The 8 Best Cheap Sim Racing Wheels (Budget Friendly Options)

Finding a cheap sim racing wheel might seem like a tough task, given the high prices of many wheels out there. So, to take all the pressure off and leave you more time behind the wheel, I have compiled a list of the best budget sim racing wheels to suit every racer.

The 8 best cheap sim racing wheels are:

1. Logitech G29/G920 Driving Force
2. Thrustmaster T150/TMX Force Feedback
3. Thrustmaster T300/TX
4. Fanatec CSL DD Ready2Race Bundle
5. MOZA R5 Bundle
6. Hori Apex/Overdrive
7. Thrustmaster Ferrari 458 Spider
8. PXN V900 Racing Wheel

So, what exactly was it that made these the best, and what features should you be looking out for when you’re searching for your own racing wheel? Below, I cover the different wheels in detail and how they stack up against each other.

Note: This list is not ordered by price, as these are the best budget options. That’s why there are even a few direct drive options in there! For the absolute cheapest options, check out the last three items on the list.

The 8 Best Cheap Sim Racing Wheels

1. Logitech G29/G920 Driving Force

Coming in at number 1 on our list is the Logitech G29/G920. This wheel offers amazing value with a range of features and a great build quality one would normally associate with a more expensive wheel. It’s an incredibly popular choice, and for good reason!

Features

The Logitech G29 is compatible with PC and PlayStation, with the G920 version being available for the Xbox. Both models are available with specifically designed pedals that are made from stainless steel, and a wheel made from steel and aluminum with a hand-stitched leather cover.

The wheel has 900 degrees of rotation lock-to-lock, which gives you great control in races. It also comes with metal paddle gear shifters, and should you prefer a stick shifter, there is a clutch pedal in the pedal set – but there is no stick shifter included in the cheapest bundle, and you’ll need to buy that separately.

Beautifully designed in all-black leather and metal, it really looks like a wheel one would find in a real racing car, and fits really well in your hands to keep you in control while gaming. The gear-driven force feedback is definitely enough for beginners, and while not as smooth as belt drive systems, it’s still the best-value wheel for those on a budget!

Note: You can also get the Logitech G923, which is a fair bit more expensive. I personally think the G29/G920 is an ideal starter wheel, but the G923 does come with a dual clutch system and Trueforce, so it’s worth considering as a first wheel – but it’s not enough of an upgrade if you already have a Logitech wheel (consider looking at the T300RS or the Fanatec CSL DD bundle instead).

PROS:

• Lots of great features
• Excellent build quality
• Great value

CONS:

• No stick shifter
• Can run a little loud

2. Thrustmaster T150/TMX Force Feedback

Coming in second, but it could have easily shared the top spot, the T150/TMX is the cheapest offer from Thrustmaster. It’s generally around the same level as the Logitech wheel, but it does somewhat compromise on build quality. However, it’s still one of the most popular wheels for beginner sim racers.

Features

The TMX is designed to be compatible with Xbox and PC, whereas the T150 is available for PlayStation and PC. Although it’s arguably not as nice to look at as the Logitech G29/G920, it offers a lot of the same features.

These wheels come with great force feedback, and for the price, you won’t find anything better. It provides 900 degrees of lock-to-lock turning, and you get some beginner pedals too. However, it’s only a 2-pedal set, so should you want a stick shifter, you’ll need to upgrade these for the most realistic experience.

The included pedals aren’t the best quality, feel a little plasticky, and don’t offer great resistance. The wheel itself is also made from steel and plastic and doesn’t feel as well made as our number 1 pick. However, for those that don’t want to spend too much but want genuine force feedback, this is the ideal choice.

PROS:

• Very budget friendly
• Decent force feedback
• Ideal for beginners

CONS:

• Lower build quality
• Feels a bit cheap

3. Thrustmaster T300/TX

The T300/TX from Thrustmaster are wheels of high quality. It’s at the higher end of the budget range, but if you’re looking for high-quality force feedback at a reasonable price, these should definitely be on your radar.

Features

The T300 is compatible with the PlayStation and PC, and the TX is designed to work with the Xbox. They come with force feedback, 1080 degrees of rotation, and pedals included too (although we’d recommend upgrading these to the T-LCMs). The force feedback itself is extremely high quality, making sure you feel all the bumps of the track, giving a realistic racing experience.

It is weighty enough to be stable on any surface, but we strongly suggest hard mounting this wheel to a dedicated sim racing rig. You get a nice set of paddle shifters on the back, and the whole thing just feels like it’s built to last. It uses a belt-drive system for its force feedback which can run a little hot, but the fans that keep it cool are fairly quiet.

Definitely for the more serious sim racing enthusiast, the wheel will offer those that want a more realistic experience great value. It’s one of Thrustmaster’s more high-end options, but for those with the budget and desire for premium quality at a not-so-premium price, the T300/TX should definitely be one you consider!

