We propose a new controller for DC-DC converters based on particle swarm optimization (PSO). This new converter controller uses the PSO optimization method to directly control, by itself, the output voltage of a boost DC-DC converter. In order to validate and qualify the proposed converter controller, we analyzed and implemented some variants of the PSO algorithm, namely the standard PSO and the global local best PSO. The proposed converter controller was then compared with a variant of the classic PI controller with anti-windup, for different operational conditions. The three controllers compared in this work were implemented in the microcontroller TMS320F28027 by using the code composer studio from Texas Instruments. The results show that the proposed controller exhibits better behavior in terms of settling time and overshoot. Unlike most popular DC-DC converter controllers, the proposed controller does not require any sort of optimal parameter determination. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.