Your first Serato controller
Hercules DJControl Inpulse 500
A full-size two-deck Serato and DJUCED controller with mic and aux inputs; the effects section is its weak spot.
Photos: Hercules
of 8 reviews recommend itand 39 owner reviews
Choose it over the DDJ-FLX4 if you already know you want Serato. The FLX4's Smart Fader works only in rekordbox and one reviewer calls its Serato support an afterthought, while the Inpulse 500 comes with Serato DJ Lite and DJUCED licences and its Beatmatch Guide lights teach you to beatmatch by hand. Owners call it solid and easy to learn on, and its mic and aux inputs and jack master outputs cover a first small gig. Its Slip and Quantize modes need the paid Serato DJ Pro upgrade, and reviewers and owners fault an effects section where the filter and effects share controls. If scratching is why you started, the DDJ-REV1 has the battle layout.
- Best for
- Beginners and budget mobile DJs who want room to grow and play small gigs.
- Skip it if
- You lean heavily on effects, or often play outdoors in daylight.
What people praise
- Easy to set up and learn on
- Features of dearer controllers at its price
What to know first
- Effects section is limited: filter and effects share controls, and one effect at a time
- Pads, cue buttons and meters are dim in bright rooms or daylight
Video reviews
- Passionate DJMar 2025Recommends
- DJ BarrJan 2021Recommends
Learning to scratch
Pioneer DJ DDJ-REV1
A battle-style Serato controller with big jogs and FX paddles; the pads are small and some modes need Serato DJ Pro.
Photos: Pioneer DJ / AlphaTheta Corporation
of 9 reviews recommend itand 10 owner reviews
Choose it over the Inpulse 500 if scratching is why you started. Its battle layout copies Pioneer DJ's DJM-S scratch mixers, and the Serato DJ Lite it unlocks free already includes the Scratch Bank pad mode. Beat Jump, Roll and recording need the paid Serato DJ Pro upgrade. When you want motorised platters and Pro in the box, step up to the Rane ONE MKII.
- Best for
- Beginners learning to scratch on a DJM-S and turntable style layout.
- Skip it if
- You prefer a club-style layout or need more than one RCA output.
What people praise
- Easy to learn on as a first controller
- Battle layout copies a DJM-S mixer and turntables, a direct path to scratch gear
What to know first
- Small, single-colour performance pads, cramped for large fingers
- Beat Jump, Roll and recording need the paid Serato DJ Pro upgrade
Video reviews
- BPM SupremeJun 2023Recommends
- DJcityTVJan 2022Recommends
A second controller for travel
Reloop Ready
A Serato controller small enough to sit on a 13-inch laptop; a two-band EQ and cramped controls are the trade-off.
Photos: Reloop
of 7 reviews recommend itand 2 owner reviews
Choose it as a second controller for travel or preparing sets: it sits on a 13-inch laptop and still controls most of Serato. It unlocks Serato DJ Lite free, where Scratch Bank works too; the Pitch Play pad mode needs Serato DJ Pro plus the Pitch 'n Time expansion. Reviewers find it priced high for a first controller and miss a mid EQ, so as your only controller the Inpulse 500 makes more sense.
- Best for
- Serato DJs who want a travel or set-prep controller that fits a backpack.
- Skip it if
- You want one main controller, a three-band EQ or a mic input.
What people praise
- Small and light enough to sit on a 13-inch laptop and travel in a backpack
- Controls most of Serato in a tiny body, including both FX units and the pad modes
What to know first
- Two-band EQ, with no mid control
- Cramped layout: side-mounted headphone and master controls, tiny labels
Video reviews
- DJcityTVAug 2021Recommends
- DJ Nicky HNov 2024Mixed
Scratching with Serato DJ Pro included
Rane ONE MKII
A motorised Serato controller with hardware stems controls and 29 effects; busier to learn than the original.
