Karabiner-Elements vs Mac Mouse Fix

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

Mac Mouse Fix

• Mac users with a five-button mouse who miss trackpad gestures
• People who find wheel scrolling on macOS jerky
• Buyers who want a low one-time price instead of a subscription

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.

Mac Mouse Fix

• macOS only. The latest version is made for macOS 11 Big Sur or later; macOS 10.13 to 10.15 need Mac Mouse Fix 2, which the developer says stays free.
• The trackpad gestures as described need a mouse with at least 5 buttons, and the Apple Magic Mouse is not supported.
• On some mice built for proprietary drivers such as Logitech Options, the app cannot recognize every button.
• The source is under the developer's own MMF License, which restricts publishing compiled copies; it is not a standard open-source license.

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.

Mac Mouse Fix

Trackpad gestures from a side button

Hold button 4 and drag up for Mission Control, sideways to move between desktops or down for App Exposé. A single click triggers Look up and Quick Look.

Click and scroll

Holding a button while turning the wheel shows the desktop, opens Launchpad or zooms in and out in apps such as Safari and Preview.

Scroll and navigate by dragging

Hold button 5 and drag to scroll in any direction with inertia, or drag sideways to go back and forward, as a two-finger swipe does on a trackpad.

Smooth scrolling

Three smoothness settings: High adds trackpad-like momentum and a bounce at the end of a page, Regular uses short animations, and Off scrolls a set number of lines per step.

Scroll direction and modifiers

The mouse's scroll direction is set independently of the trackpad or Magic Mouse, and holding a keyboard modifier while scrolling gives precise scrolling or zoom.

Button actions and shortcuts

Assign an action to a click, double click or click and drag of any button, including any keyboard shortcut, such as copy and paste or volume control.

Karabiner-Elements

• Karabiner-Elements$0

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

Mac Mouse Fix

• Mac Mouse Fix 3$2.99

  one-time purchase, plus local taxes

  The full app with no subscription, bought through Gumroad after 30 free days of use. The license syncs to your other Macs through iCloud.