passive pedal | Active pedal |
| Sensor | Load cell sensor | Hydraulic sensor | Load cell sensor |
| Resistance | Springs or elastomers | Hydraulic fluid | Controlled via motor |
| Force feedback? | No | No | Yes |
| Adjustability | Physical adjustments | Physical adjustments | Software controlled adjustments |
| Realistic feel | Good | Great | Great |
| Pros | Accurate pressure measurements | Very realistic compared to real-world cars | Force feedback gives additional information |
| Price | $150-$600 | $600-$1500 | $1000+ |
How regular potentiometer pedals work
At a budget end, budget sim racing pedals normally include an angle sensor or potentiometer. This simply measures the angle of the pedal. These pedals usually include some form of resistance spring or elastomer to make them feel stiffer and more realistic. However, this is the most basic form of measuring pedal input.
Examples of potentiometer pedals include the Logitech G923, Thrustmaster T3PM and MOZA SR-P Lite.
How load cell pedals improve realism
Moving up from potentiometer pedals, you’ll find sim racing pedals which use a load cell sensor. Unlike an angle sensor, a load cell measures the pressure applied. This is much more realistic and it allows a sim racer to build consistency over time.
The more you race with a load cell pedal, the more your pedal feel will improve, letting you brake in the same way lap after lap. A load cell also allows you more control over trail braking as you have much greater levels of granularity in your inputs.
Examples of load cell pedals include the Fanatec ClubSport V3, MOZA CRP2 and Asetek Forte pedals.
Hydraulic pedals
Hydraulic pedals utilise similar technology as real-world cars. You’ll find a hydraulic cylinder full of hydraulic fluid, which controls the pressure of the pedal. This can be adjusted to allow for more or less resistance, and its the best way of creating the most realistic feeling sim racing pedal.
Brands such as Heusinkveld and Asetek are known for their high-performance hydraulic pedals.
How active pedals work
An active pedal is a departure from the strive for realism that hydraulic and load cell pedals aim for. Active pedals can still be very realistic, however, they include an internal motor that controls all aspects of the resistance, pedal travel and other features that are normally controlled via mechanical elements.
The real perk of an active pedal is that the internal motor can create force feedback, much like a racing wheel base. This force feedback lets you feel when your ABS or traction control are activating, when you lock a wheel, or the vibrations from your engine.
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Simucube were the first brand to create an active pedal, while MOZA Racing and SIMAGIC are releasing much more budget-friendly active pedals.
Passive vs ActivePedals
With the introduction of active pedals, which feature an in-built motor that is always active, all other forms of sim racing pedal have become known as passive pedals. A passive pedal is one that doesn’t have a power supply or any form of internal motor. They rely on mechanical components and pressure or hydraulic sensors to measure the pedal input.
There are pros and cons to both passive pedals and active pedals to consider, and some sim racers may have a preference to one over the other. Below is a comparison of both passive and active pedals.
Passive Pedal Pros
- No power supply required.
- Often easier to set up and configure.
- Often cheaper than active pedals.
Passive Pedal Cons
- Mechanical adjustments often require tools and time to perform.
- No force feedback.
Active Pedal Pros
- Software adjustments allow for quick changes to be made.
- Force feedback provides extra information.
- Create different profiles to instantly switch between pedal feel and match real-world race cars.
Active Pedal Cons
- PSU required.
- Much larger and bulkier than passive pedals.
- Normally more premium and expensive than passive pedals.
The best ActivePedal for sim racing
Simucube ActivePedal Ultimate technical specs
- Price: From €/$2399
- Pressure: 170kg brake pressure
- Pedal type: Active pedal
- Features: Force feedback effects can simulate G-force, ABS, TC and engine rumble.
- Weight: 6kg
- Dimensions: 100 x 250 x 402mm
- Shop ActivePedal Ultimate
In 2025, there are now a few different active pedals available to buy. Simucube have two different active pedals at different price points, the Pro and the Ultimate. MOZA Racing has its own mBooster active pedal which is available for around hafl the price of the Simucube AP Ultimate. And SIMAGIC have also developed an active pedal.
However, the king of them all remains the Simucube ActivePedal Ultimate. This is the first and original active pedal, and compared to the newer Simucube ActivePedal Pro, the Ultimate is the flagship pedal.
It offers a few more features and improvements over the more affordable AP Pro pedal, and some additional features over the cheaper MOZA mBooster pedal.
There are a few main reasons to buy the Simucube ActivePedal Ultimate. The first is that the force feedback is incredible. Feeling how your car is reacting on track through the pedal really affects how you race. Having raced with an ActivePedal Ultimate for around a year, I can confidently say I am now a more consistent sim racer because of it.
The second reason it that the AP Ultimate is highly adjustable. Because all of the effects and adjustments are controlled via the Simucube Tuner software, you can instantly change how the pedal feels. You can save multiple profiles and load other driver’s profiles with just a click of a button, and your pedal will feel completely different.
Pros
- One of the very best sim racing pedals available.
- Force feedback is a game changer, offering real-time feedback on your driving.
- Incredible haptics and rumble effects.
- Highly customisable via Simucube’s software.
Cons
- Incredibly premium and expensive.