PROS:

• Solid build quality
• Lots of great features
• Excellent force feedback

CONS:

• A little pricey
• Runs a little hot during long sessions

4. Fanatec CSL DD Ready2Race Bundle

Up next we have one of the cheapest ways to get into direct drive sim racing, with the Fanatec Ready2Race bundle. This one comes with the CSL DD wheel base, which offers 5 Nm of peak direct drive torque. It also comes with the P1 V2 wheel rim, and the CSL pedals – perfect for beginners that want a bit more than belt drive has to offer!

The Base

The CSL DD wheel base was a revolutionary product, bringing true budget direct drive to the sim racing world. It offers 5 Nm of peak torque, upgradable to 8 Nm with the Boost Kit 180. This offers smooth, responsive force feedback at a price point below that of some of Thrustmaster’s belt drive wheel bases.

The DD wheel base is only compatible with PC, and with Xbox when used with an Xbox compatible wheel rim (the one included with this bundle is not Xbox ready). This means it’s not a console compatible bundle, which is unfortunately common when dealing with direct drive.

The Wheel Rim

The included wheel rim (which we’ve discussed separately in our P1 V2 wheel review) is basic but adequate, and most beginners will find it ticks all the boxes. It’s a round wheel, as opposed to a GT style wheel like the McLaren GT3. You get a reasonable but somewhat limited selection of buttons, and there’s a small screen at the top for things like your speed and gear selection.

The included pedals are the base model CSL pedals with no load cell. This is fine for beginners, and unless you already have a gear shifter, the lack of a clutch pedal isn’t a big concern for most. You can always upgrade these later. Overall, this is the way to go if you want to get into direct drive sim racing at a cheap price, with plenty of upgrade options in the future.

PROS:

• Cheap direct drive option
• High-quality build materials
• Lots of room to upgrade

CONS:

• Not console compatible

5. MOZA R5 Bundle

The MOZA R5 bundle is currently one of the cheapest ways to get into direct drive sim racing, and it’s almost on par with the Fanatec CSL DD bundle above, albeit a bit more expensive. But it still represents a great way to get into direct drive sim racing for those on PC.

The ES Wheel Rim

The included ES wheel rim looks great, and it’s packed with features. It has a nice leather finish, with an aluminum alloy base (that you can even swap out with a formula-style mod if you prefer). This ensures it looks excellent and feels great to use, while also offering longevity as well.

The wheel has nice, clicky aluminum alloy shifters on the back, which help give it a premium feel despite the relatively low price for a rim of this quality. You also get a set of pedals included, but they’re very basic, and you’ll likely want to upgrade them pretty quickly (to something like the SR-P pedals).

Cheapest Direct Drive

This bundle is obviously priced a bit higher than some of our other ‘cheap’ options on this list, but it’s one of the cheapest direct drive options on the market today. The wheel base itself is impressive, offering 5.5 Nm of peak torque. That’s plenty for a beginner, as really it’s the quality of the feedback that matters at this level, rather than the sheer power.

Overall, you get a premium quality wheel that performs like something double the price, and it’s part of a growing MOZA ecosystem! In terms of value for money, this is right up there with the best on the market.

PROS:

• Incredible value for money
• Cheapest direct drive option
• Part of a growing ecosystem

CONS:

• Not compatible with console

6. Hori Apex/Overdrive

The first of the ultimate budget options, the team at Hori racing has designed a beautiful racing wheel, although it comes without some of the higher-end features. For racers who are looking for a cheap way to get behind the wheel, look no further than Hori!

Features

The 2 wheels (Apex and Overdrive), like some of the other offerings on this list, are designed to work with specific consoles. The Apex works with PlayStation and PC, and the Overdrive works with Xbox consoles and PC.

The wheel itself has a great build quality, although it is largely plastic, which leads to a cheaper overall feel. It is USB powered and the 2-pedal board that it comes with, although basic, does a good job for kids or beginner racers.

The wheel looks excellent, feels great, and comes with a lot of buttons and extras you may not find with wheels in the same price bracket. But the biggest issue with the wheel is in the feature department. No force feedback is a big issue, although it does have rumble feedback for some basic fidelity.

Also, with only 270 degrees of rotation, it doesn’t offer the best control. The pedals are not of the highest quality either and don’t include a clutch pedal, but for the job it’s designed to do, that’s not a huge issue. Overall it is a great entry-level accessory for those that aren’t looking to break the bank or get too serious about sim racing just yet.

PROS:

• Very cheap
• Reasonable build quality
• Beginner friendly

CONS:

• No force feedback
• Limited turning rotation

7. Thrustmaster Ferrari 458 Spider

Next up is the specialist entry on our list. Some sim racing manufacturers have taken advantage of car brands to help decorate their wheels, and this one offered by Thrustmaster in conjunction with Ferrari is one of the best examples.

Features

Coming in at the lower end of the budget range, this is a beautifully designed wheel with few of the features of some of the higher-end models. Only compatible with Xbox consoles (and PC), the wheel also comes with the same pedals available with the T150 and TMX.

