The Nintendo Switch's Joy-Cons are an absolute engineering marvel. However, while they work exceedingly well, they do have drawbacks. Thankfully, the Joy-Cons are not the only option for people looking to enhance their gaming experience on the Switch. In fact, the market has quite a few interesting options available.
Of course, when looking for an alternative to the Joy-Cons they are going to come in two forms: controllers that physically attach to the system itself, and controllers that are wholly separate. These products will be able to satisfy the needs of Switch players looking for an alternative means of controlling their games.
Updated April 21, 2022 by James Kennedy: We are now five years into the lifecycle of the Nintendo Switch, and yet the console shows no signs of slowing down. As people look to acquire additional controllers for group play, or look for the best alternatives that aren't plagued by the dreaded Joy-Con drift, the question of who makes the best Joy-Con alternatives has simply never stopped being relevant.
While there are the old standbys, such as Hori's Splitpad Pro, the market has become flush with other third-party vendors producing surprisingly quality controllers. We've updated this list with a few more of those contenders in order to help keep track of the ever-growing market of quality Joy-Con alternative options.
12 Funlab Joycon Controllers, A Fun Take On The Joycon
Funlab isn't new to the world of making third-party Joy-Cons for the Switch. Their previous model was known for being a pretty high quality, nice Joy-Con alternative, that just so happened to cost two-thirds as much as Nintendo's own official offering. However, the newest iteration has made a ton of improvements to the previous model.
Gone is the rounded shape; in its place, there are now proper controller grips. They even come with that classic third-party controller addition: a turbo button! If you are looking for a cheaper Joycon alternative that fits a bit better in the hand, the Funlab Joycons are a solid bet. When taking their price into consideration, it is possible that they are the best Joy-Cons for Switch users on a budget.
11 8BitDo Wireless USB Adapter, DualSense On The Switch?
If you are looking for a fantastic alternative to the Switch Pro, and you have another controller that you have a great deal of affection for, this is an excellent option. This handy-dandy adapter makes a number of controllers usable on the Switch. You can even use the excellent Wii-U Pro controller.
However, the DualSense is a particularly nice fit, as it has nearly all the functionality of a Switch Pro controller (though unfortunately, the rumble will not be HD). To top it all off, the 8BitDo USB Adapter is inexpensive. For anyone who already owns one of the controllers that this adapter is compatible with, the 8BitDo Wireless Adapter is definitely a solution that makes a lot of sense.
10 Binbok Joycon, Chonky Joy-Cons
An alternative to the traditional Joy-Cons, the Binbok Joy-Cons are a more feature-rich version of Hori's Split Pad Pro. They have gyroscopes and rumble, they are able to be used wirelessly. Basically, they can do everything the Joy-Cons can do, but with a larger, more comfortable feel.
Well, more comfortable when connected to the Switch, at least. The Binbok controller feels less comfortable when played detached. The D-Pad here is, unfortunately, the downfall of the Binbok. It is on excessively mushy. However, if the D-Pad isn't a priority for you, the Binbok Joy-Cons are essentially the ideal Hori Split Pad Pro alternative.
9 8BitDo Zero 2, Adorable
Maybe you think the Joy-Con is just too big in your hands when you are using one side as a single controller. Well, the Zero 2 has you covered. This controller is absolutely, absurdly small. It is so, so, so small. Which is to its advantage. It makes the Zero 2 extremely portable. It is also very cheap.
The Zero 2 is a great solution for people who want another controller for party play (beyond the two you already have with the stock Joy-Cons). It also feels better than a single Joy-Con feels when used as a controller. This is an excellent solution if you want an alternative controller for multiplayer.
8 Hori D-Pad Controller, A Light Touch Solution
For those who are simply looking for a D-Pad, this is the simplest solution. The Hori D-Pad lacks some of the finer features of the Joy-Cons (such as HD Rumble), and it isn't useable when it is disconnected from the Switch itself. So, you can't use it with the Joy-Con Grip. However, the D-Pad itself feels great.
Thus, if you are looking to play something that is better suited to a classic D-Pad (like a fighting game) and that is the only reason you are looking for an alternative, this is an ideal solution. It is cheap too; so that is a plus. After all these years, the Hori D-Pad Controller may still be the best Joy-Con for Switch users who place a greater emphasis on an excellent D-Pad.
