As more of us are spending longer hours working in front of our computers, it pays to find the best vertical mouse to keep you as comfortable as possible - and that's where we can help.
Long hours of activities, such as working or gaming, can place stress on our wrists, and a standard mouse layout can potentially increase this strain.
Thankfully, a vertical mouse uses a much more ergonomic design, to allow for easier movement and a more comfortable hand position. If you can adapt to this new style, you could find yourself reaping the benefits for years to come.
Vertical mice utilise features such as button reachability, thumb rests, and wrist support to create what is known as the 'handshake position' whereby your hand is tilted roughly 90 degrees from using a standard mouse, allowing for a more natural hand and wrist alignment.
Despite the somewhat unusual design, a great vertical mouse doesn't have to come at a cost, and more and more models can offer competitive features such as a high DPI, a quality that all of the best gaming mice share.
We've put together some products that we think fit the bill of the best budget vertical mouse, based on their specs, features, and anything we thought made them stand out from the crowd.
Let's take a look at the world of budget vertical mice.
Best Budget Vertical Mouse
Best budget vertical mouse - Logitech Lift
When we consider the types of features we'd want in a budget vertical mouse, the Logitech Lift delivers these in spades.
A smooth, classy design combines with a soft textured rubber grip and snug thumb rest to help your hand fit seamlessly into the mouse.
Read More: Best wireless mouse
Wireless Bluetooth or USB connectivity gives you full freedom of your mouse mat, and with a low weight of only 124g, and a 4,000 DPI, you can expect solid responsiveness out of your Lift.
A 57-degree angle is claimed to be the natural position for our wrists, and given the state-of-the-art Logi Ergo lab Logitech has at its disposal, who are we to argue?
Best budget vertical mouse with wrist rest - DeLUX Ergonomic Vertical Mouse
A compact design and customisable DPI mean the DeLUX Ergonomic Mouse proves the best things do come in small packages.
The included wrist rest is completely detachable and can provide a solid supportive surface depending on the angle you choose to hold your mouse.
The Memory Setting Driver allows you to make custom macros and lighting effects, as well as modify your key bindings. When combined with an adjustable DPI range, this should mean you can create your ideal setup for gaming too.
Read More: Best vertical monitor
Available in Iron Grey, Jet, and White varieties, the DeLUX Ergonomic Mouse can be seen as one of the more stylish small vertical mice out there, and its RBG lighting strips certainly help it stand out from the crowd.
Best budget vertical mouse for gaming - ZLOT Vertical Gaming Mouse
A vertical mouse may not be what you immediately think of when it comes to gaming, but with the high stress the activity places upon your wrist, investing in a model such as the ZLOT Vertical Gaming Mouse can be a smart choice.
A whopping maximum of 10,000 DPI gives you crazy high responsiveness, but an adjustable scale allows you to find the sweet spot if you prefer a lower, more precise feel to your gameplay.
Read More: Is a gaming mouse worth it?
11 programmable buttons make the ZLOT great for games benefiting from multiple key bindings, such as Fortnite, and the mouse is available in both Wired and Wireless varieties, depending on your preference.
If you find the design comfortable, a cheaper Office model is also available, which might be great if you don't need the performance of a gaming mouse, but enjoy the ZLOT's use and feel.
Best budget vertical mouse for price - LEVKEY Wireless Vertical Mouse
A budget vertical mouse should only roughly cost around $30 -$70, and the LEVKEY Wireless Vertical Mouse falls on the lower end of this range.
A light weight of 124g means the LEVKEY should feel super easy to use, and low-volume soft click buttons help make this mouse an understated addition to your set-up, despite its somewhat futuristic design.
Read More: Best quiet mechanical keyboard
The DPI may only go up to 1,600, but this can be all you need for everyday use, and even some gamers prefer to use a lower DPI for greater precision and accuracy.
For work use, the Page Back and Page Forward functionality buttons provide convenience when web page browsing and a 5-day battery life should keep it going and going.
A 24-month warranty is great if you find yourself struggling to adjust or to protect against unforeseen damages, and the rechargeable battery should also help save on any further costs.
Best left-handed budget vertical mouse - Perixx PERMICE - 713L
While a budget vertical mouse is a great option for helping improve wrist health, some models overlook their left-handed versions. The Perixx PERMICE - 713L is a very affordable option and could be a great choice if you are looking to keep costs even lower.
A minuscule weight of 87g should result in you encountering barely any resistance, and the slightly tiled angle claims to be a more natural position for your hand, allowing greater resting area upon the mouse itself.
Read More: Best wrist rest for gaming
Taking regularly available AAA batteries means you can easily reload the Perixx when you run out of juice, and the in-built power saving mode should help to reduce the frequency of needing to replace them.
Three levels of adjustable DPI come as standard, and a smaller-than-average size helps make the PERMICE great for users with small hands, or if you don't like the feel of a big chunky mouse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a vertical mouse?
This will depend on both your wrist health and usage preferences. If you find yourself developing a sore joint, or experiencing frequent pain, you should probably look into investing in such an option, as it could significantly help.
Other options such as a wrist rest or compression gloves can also aid in soothing inflammation or providing a more comfortable resting position, but vertical mice are specifically designed for greater comfort.
Are vertical mice good for gaming?
The short answer is - somewhat. Vertical mice can feel very weird when gaming, as when you click you're not clicking into the surface beneath your mouse, but sideways.
That can feel odd to start with, as a hard click can potentially move your curser along with it.
We'd recommend going for a gaming mouse, but one that is more contoured and ergonomic if possible to reduce wrist strain.
Is it hard to adjust to a vertical mouse?
It will probably be a little strange at first. The vastly different layout of a vertical mouse means your hand will be in a new position, and it will usually take a little while for your muscle memory to build up.
Once you have acclimatised, you can perform any action to the same degree as a regular mouse, but you should probably expect it to take a small amount of time for you to become fully comfortable.
Read More: How to Clean a Mouse Scroll Wheel