Photos: RANE / inMusic
of 6 reviews recommend itand 13 owner reviews
Choose it over the DDJ-REV1 if you scratch seriously and want Serato DJ Pro without buying a licence. Its motorised platters feel close to vinyl, it has hardware stems controls, and its 29 built-in effects also work on turntables plugged into its phono inputs. It launched for less than the DDJ-REV7, which is the one to choose if you also want rekordbox. Reviewers warn that its busier layout takes learning, and control vinyl needs the paid Serato DVS expansion.
- Best for
- Scratch and open-format DJs on Serato who want motorised platters and hands-on stems.
- Skip it if
- You are new to DJing, need four channels, or want a lighter controller.
What people praise
- Hardware stems controls: acapella and instrumental buttons, Stem FX and Stem Roll
- Motorised platters feel close to real vinyl for scratching and mixing
What to know first
- Busier layout than the original, with a learning curve that may overwhelm beginners
- The white finish is not to everyone's taste and may show dirt
Video reviews
- Passionate DJSep 2025Recommends
- PDotAug 2025Recommends
Serato DJ Pro and an iPad
Reloop Mixon 8 Pro
A four-channel Serato and djay Pro controller built around iPad DJing; the mirrored deck layout takes getting used to.
Photos: Reloop
of 13 reviews recommend itand 11 owner reviews
Choose it over the FLX10 if you also play from an iPad. It unlocks Serato DJ Pro free and can connect a computer and an iPad at the same time, so Serato and djay Pro run side by side; the full djay Pro needs a subscription. Serato's DVS and Pitch 'n Time expansions cost extra, and it has no dedicated Serato stems controls. Try the mirrored deck layout before buying if you can.
- Best for
- djay Pro DJs, especially on iPad, who want four channels and full connections.
- Skip it if
- You want a club-style layout, onboard effects or dedicated Serato stems controls.
What people praise
- Solid, weighty build with a metal top panel
- Jog wheels with built-in displays for BPM, time and pitch
What to know first
- Mirrored deck layout takes getting used to
- Many functions sit behind Shift or are poorly labelled, so there is a learning curve
Video reviews
- Passionate DJNov 2024Recommends
- CROSSFADRSep 2023Mixed
Four decks and stems
Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX10
A 4-channel rekordbox and Serato controller with hardware stems; dearer than the DDJ-1000 and dense with features.
Photos: Pioneer DJ / AlphaTheta Corporation
of 12 reviews recommend itand 19 owner reviews
Choose it over the Mixon 8 Pro if you play from a laptop and want stems under your hands. It unlocks Serato DJ Pro free as well as rekordbox, and has the XLR, booth and two mic connections that clubs and weddings need. In Serato it loses a few rekordbox features such as Mix Point Link, and DVS needs the paid expansion. Reviewers say its stems sound better in Serato than in rekordbox.
- Best for
- Club and mobile DJs on rekordbox or Serato who want hands-on stems.
- Skip it if
- You have no use for stems or four channels, or want a standalone unit.
What people praise
- Hardware stems controls make live mashups and acapellas easy
- Runs rekordbox and Serato DJ Pro, with Serato DJ Pro unlocked free
What to know first
- rekordbox's stem separation sounds rougher than Serato's
- Much of the feature set goes unused unless you want stems; Mix Point Link needs preparation
Video reviews
- ThoziJan 2026Recommends
- PACHINCO MusicJul 2024Warns off
Also considered
- Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4. The first controller to buy if you haven't chosen your software: all ten reviews recommend it, and it unlocks Serato DJ Lite free as well as rekordbox. Some of its beginner features work only in rekordbox.
- Numark Mixtrack Platinum FX. All twelve reviews recommend it for the screens in its jog wheels, which show BPM, time, pitch and key, its FX paddles and its long pitch faders, and it unlocks Serato DJ Lite free. It isn't a pick because on 9 November 2026 no shop tracked here had it new in the UK, France or Spain: Thomann and Gear4music have dropped it from their feeds, and only bundles remain.
- Numark NS4FX. Four channels with XLR and booth outputs at a mid-range price. It ships with Serato DJ Lite, and the two mixed reviews say it only makes sense with the paid Pro upgrade; owners also report laggy scratching.