Of course, there are a lot of drawbacks. No force feedback is a real issue, and the 240-degree range of rotation is one of the worst on this list. However, it has a good clamp, causing the sliding issue of other budget wheels to be less of a problem. Finally, who hasn’t wanted to get behind the wheel of a Ferrari? This wheel may be the only chance some of us will ever get!

Definitely for a more casual racer, the extras on this wheel are too limited to be taken seriously by any veteran sim racer, but for those looking for something cheap and cheerful, it may be the perfect choice.

PROS:

• Very cheap
• Ferrari aesthetic
• Simple setup

CONS:

• No force feedback
• Feels quite cheap

8. PXN V900 Racing Wheel

Finally, we have the cheapest option on our list, the PXN V900. This wheel and pedal combination is designed for absolute beginners or for kids looking to get their first taste of sim racing. It’s a basic wheel, but it’ll definitely do the job to give your favorite arcade racing games a new lease of life!

Features

The PXN wheel works with Xbox, PlayStation and PC, so it’s a highly compatible choice. The wheel design is simple but effective, and nothing looks too out of place here. It’s made of plastic, so it’s lightweight, but it also feels rather cheap – because it is!

Considering its low price, it’s impressive to see a 900-degree range of rotation option with this wheel, and you can change it back to 270 degrees with the flick of a switch. This makes it a fairly adaptable budget gaming wheel, ideal for a variety of different arcade racing titles.

The pedals are fine, but that’s about all there is to say. They’re built to be cheap, so don’t expect much discussion of potentiometers and load cells here, as they’re very much just a simple option for those that need a simple setup. Overall, this is a fine choice for beginner sim racers or kids looking to enjoy their favorite racing games with a wheel instead of a controller.

PROS:

• Low price
• Ideal for total beginners or kids
• Easy to use

CONS:

• No force feedback
• Poor turning rotation
• Limited immersion

Summary Of The Best Cheap Sim Racing Wheels

Wheel	Pros	Cons
Logitech G29/G920 Driving Force	Very beginner friendly Reliable and immersive for the price	Gear-driven force feedback is a bit clunky
Thrustmaster T150/TMX Force Feedback	Very cheap force feedback option Simple setup	Bit of a cheap feel Pedals aren’t great
Thrustmaster T300/TX	Immersive force feedback Durable build quality	One of the more expensive choices
Fanatec CSL DD Ready2Race Bundle	Cheapest direct drive option Lots of upgrade options	Need the more expensive GT DD Pro for PS5/PS4
MOZA R5 Bundle	Very cheap wheel Part of an exciting ecosystem	Not compatible with console
Hori Apex/Overdrive	Very cheap option Ideal for kids	No force feedback Small range of rotation
Thrustmaster Ferrari 458 Spider	Super-cheap Thrustmaster choice Decent build quality	No force feedback Small range of rotation
PXN V900 Racing Wheel	Very cheap choice Good option for kids	Cheap feel overall Not a reliable sim racing brand

What To Look For In A Sim Racing Wheel

Price

The prices of sim racing wheels can be daunting at first, but we’ll always recommend you go for the best-quality sim racing gear that you can afford. You need to budget for every other aspect of your rig too of course, from your seat to your pedals, but your wheel is one of the main points of contact between you and the game, so it needs to be of high enough quality.

Note: We’ve included a variety of options in our list at various price points, and we’ve ordered them by value for money. The absolute cheapest wheels are at the end of the list, while the first options offer the best balance between price and performance. If you want the absolute cheapest choice, see the PXN V900.

Compatibility

Clearly, it is important to buy a wheel that works with your system, be it PC or console. Not all do, especially in the case of console users, so make sure you check the specifications. You’ll also need to pick one that’s compatible with your pedals, shifters, and even mounting points on your rig!

Features

You should be looking to pick up a force feedback wheel, but you don’t need direct drive to have an enjoyable and immersive sim racing experience. We’ve included gear, belt, and direct drive options that cater to those on a budget, but other features to consider include things like buttons, switches and toggles, along with high-quality paddles for shifting.

Build Quality

There is only so much we can do ourselves to look after products, so making sure that the company has produced a good-quality wheel is paramount. Ideally opt for those with mainly metal construction, and for the wheel rim, hand-stitched leather or Alcantara grips are usually the go-to choices.

How Does It Look?

With sim racing becoming a huge market now, there are lots of different companies offering many designs. There really is something out there to suit every taste, and while looks obviously aren’t the most important aspect to consider, you do want something that will fit in well with the rest of your rig.

Final Thoughts

Wheels are the best way to control the cars and are far better than any controller. Not all wheels are made equal though. The best cheap sim racing wheel is undoubtedly the Logitech G29/G920, with our ultimate budget choice being the Ferrari 458 wheel. If you’re looking for something stronger, consider the Fanatec CSL DD Ready2Race bundle instead.