Best PC joysticks?

I’m on the hunt for a decent controller because there are just a few games I absolutely cannot tackle using a keyboard and mouse.
I was originally leaning towards picking up a PlayStation 4 controller, but if anyone knows of a budget-friendly alternative—something under $167 that still feels just as high-quality—I would seriously appreciate the heads-up.

Joystick or a controller? Personally, I haven't touched a joystick in twenty years—not since I stopped playing flight sims. I just use my Microsoft Xbox 360 controller and honestly, it's great. If you're looking for a controller, check if the Microsoft Xbox One version works for you (since they don't sell the 360 model anymore); it should be under $167
.
EDIT: Wait, I see they have a wireless 360 model right here. You'd just need to make sure it's the PC-compatible version
.

For a PC, an Xbox is definitely the way to go

Does anyone remember the name of that software for tweaking joystick configurations? I know I was using it just a few months ago, but my brain has apparently decided to delete that specific piece of information entirely.