BetterTouchTool vs Homerow

BetterTouchTool

• Mac users who want custom trackpad, mouse and keyboard gestures in one app
• People automating multi-step tasks triggered from any input device
• Stream Deck and macro pad owners who want to skip the vendor software
• Buyers who prefer a one-time license to a subscription

Homerow

• Keyboard-focused Mac users who want to stop reaching for the mouse
• People used to Vimium-style link hints in the browser
• Buyers who prefer a one-time license covering several personal Macs

BetterTouchTool

• macOS only. BTT Mobile for iPhone and iPad is a companion remote control for the Mac app, not a standalone version.
• There is no free version: after the 45-day trial a license or a Setapp subscription is needed.
• The Standard License stops receiving updates after 2 years, though the last version received keeps working.
• Listed prices vary by country and taxes, and refunds outside the European Union are decided case by case.

Homerow

• macOS only; the download button on the website says macOS 13 or later is required.
• The license is for personal use on your own Macs, and each license has a maximum number of device activations.
• It depends on the macOS Accessibility permission, and the terms say apps with limited accessibility support may not work fully.
• The unlicensed app shows a purchase reminder every 50 activations; the student discount of 30% needs a verified student email.

BetterTouchTool

Trackpad and Magic Mouse gestures

Map multi-finger taps, clicks, swipes and drawn shapes on a MacBook trackpad, Magic Trackpad or Magic Mouse to any action.

Keyboard shortcuts and Hyper Key

Global hotkeys that tell left and right modifiers apart, short and long presses, typed key sequences, text triggers and a configurable Hyper Key.

Window snapping and built-in tools

Window snapping, resizing and switching, plus a clipboard manager and a screenshot tool. The vendor says the snapping is the same technology as its separate BetterSnapTool app.

Spotlight-style launcher

Searches apps, windows, files, actions and calendar events, calculates inline and browses clipboard history. Several launchers can run in parallel, each with its own pinned items.

Stream Deck, macro pads and controllers

Drives Elgato Stream Deck and 43 recognized macro pad models without vendor software, and maps Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch controllers, MIDI devices and the Touch Bar.

Conditional automations and scripting

A trigger can run different actions by active app, Wi-Fi or time of day. It can run Apple Shortcuts, JavaScript or AppleScript, and BTT itself is controllable by URL scheme, web server or CLI.

Homerow

Labels on clickable elements

An activation shortcut, Command-Shift-Space by default, shows a label beside each button, link and control. Typing the label moves focus to it and Return clicks it.

Search by element name

Typing part of an element's text narrows the labels to matches. A labels-only mode turns search off so labels can be typed without holding Shift.

Right, double and Command clicks

Shift-Return right-clicks, Return pressed twice double-clicks, and Command-Return performs a Command-click, which opens a link in a new tab.

Scroll mode

A second shortcut starts scrolling the active area with H, J, K and L, with faster dashes on Shift, half-screen jumps on D and U, and keys for top and bottom.

Mission Control navigation

Version 1.5.0, released in March 2026, added keyboard navigation of Mission Control, along with sound effects for clicks and a redesigned settings window.

Custom shortcuts and Hyper key

Every shortcut can be changed in preferences, modifier-only shortcuts are allowed, and Caps Lock can be remapped to a Hyper key for activation.

BetterTouchTool

• Standard License$15

  one-time purchase, 2 years of updates

  Updates for 2 years, after which the last version received keeps working. Covers all of the buyer's personal Macs and unlocks BTT Mobile.

• Lifetime License$25

  one-time purchase, lifetime updates

  All updates for as long as BetterTouchTool exists, plus any other Mac apps the developer releases in the 2 years after purchase.

Homerow

• Homerow$49.99

  one-time purchase

  A personal license for all of your own Macs, with all future updates included and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

BetterTouchTool

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime License with all future updates

  The $25 Lifetime License receives every update for as long as BetterTouchTool exists, where the $15 Standard License covers 2 years of updates.

• Other savings

  Included with a Setapp subscription

  BetterTouchTool is also available through Setapp, a subscription service that bundles many Mac apps for a monthly fee.

Homerow

• Education

  30% off for students

  Homerow's FAQ says students get 30% off: entering a valid student email address on the pricing section sends a discount code.