- Rane FOUR. Ten of eleven reviews recommend it for the deepest hardware stems control in Serato, and it unlocks Serato DJ Pro with a Pitch 'n Time card in the box. Rane still lists it, but Thomann has dropped it and Guitar Center lists it as no longer available, so it is hard to find new.
- Pioneer DJ DDJ-REV7. The other motorised scratch controller that unlocks Serato DJ Pro free, and all ten reviews recommend it. Choose it over the ONE MKII if you also want rekordbox, which it has run since 2024 firmware. Reviewers raise its external power brick and platter top plates held by thin plastic tabs.
- Hercules DJControl T10. Motorised 10-inch belt-driven platters that unlock Serato DJ Pro free, on sale since September 2026: three of five reviews recommend it for the platters, Stem Slip and the InduXfader, and two are mixed, with Digital DJ Tips calling it a gamble at its price next to the better-built ONE MKII. It isn't a pick because reviewers rate its mostly plastic build below the ONE MKII and its belt drive less firm than direct drive in hard juggling, and on 9 November 2026 no owner reviews had been posted yet.
- Rane ONE. The original from 2021, which Rane now lists as a legacy product; the ONE MKII replaces it.
- Pioneer DJ DDJ-REV5. A two-channel scratch-style controller with large jog wheels and Stems buttons. Pioneer DJ says it runs Serato DJ Pro and rekordbox free and includes a Pitch 'n Time voucher.
- Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX6. Four channels with Serato DJ Pro and rekordbox free, but its record is weak for Serato: reviewers say Serato DJ Pro support lags rekordbox, with fewer Merge FX options and confusing pads and effects. Pioneer DJ replaced it with the DDJ-FLX6-GT in 2022, which also comes with Serato FX Pack and Pitch 'n Time licence keys, Pioneer DJ says; the GT has no record yet.
- Rane Performer. A four-channel controller with motorised platters that unlocks Serato DJ Pro free, according to Serato.
- Pioneer DJ DDJ-1000SRT, DDJ-SR2, DDJ-SB3 and DDJ-SB2. All four are archived on AlphaTheta's support site and are no longer made. Among current Pioneer DJ controllers, the FLX10 and FLX6-GT unlock Serato DJ Pro on four channels, and the REV1 and FLX4 unlock Serato DJ Lite.
- A Serato mixer and turntables. If you would rather scratch on real decks, the Pioneer DJ DJM-S11 and Rane Seventy both unlock Serato DJ Pro and Serato DVS free. The DJM-S11 replaced the discontinued DJM-S9.
How to choose a Serato controller
Controllers that come with Serato DJ Pro
Three of the six picks unlock Serato DJ Pro free when plugged in: the Rane ONE MKII, the Reloop Mixon 8 Pro and the DDJ-FLX10. The Inpulse 500, DDJ-REV1 and Reloop Ready unlock Serato DJ Lite, so Pro is a paid upgrade on them.
Among the controllers under Also considered, the DDJ-REV7, Rane FOUR, DDJ-REV5, DDJ-FLX6 and Rane Performer unlock Serato DJ Pro too, and the original Rane ONE came with a Serato DJ Pro card in the box. The DJM-S11 and Rane Seventy mixers unlock Serato DVS as well as Pro. The DDJ-FLX4, Mixtrack Platinum FX and NS4FX come with Serato DJ Lite. The Serato DJ Lite vs Pro guide lists the controllers that unlock Pro, with links to Serato's hardware pages, and what Pro adds over Lite.
Serato controllers by budget
These are end-of-October 2026 prices; the table above shows today's price. Every controller here under $300 unlocks Serato DJ Lite. The cheapest that includes Serato DJ Pro is the Mixon 8 Pro, at about $845 in the US or £749 in the UK.
