Imagine a brake pedal that dynamically changes its resistance based on how ABS intervenes during braking. Or a throttle pedal that vibrates when you spin the wheels. Active pedals with a servo motor can do exactly this — and in 2026 they are more accessible than ever. Two real options exist on the market: MOZA mBooster from 899 EUR and Simucube ActivePedal from ~1,700 EUR. We compared them based on 10+ reviews.
How Do Active Pedals Work?
Traditional load cell pedals have fixed resistance — springs or elastomers. An active pedal instead uses a servo motor with a ball screw that dynamically changes resistance in real time. The motor converts rotational motion into linear force while a software loop constantly reacts to your inputs and telemetry from the game.
In practice: in iRacing, ABS activates → you feel pulsation under your foot. You spin the wheels on throttle → the throttle pedal vibrates. You hit a kerb → a jolt through the brake pedal.
MOZA mBooster (899 EUR)
Verified Specifications
- Motor: High-torque servo motor with ball screw, direct drive
- Sensors: Dual 200 kg load cell — note: 200 kg is sensor capacity, not realistically usable force. Reviewers typically use 34–55 kg
- Angle sensor: 15-bit precision
- Pedal travel: 3.9 mm min – 53.5 mm max (32.1 mm usable range)
- Dimensions: 382.5 × 90 × 234 mm, ~500 mm deep on rig
- Material: All-metal, aluminum alloy, satin black finish
- Connection: USB to PC (no console support), RJ11 for CRP2 pedals
- Power: External PSU (no power switch!)
Pricing
| Configuration | EUR |
|---|
| Standalone mBooster | 899 EUR |
| Bundle (mBooster + CRP2 throttle + plates) | 1,099 EUR |
| Extension plate | ~39 EUR |
What Reviewers Say (6+ Sources)
Pros:
- Nearly half the price of Simucube — "At double the price it should be better" (Traxion)
- Infinite configuration through software — switch from F1 to GT setup without tools
- All-metal premium build quality
- 15 preset profiles for quick start
- SimRaceReviews (9/10): "Feels every bit as smooth as its premium competitors"
Cons:
- Noise — the biggest issue. Traxion: "The mBooster is fairly loud when turned on... only louder and more vibration-prone in operation". Motor hums even at idle, no power switch exists. SimRaceReviews: "I was constantly pulling the power cable"
- Haptic quality — Traxion: "The Simucube sample oozed precision. Vibration effects were clear and precise compared to the mBooster." The mBooster has a "weird stepping feel" where "haptic response starts at a higher frequency and quickly settles"
- Mounting — Front and rear mounting points too far apart. SimRaceReviews: "Rear mounting is incredibly difficult due to the lack of space"
- Each pedal needs its own PSU — no daisy-chain
- PC only — no console support
Game Support
| Game | ABS | TC | RPM | Lockup |
|---|
| Assetto Corsa / ACC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| iRacing | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| EA WRC / DiRT Rally 2.0 | Yes | Yes | Yes (WRC) | No |
| Le Mans Ultimate / rFactor 2 | Yes / issues | No | No | No |
Simucube ActivePedal (Pro and Ultimate)
Version Comparison
| ActivePedal Pro | ActivePedal Ultimate |
|---|
| Max force | 110 kg (1,078 N) | 150–170 kg (1,667 N) |
| Travel | 5–74 mm | 5–79 mm |
| Peak power | 280 W | 480 W |
| Daisy-chain | No | Yes (1 PSU for up to 3 pedals) |
| Link Hub | Not included | Included |
| Warranty | 3 years | 5 years |
| Passive pedal input | 2 (Heusinkveld Sprint/Ultimate compatible) | 2 |
| Price (single pedal) | ~1,700 EUR | ~2,420 EUR |
Co-Pedal (~298 EUR) is a passive add-on (throttle/clutch) with a Hall sensor and patented Arc technology — switch between throttle and clutch in 60 seconds without tools.
Key Advantage: Software
Automatic profile switching — Simucube Tuner detects the simulator and car, then automatically loads the matching settings. Effects like ABS threshold and clutch bite point work in all games without telemetry. Full telemetry support in 20+ simulators. Professional drivers have created authentic profiles with real car effects.
Price Comparison — Complete Overview
| Configuration | MOZA | Simucube |
|---|
| 1 active pedal (brake) | 899 EUR | ~1,700 EUR (Pro) / ~2,420 EUR (Ultimate) |
| Brake + throttle | 1,099 EUR (bundle) | ~2,000 EUR (AP Pro + Co-Pedal) |
| 3 pedals | ~1,099 EUR (bundle) | ~5,100+ EUR (3× Pro) |
The price gap is enormous: a complete MOZA 3-pedal set costs roughly the same as a single Simucube Pro pedal.
Head-to-Head Quality Comparison from Reviews
Traxion tested both systems side by side, offering the most relevant comparison:
"The Simucube sample oozed precision. Vibration effects were clear and precise compared to the mBooster, and much less muddled."
The mBooster has a "weird stepping feel" where haptic response "starts at a higher frequency and quickly settles to the desired vibration" — Simucube does this instantly and cleanly.
But Traxion also acknowledges: "At double the price it should be better." The mBooster "still offers a lot of comparable performance" and is "a worthy alternative."
Do They Make You Faster?
The honest answer from reviews: not dramatically.
- Traxion: "I didn't find my lap times dramatically dropping... but I didn't slow down either"
- SimRaceReviews: "The honest answer is no" — but newcomers to active pedals "will probably experience performance improvement"
- Active pedals primarily help with consistency — fewer lockups, more repeatable braking points, better muscle memory
- The biggest jump in lap times comes from upgrading potentiometer pedals to load cell. The step from load cell to active is more about immersion
DIY Alternatives
Open-source projects exist on GitHub (ChrGri, tjfenwick) with costs starting from ~250 EUR. They require a NEMA 23 servo motor, lead screw, load cell and Arduino. Functional, but with no warranty and requiring technical expertise.
What About High-End Load Cell Pedals?
Heusinkveld Ultimate+ (from ~1,200 EUR for 2 pedals, 140 kg load cell) remains the "passive benchmark" — used by Team Redline and Max Verstappen. Simple, reliable, proven at the highest level of esports. Active pedals add immersion and information, but they don't replace a quality load cell as the foundation.
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