Keyboard apps for MacHead to head
Karabiner-Elements vs BetterTouchTool
Karabiner-Elements ranks #1 and BetterTouchTool ranks #2 in our guide to the best keyboard apps for Mac. Karabiner-Elements is our pick for most people.
Karabiner-ElementsPick Karabiner-Elements if you want Caps Lock or another idle key to do something useful, for free.Free, open source#2 in the guide
BetterTouchToolPick BetterTouchTool if you want keys, gestures and mouse buttons all mapped to your own actions in 1 app.$15 onceWhat decides it
- Karabiner-Elements costs less over 3 years: Free, against $15 for BetterTouchTool.
- Both run on Mac.
- BetterTouchTool is included with a Setapp subscription; Karabiner-Elements isn't.
Side by side
Prices are checked every day.
| At a glance | Karabiner-Elements | BetterTouchTool |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free and open source | $15 with 2 years of updates, or $25 for lifetime updates. Free for 45 days |
| How you pay | Free | Pay once |
| 3 years of use | Free Cheaper | $15 |
| Free trial | Free to start | Yes |
| Runs on | Mac | Mac |
| Where to buy | Developer | Developer, Setapp |
| Features | Open source | Free trial, No account |
| Last updated | Not tracked | 1 Nov 2026 |
The differences you'll notice every day
Both run on Intel and Apple silicon Macs, and both can turn Caps Lock into a Hyper key. The choice comes down to 2 things: whether you only need deep keyboard remapping or also want gestures and extras, and whether you would rather write rules or click them together. Many people run both.
| Day to day | Karabiner-Elements | BetterTouchTool |
|---|---|---|
| What it customizes | Keyboards, at a low level. It sends your remapped keys through a virtual keyboard driver, so they work in every app. | Trackpad, Magic Mouse, regular mice, keyboard, Touch Bar and even an iPhone or iPad as a remote. Each trigger can run any action. |
| Hyper key | A complex modification can make Caps Lock a Hyper key when held and Escape when tapped alone. | Built in as the Caps Lock Hyper Key. Version 6.943 fixed it releasing on its own when held for a long time. |
| Setup style | Simple swaps in the settings window. Anything more uses complex modifications written in JSON, imported from the community library, or generated with JavaScript since version 16. | A point and click editor. You pick a trigger, then a chain of actions, and can limit each one to specific apps. |
| Extras | None beyond input. Rules cover things like Vim or Emacs arrows, mouse keys and blocking an accidental Command-Q. | Window snapping and layouts, a clipboard manager, a launcher, floating menus, snippets and AI assistants that work with ChatGPT or Claude. |
| Price | Free and released into the public domain. Sponsoring the developer is optional. | Standard is $15 with 2 years of updates and Lifetime is $25, before local taxes. 45-day free trial. Also included in Setapp. |
| System requirements | Version 16.3.0 supports macOS 13 Ventura through macOS 27. Older releases cover earlier macOS versions. | macOS 12 Monterey or later. Some newer features, like the modern clipboard look, need macOS 26. |
Checked against both App Store listings and the developers' own pages on 31 Oct 2026.
Questions people ask
Can BetterTouchTool replace Karabiner?
For a Caps Lock Hyper key and everyday key remaps, yes. For rules written as code, like a key that does 1 thing when tapped and another when held, Karabiner goes further.
Is Karabiner-Elements free?
Yes. It is open source and in the public domain, with no paid tier. The developer accepts optional sponsorship.
Can I use Karabiner-Elements and BetterTouchTool together?
Yes, and many people do. A common setup lets Karabiner handle the keyboard and Hyper key, while BetterTouchTool handles gestures, window snapping and the clipboard. Just don't map the same key in both apps.
How much does BetterTouchTool cost?
$15 for Standard with 2 years of updates or $25 for Lifetime, with the exact price set by your country and taxes. You get 45 days free first, or it comes with a Setapp subscription.
Who should get which
Get Karabiner-Elements if
You want Caps Lock or another key you never press to do something useful, like Vim-style arrows.
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.
Skip Karabiner-Elements if
You only want to swap Control and Command, which System Settings handles without extra software.
Skip BetterTouchTool if
You just want windows snapped to halves, and Rectangle or macOS itself does that at no cost.
Our verdicts
Karabiner-Elements
Caps Lock wastes one of the best spots on your keyboard, and macOS only lets you remap a handful of modifier keys. Karabiner-Elements remaps anything, from a simple swap in its settings to community rules for Vim-style arrows, mouse keys or blocking an accidental Command-Q. It is free and public domain but fiddly, and if you only want Caps Lock as an extra modifier, Hyperkey is simpler.
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.
What each one helps you do
Karabiner-Elements
- Make Caps Lock do something useful
- Move the cursor with Vim-style keys
- Stop quitting apps by accident with Command-Q
- Control the mouse pointer from the keyboard
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
Where to get them
Karabiner-Elements
Free and open source
-
From the developerSupports macOS 13 through macOS 27, on Intel and Apple siliconFreeGet it
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
-
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 keyboard apps for Mac.
HyperkeyPick it if you build custom shortcuts and only want Caps Lock turned into an extra modifier key.Free
HomerowPick this if you want to click buttons and links from the keyboard, for $49.99 once.$49.99 once
KlackPick this if you miss the sound of a mechanical keyboard while typing on a MacBook.$4.99 once
Read the full guideAll Karabiner-Elements alternativesAll BetterTouchTool alternatives
More comparisons
- Karabiner-Elements vs HyperkeyPick it if you build custom shortcuts and only want Caps Lock turned into an extra modifier key.
BetterTouchTool vs Mac Mouse FixPick this if you use a gaming or budget mouse with side buttons and miss trackpad gestures.
BetterTouchTool vs LinearMousePick it if your plugged-in mouse scrolls the wrong way or the pointer speed feels off, and you want a free fix.
BetterTouchTool vs MosPick this if all you want is smooth, trackpad-like scrolling from your mouse wheel for free.- 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.