- Requires a large and bulky PSU.
- Makes noise during operation.
The best high-end hydraulic pedal for sim racing
Asetek Invicta technical specs
- Price: €759 / $759
- Pressure: Upto 700kg of burst pressure
- Pedal type: Liquid pressure sensor
- Features: T.H.O.R.P hydraulic brake cylinder gives an incredibly realistic feel.
- Weight: 6kg
- Dimensions: 212 x 256 x 457mm
- Shop Asetek Invicta
Hydraulic pedals are often seen as the most realistic you can buy. They utilise the same or very similar design prinicples to a real-world race car by implementing a hydraulic cylinder at the rear of the brake pedal.
Asetek has an incredible range of high-end pedals, with the Invicta pedals being their flagship hydraulic pedal set. You can buy it in two forms. The regular Invicta pedal set includes a brake and throttle attached via a base. The Invicta S pedals separate both throttle and brake to give more flexibility over mounting positions.
While the software adjustments are more limited than an active pedal, there are a host of tool-free adjustments that you can make. Elements such as the pedal travel and the bump stops can be quickly adjusted.
Pros
- Incredibly realistic pedal feel.
- Can replicate real-world race car feel.
- Both software and mechanical adjustments available.
- Available in a split pedal design.
Cons
- Clutch pedal is not included.
- Not as many software adjustments as an active pedal.
The best high-end load cell pedal for sim racing
Sim-Lab XP1 technical specs
- Price: €402 / $399
- Pressure: 200kg load cell sensor
- Pedal type: Load cell
- Features: Easy mechanical adjustments to resistance plus a two-stage brake action.
- Weight: 5.94kg
- Shop Sim-Lab XP1 Pedals
If you’ve decided that a load cell pedal set is the best option for you, there are a huge number of options. The MOZA CRP2 pedals are Xbox compatible and one of the best mid-range pedal sets. While the Fanatec ClubSport V3 offer PlayStation support and equally good performance.
At a slightly higher price point sit load cell pedals including the Asetek Forte pedals and the Sim-Lab XP1 pedals. The XP1 pedal set is one of the best choices for a mid-range to high-end sim racing pedal.
There is a huge amount of adjustability in the brake, throttle and clutch, although the clutch is an optional extra. Each pedal is individually mounted which opens up some unique pedal positioning, and the build quality is exceptional with an all-metal construction.
The two-stage brake damper really replicates a real-world brake as good as you can without stepping up to a hydraulic cyclinder. This damper lets you switch how the pedal feels between a stiff formula-style pedal, or a softer road car pedal, and everything in between.
Pros
- Very well priced, making them more affordable.
- Individually mounted for maximum customisation.
- Easy mechanical adjustments.
- Fantastic two-stage brake action.
Cons
- Clutch pedal is not included.
- Base plate is not included.
Pedal compatibility with consoles and third-party brands
When you’re buying any sim racing peripheral, or configuring your own setup, compatibility can cause a headache. Ensuring that the new piece of hardware you wish to buy is compatible with your other sim racing equipment, your PC or console and the racing sim you want to play is important.
Thankfully, when shopping for premium and high-end pedals, compatibility becomes much easier than it is with budget sim racing pedals and racing wheels. This is because almost all high-end pedals only offer PC compatibility with no console support, and most can be connected directly to your PC.
If you connect your pedals to your PC via USB, you are bypassing your other hardware. This ensures that the pedals will work regardless of which racing wheel you are using. With this scenario, you could choose to use Simucube pedals with a Fanatec racing wheel. Or Asetek pedals with a MOZA racing wheel. The possibilities and combinations are truly endless.
It is worth checking the product specs of the pedals you are planning on buying, just to ensure they allow for a direct to PC connection. There are some exceptions to this such as pedals from Fanatec and other brands that require a compatible wheel base.
How we tested all of these high-end pedals
Across the past 10 years, I’ve experienced many sim racing pedals, including various high-end pedals, including the pedals I’ve recommended in this buyer’s guide. Testing pedals comes down to the feeling you get while using a pedal and just how each one performs, as well as how consistently it allows you to brake.
Using a realistic simulator like iRacing or Assetto Corsa provides the perfect testing ground for sim racing pedals. They replicate the real-world driving environment and physics incredibly well, allowing me to test each pedal to see how it performs in a realistic sim.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What makes high-end sim racing pedals different?
The difference between high-end sim racing pedals and more budget-friendly pedals comes down to the high design and construction quality, along with the improvement in pedal feel and technology. The inclusion of load cell sensors and hydraulic cylinders makes for a much more realistic and high-end pedal.
Is an active pedal better than a hydraulic sim racing pedal?
Active pedals incorporate an internal motor to generate force feedback along with software controlled adjustments. This makes active pedals more versatile than a mechanical, hydraulic pedals. However, both types of sim racing pedals will feel vastly different to sim race with, meaning the decision is more down to personal preference.
Article written by Rich
Rich is the founder, F1 car setup creator and content writer 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. Regularly writes for sim racing website SimRaceReviews.com
View all articles written by RichDisclaimer: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links. We may earn commission from any sale after clicking a link. Read our affiliate policy.
