Mouse and trackpad apps for MacHead to head
BetterTouchTool vs LinearMouse
BetterTouchTool ranks #1 and LinearMouse ranks #3 in our guide to the best mouse and trackpad apps for Mac. BetterTouchTool is our pick for most people, and LinearMouse is the best free option.
BetterTouchToolPick BetterTouchTool if you want a gesture or spare mouse button to snap windows, paste snippets or run scripts.$15 onceBest free
LinearMousePick LinearMouse if your plugged-in mouse scrolls the wrong way or the pointer speed feels off, and you want a free fix.Free, open sourceWhat decides it
- LinearMouse costs less over 3 years: Free, against $15 for BetterTouchTool.
- Both run on Mac.
- BetterTouchTool is included with a Setapp subscription; LinearMouse isn't.
Side by side
Prices are checked every day.
| At a glance | BetterTouchTool | LinearMouse |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $15 with 2 years of updates, or $25 for lifetime updates. Free for 45 days | Free and open source |
| How you pay | Pay once | Free |
| 3 years of use | $15 | Free Cheaper |
| Free trial | Yes | Free to start |
| Runs on | Mac | Mac |
| Where to buy | Developer, Setapp | Developer |
| Features | Free trial, No account | Open source |
| Last updated | 1 Nov 2026 | Not tracked |
Who should get which
Get BetterTouchTool if
You want a 3-finger tap or a spare mouse button to snap a window, paste a snippet or run a script.
Get LinearMouse if
You plugged a regular mouse into your Mac and the scrolling direction or pointer speed feels off.
Skip BetterTouchTool if
You just want windows snapped to halves, and Rectangle or macOS itself does that at no cost.
Skip LinearMouse if
You only use the trackpad and like how it already feels.
Our verdicts
BetterTouchTool
macOS gives you a fixed set of trackpad gestures and window snapping to halves, while BetterTouchTool maps almost any gesture, mouse button or key to an action and chains actions into small automations. It also has a launcher with clipboard history and AI agents that work with OpenAI, Anthropic or local models. It costs $15 with 2 years of updates or $25 for life, and building a setup takes real time.
LinearMouse
Turn off pointer acceleration, reverse scrolling on the mouse while the trackpad stays natural, and remap extra buttons to shortcuts or Mission Control, with separate settings per device, app or display. LinearMouse does all of it free and open source, without installing your mouse maker's own software. Mac Mouse Fix, at $2.99 once, is the better pick if what you miss is trackpad-style gestures on a mouse.
What each one helps you do
BetterTouchTool
- Trigger any action with your own trackpad gesture
- Remap extra mouse buttons to shortcuts
- Search apps, files and clipboard history at once
- Chain several steps into 1 shortcut
LinearMouse
- Turn off mouse acceleration for steady control
- Reverse mouse scrolling but keep the trackpad natural
- Remap mouse buttons to shortcuts and media keys
- Use different settings per app or display
Where to get them
BetterTouchTool
$15 with 2 years of updates, or $25 for lifetime updates. Free for 45 days
-
From the developer45-day free trial, no account needed$15Get it
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IncludedTry Setapp
Some links earn us a commission, which never changes a pick.
Neither one quite right?
The other picks in our guide to the best mouse and trackpad apps for Mac.
Mac Mouse FixPick this if you use a gaming or budget mouse with side buttons and miss trackpad gestures.$2.99 once
MosPick this if all you want is smooth, trackpad-like scrolling from your mouse wheel for free.Free
SwishPick it if you use a trackpad and want swipes and pinches to arrange your windows.$16 once
HomerowPick this if you'd rather never touch the mouse and click buttons by typing a couple of letters.$49.99 once
Read the full guideAll BetterTouchTool alternativesAll LinearMouse alternatives
More comparisons
- BetterTouchTool vs Mac Mouse FixPick this if you use a gaming or budget mouse with side buttons and miss trackpad gestures.
- BetterTouchTool vs MosPick this if all you want is smooth, trackpad-like scrolling from your mouse wheel for free.
Karabiner-Elements vs BetterTouchToolPick this if you want keys, gestures and mouse buttons all mapped to your own actions in 1 app.
BetterTouchTool vs HyperkeyPick it if you build custom shortcuts and only want Caps Lock turned into an extra modifier key.
Keyboard Maestro vs BetterTouchToolPick this if you want a trackpad gesture or mouse button to run a script or paste a snippet.- Mac Mouse Fix vs LinearMousePick it if your plugged-in mouse scrolls the wrong way or the pointer speed feels off, and you want a free fix.