BetterTouchTool vs Karabiner-Elements

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

Karabiner-Elements

• Mac users who want to remap keys or modifiers at no cost
• People using PC, JIS or other non-Apple keyboards on a Mac
• Vi and Emacs users who want their key bindings everywhere on macOS

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.

Karabiner-Elements

• macOS only. The current release supports macOS 13 Ventura and later; earlier systems need older versions from the download menu.
• Rules beyond simple key swaps are defined as JSON, either imported from the community gallery or written by hand.
• It cannot modify the fn key on non-Apple keyboards, or the eject key on some keyboards such as the Apple Wired Keyboard.

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.

Karabiner-Elements

Simple modifications

Change one key to another key from the settings window, with no rules to write.

Complex modifications

Rule-based changes: turn a key into a combination of modifiers, map a modifier plus key to another key, send a different event when a key is pressed alone, or act on keys pressed simultaneously.

Community rule gallery

Predefined rules such as Vi and Emacs key bindings, diamond cursor and mouse keys can be imported from the project's rule site, then edited or replaced with your own.

Per-device settings and profiles

Apply modifications only to chosen keyboards, keep multiple profiles, and switch between profiles from the menu bar icon.

Function and extra keys

Map f1 to f12 to media controls, and enable extra keys on PC keyboards that macOS does not recognize by default, such as international and language keys.

Works at secure prompts

Modifications keep working in Secure Keyboard Entry environments, such as password prompts and terminals with that option turned on.

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.

Karabiner-Elements

• Karabiner-Elements$0

  The complete app, open source and usable without any purchase. Supports Intel-based and Apple silicon Macs.

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.

Karabiner-Elements

No public discounts listed.