7 Switch Pro Controller, The Almost Perfect Controller
For people looking for a better controller while sitting on the sofa, the Pro Controller seems like the perfect choice. It has incredible battery life, the buttons all feel great, and it fills the hand perfectly. It really is on the cusp of being one of the best controllers.
Unfortunately, it comes with a massive downside: the D-Pad is awful. It feels good, but it is inaccurate and will be a detriment to precision control. The Switch Pro is also extremely expensive. So, while this is a great option for people who don't play 2D games (and aren't afraid to spend a little money), customers should make sure the Pro Controller makes sense for their needs.
6 Gamecube Controller, If It Ain't Broke...
If you play Smash Bros at all, you know that many Smash players swear by the Gamecube controller. This is a big part of why this controller has survived long past the death of the console it originally came packed in with. While the Gamecube controller is a bit of an odd duck, it is still a great controller.
The sticks are a bit awkward, but they absolutely work well. This feels like a bit of a novelty, as it is hard to see this becoming the primary controller for most people, but it is absolutely a solid option.
5 Third-Party Grip Enhancers, Coming To Grips With The Switch
There are a number of these on the market (the one shown above is the JETech, which is a nice budget option). Some grips are more bulbous, some of them have a rubberized coating, and some of them are more rigid. No matter what you want, there is a grip solution for you.
These grip enhancers work by fitting over your switch. They serve one primary purpose: to help the Switch fit better in your hand. This is a very light touch solution for the people who just find the Joy-Cons to be a little uncomfortable but are otherwise happy with what they provide.
4 Dobe TNS-19252C, Focus On Feel
Here is an unusual one. The Dobe essentially looks to change the Switch experience. When the Switch is plugged into the Dobe, it cannot be docked. Instead, you charge the Switch by plugging the Switch's power cord into the Dobe itself. The Dobe is one solid piece of plastic, so there is no separating the controllers while using it. However, this does make it feel very stable (whereas all the other bigger Joy-Con replacements have a certain amount of flex to them).
The buttons are also fantastic on the Dobe, so it does make for a very nice experience when playing single-player (which is good, as that is the only experience possible with the Dobe). It seems a little silly to lose all the features associated with the Switch, but if you only ever play your switch in Handheld mode, then maybe that isn't a big deal. If that is the case, this is an absolutely excellent alternative.
3 8Bitdo Arcade Stick, Joystick Over Joy-Con
Another fantastic alternative is getting an arcade stick for the Switch. If you spend a lot of your time playing the Switch's excellent lineup of arcade classic titles, or if you play a lot of fighting games on the Switch, this is definitely a fantastic option. Arcade sticks are big, clunky, and don't work well for games that utilize both analog sticks. But for certain genres of games, they are still the ultimate tactile experience.
The 8Bitdo Arcade Stick isn't the best arcade stick on the Switch, that would be the Real Arcade 4; however, the 8Bitdo is the best value. It is a feature-rich arcade stick that costs about half as much as the Real Arcade 4. It also has wireless functionality (which isn't that common among arcade sticks). The Hori mini stick, which has been around in one form or another since the PS1, is another decent purchase for people on a tighter budget (though its smaller size sorta makes it its own thing).
2 Hori Nintendo Switch Split Pad Pro, Great Feeling No Frills Alternative
The Split Pad Pro is another interesting option for Switch players looking for a more substantial grip. These feel great, and the parts feel high quality. It is like you have a Switch Pro Controller cut in half connected to both sides of your Switch.
The Split Pad Pro also comes with a solid D-Pad. However, it has a bit of a soft feel to it, so if you like your D-pad super clicky then that may be a point of contention for you. Still, the D-Pad is a million times better than the one on the Switch Pro Controller. Which makes this a great controller for playing the many excellent platforming titles on the Switch. Also, it doesn't have the HD rumble or gyro function. So keep that in mind.
1 8Bitdo Pro 2, The True King Of Docked Play
When it comes to the premium docked controller, the 8Bitdo Pro 2 has to be the king. It has all the bells and whistles you would want, but it also adds programmability, extra back buttons, and most importantly, it has an incredible D-Pad. It feels sacrilegious to say, but not only is the Pro 2 better than the official Switch Pro price-wise, but it is just better. Period.
For people who are looking for something a little more economical, 8Bitdo also has the SN30, which is basically a SNES controller with two analog sticks. That is another fantastic option (though less feature-rich).