QMK vs ZMK: Which Firmware Should You Choose for Your Split Keyboard?

When you start shopping for a split keyboard, you'll run into two firmware names almost immediately: QMK and ZMK. Both are open-source, both are widely used, and both are significantly more powerful than the firmware that ships with a standard office keyboard.

But they're built for different use cases — and choosing the wrong one means either giving up wireless capability or losing access to the most mature customization ecosystem available.

This guide breaks down what each firmware does, where each one excels, and how to decide which is right for your setup.

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What Is Firmware and Why Does It Matter?

Keyboard firmware is the software that runs on the microcontroller inside your keyboard. It determines how your keystrokes are processed, what happens when you hold a key versus tap it, how layers work, and — in the case of wireless keyboards — how the two halves communicate with each other and with your computer.

For a standard keyboard, firmware is invisible. You plug it in and it just works.

For a programmable split keyboard, firmware is the entire reason the keyboard is useful. It's what lets you remap any key to any function, create layers that transform your keyboard into a completely different layout with a single held key, set up tap-hold behaviors, control RGB lighting, manage battery status, and handle the wireless connection between halves.

The firmware you choose determines what's possible — and how easy it is to get there.

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QMK: The Most Powerful Wired Firmware

QMK (Quantum Mechanical Keyboard) is the most widely used open-source keyboard firmware in the mechanical keyboard community. It's been in active development since 2015 and supports hundreds of keyboard models.

What QMK does well

VIA and VIAL support. QMK keyboards can be configured using VIA (via.ai) or VIAL — graphical interfaces that run in your browser or as a desktop app. You can remap every key, create layers, set up macros, and configure tap-hold behavior without touching any code. For most users, this is all you'll ever need.

Mature feature set. QMK has had years of development behind features like tap-dance (different actions for single tap vs double tap), combo keys, leader sequences, mouse keys, and advanced layer management. If you can imagine a keyboard behavior, QMK can almost certainly do it.

Large community. Because QMK has been around longer and supports more keyboards, it has a larger base of documentation, guides, and community support. If you run into a problem, someone has almost certainly solved it before.

Trackball and encoder support. QMK's support for pointing devices (trackballs, trackpoints) and rotary encoders (knobs) is deep and well-tested. If your keyboard has these features, QMK gives you the most configuration options for them.

QMK's limitation

QMK requires a physical USB connection. It does not support wireless. If you want a Bluetooth or 2.4G wireless split keyboard, QMK is not an option.

This is the single deciding factor for most people. If you want wireless, you need ZMK.

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ZMK: Wireless-First Firmware

ZMK (Zephyr Mechanical Keyboard) is a newer open-source firmware built from the ground up with wireless support as a core feature. It uses the Zephyr RTOS, which gives it native Bluetooth Low Energy support and excellent power management.

What ZMK does well

Native Bluetooth and wireless support. ZMK is the standard firmware for wireless split keyboards. It handles Bluetooth pairing between the two halves, Bluetooth connection to your computer, and multi-device pairing (you can pair to several devices and switch between them). For a cable-free desk, ZMK is the answer.

Excellent battery life. ZMK's power management is one of its strongest features. Keyboards running ZMK typically achieve significantly better battery life than equivalent hardware running other firmware, because ZMK is designed to sleep aggressively when idle.

Active development. ZMK is under active, rapid development. Features that weren't available a year ago are now standard, and the firmware is maturing quickly.

Multi-device support. ZMK supports pairing to multiple Bluetooth profiles simultaneously and switching between them with a keypress. Useful if you work across a laptop, desktop, and tablet.

ZMK's limitations

No VIA/VIAL support. ZMK uses a different configuration system — keymap files written in a format called Devicetree, which are then compiled into firmware. For beginners, this means editing a config file and flashing new firmware rather than remapping keys in a graphical interface.

Some keyboard manufacturers (including Artkeeb) ship ZMK keyboards with keymaps pre-configured for common use cases, which removes most of the friction. But if you want to customize deeply, you'll need to get comfortable with the ZMK config process or use a community tool like the ZMK Studio interface (currently in development).

Trackball support is newer. ZMK's support for pointing devices has improved significantly but is still less mature than QMK's. For most users it works well, but the configuration options are more limited.

Slightly fewer advanced features. Some of QMK's more exotic features (certain tap-dance configurations, some combo behaviors) are either not yet available in ZMK or work differently. For most users this won't matter, but power users doing very advanced remapping may notice gaps.

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Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	QMK	ZMK
Wireless support	✗ Wired only	✓ Bluetooth + 2.4G
Battery life	N/A	✓ Excellent
Key remapping UI	✓ VIA / VIAL (graphical)	Config file + compiler
Trackball support	✓ Deep, mature	✓ Good, improving
Rotary encoder (knobs)	✓ Full support	✓ Supported
Multi-device pairing	N/A	✓ Up to 5 profiles
Community size	✓ Very large	Growing rapidly
Beginner friendliness	✓ VIA makes it easy	Moderate — config files
Open source	✓	✓

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VIAL: A Note on the Third Option

VIAL is not a separate firmware — it's a fork of QMK with an always-on real-time configuration interface. Where standard QMK with VIA requires you to enable VIA mode and sometimes reflash firmware, VIAL makes remapping available immediately without any extra steps.

For wired keyboards, VIAL is often the most beginner-friendly option. You install the VIAL desktop app, plug in your keyboard, and every key is immediately configurable with drag-and-drop simplicity.

If you see a keyboard listed as "VIAL" rather than "QMK VIA," that's generally a sign it's optimized for easy customization out of the box.

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So Which Should You Choose?

Choose QMK / VIAL if:

• You want a wired keyboard
• Easy graphical key remapping matters to you
• You have a keyboard with a trackball and want maximum configuration options
• You want the most mature, deeply documented firmware ecosystem

Choose ZMK if:

• You want a wireless keyboard (Bluetooth or 2.4G)
• A clean, cable-free desk is a priority
• Battery life matters
• You're comfortable doing initial setup with a config file, or you're buying a keyboard that ships pre-configured

Still undecided? Some keyboards — including several in the Artkeeb lineup — are available in both wired (QMK/VIAL) and wireless (ZMK) versions. If you're genuinely unsure, this gives you the option to try both and settle on the workflow that fits you.

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Practical Notes for Artkeeb Keyboards

All Artkeeb keyboards ship with firmware pre-loaded and tested. You don't need to compile or flash anything to start using them.

For wired QMK/VIAL keyboards: plug in via USB-C, open VIAL or VIA in your browser, and your keyboard appears immediately. All keys are remappable from there.

For wireless ZMK keyboards: the keyboard ships with a functional default keymap. For most users, this is sufficient for daily use. If you want to customize further, the ZMK configuration process involves editing a keymap file — Artkeeb provides documentation for this, and the ZMK community has extensive guides.

For 2.4G wireless keyboards using VIAL: these combine wireless convenience with VIAL's graphical remapping interface. You plug in a small USB receiver, and the keyboard connects instantly — and VIAL still works for remapping. This is often the smoothest option for users who want wireless without the complexity of Bluetooth pairing or ZMK config files.

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The Bottom Line

QMK and ZMK are both excellent firmware choices — they're just optimized for different priorities. QMK is the right choice if you want the richest customization experience on a wired keyboard. ZMK is the right choice if wireless is non-negotiable.

For most beginners, the simplest path is to decide first: wired or wireless. That decision makes the firmware choice straightforward.

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