| Controller | Serato edition | US | UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hercules DJControl Inpulse 500 | Lite | about $233 | about £205 |
| Reloop Ready | Lite | about $272 | about £241 |
| Numark Mixtrack Platinum FX | Lite | about $279 | – |
| Pioneer DJ DDJ-REV1 | Lite | about $299 | – |
| Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4 | Lite | about $329 | |
| Numark NS4FX | Lite | about $549 | |
| Reloop Mixon 8 Pro | Pro | about $845 | about £749 |
| Pioneer DJ DDJ-REV5 | Pro | about $1,190 | |
| Rane FOUR | Pro | about $1,350 | |
| Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX10 | Pro | about $1,470 | |
| Rane Performer | Pro | about $1,700 | about £1,599 |
| Pioneer DJ DDJ-REV7 | Pro | about $1,940 |
Scratch controllers for Serato
The two battle-layout picks are the DDJ-REV1 and the Rane ONE MKII. The REV1 copies Pioneer DJ's DJM-S mixers, reviewers say its large jog wheels feel good for scratching, and its Tracking Scratch and Scratch Bank modes help beginners practise; its pads are small and single-colour. The ONE MKII has motorised platters that reviewers and owners say feel close to vinyl, a MAG FOUR crossfader and tension-adjustable channel faders, with Serato DJ Pro unlocked. Reviewers warn that its busier layout may overwhelm beginners.
Two more battle-style controllers unlock Serato DJ Pro. The DDJ-REV5 has a MAGVEL crossfader reviewers call suited to scratching and dedicated Stems buttons, but no line or phono inputs and no hardware effects. The DDJ-REV7 has motorised platters, and reviews call it the nearest thing to a scratch mixer and two turntables in one controller, though the ONE MKII launched for less. To scratch on real turntables, the DJM-S11 and Rane Seventy mixers are the Serato options above. The learning to scratch guide covers the technique.
Serato DJ Lite or Serato DJ Pro
Each Serato controller unlocks one edition of Serato DJ free when it is plugged in. Serato DJ Lite is enough to learn to mix. Serato DJ Pro adds recording and the extra cues and loops, and if your controller only unlocks Lite, Pro is a paid licence or subscription. Compare a Lite controller plus a Pro licence with a controller that includes Pro before you buy. The Serato DJ Lite and Pro guide covers the differences.
Expansion packs cost extra
Even with Pro unlocked, some features are separate expansions. Playing Serato from control vinyl or control CDs needs the DVS expansion on the FLX10, ONE MKII and Mixon 8 Pro, while scratch mixers such as the DJM-S11 unlock DVS free. Pitch 'n Time, for key shifting, comes in the box with the ONE MKII, the Rane FOUR and the DDJ-REV5. Stems are part of Serato DJ Pro from version 3.0, but only some controllers have buttons for them. See the guide to digital vinyl systems and using stems.
Serato only, or rekordbox too
The FLX10 and DDJ-REV7 run rekordbox as well as Serato DJ Pro, and the FLX4 runs rekordbox and Serato DJ Lite. That matters if you expect to play Pioneer DJ club players, which read rekordbox libraries. The Inpulse 500, REV1, Ready, ONE MKII and Rane FOUR don't run rekordbox, so they suit DJs who have settled on Serato. Serato DJ or rekordbox compares the two.
Battle layout or club layout
Battle controllers like the REV1 and ONE MKII put a scratch mixer between two decks, the way a scratch DJ sets up turntables. Reviewers say that layout suits scratch and open-format DJs more than club-style mixing. If you mostly blend tracks, a club layout like the FLX10's, with jog wheels that reviewers say feel close to CDJs, is the closer match. The learning to scratch and jog wheel guides go further.
Two channels or four, and the outputs
Two channels are enough to learn on and for most home mixing; four let you layer tracks or plug in turntables and media players. For gigs you want a balanced XLR master and a booth output, which the Inpulse 500, REV1 and Ready don't have. The guide to two and four channels explains the difference, and the best four-channel controllers compares them.
How these picks are made
Each pick is the Serato controller with the strongest evidence for its situation. The evidence is what professional reviews conclude and what owners report on retailer sites, compiled for each product, with every source linked on its product page. Which edition of Serato each controller unlocks comes from Serato's hardware pages and the manufacturers' product sheets. No controller here was tested in a lab. Prices come from daily tracking across the retailers we link to, and the status beside each one compares today's price with the lowest recorded. The methodology explains the whole process.
