LinearMouse vs USB Overdrive (2026): which should you pick?

Pick LinearMouse if

• Fits if you want the mouse wheel reversed and the trackpad left alone
• Works for giving a mouse's extra buttons jobs like Mission Control or a keyboard shortcut

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you're on Windows or Linux, as it's macOS only
• Not for you if you want a different long-press time per button: timings are fixed at 500 ms and 50 points app-wide
• Watch out: some advanced settings mean editing a JSON file that doesn't accept comments
• Watch out: it needs Accessibility permission at first launch, and another before it can simulate key presses
• Not for you if you want a big team behind your tools: it's version 0.12.0, and the sponsors page lists one main developer

Pick USB Overdrive if

• Fits if you use a trackball or gamepad on a Mac and want it remapped
• Works for people who can live with a login reminder instead of paying

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you use an Apple mouse, trackpad or keyboard, as none is handled
• Skip it if your Mac is older than macOS 15, since version 5.4 needs it
• Watch out: version 4 or earlier must be uninstalled before 5.x
• Watch out: the vendor says it may ask for a voluntary upgrade fee at a future major release

LinearMouse

• macOS only. It needs Accessibility permission at first launch, and a further permission before it can simulate key presses.
• The documentation says some advanced features are reached by editing the JSON configuration file, which does not accept comments.
• Gesture timings are fixed for the whole app, at 500 ms for a long press and 50 points for a swipe, and cannot be set per mapping.
• The current release is numbered 0.12.0, and the sponsors page lists one main developer.

USB Overdrive

• Does not handle any Apple mouse, trackpad or keyboard, because that would remove native macOS support.
• Version 5.4 runs only on macOS 15 and later; older releases are for earlier systems.
• Version 4 or earlier must be uninstalled before installing version 5.x.
• The vendor says it may ask for a voluntary upgrade fee at a future major release.

LinearMouse

Profiles by device, app and display

A group of settings can apply to all mice or all trackpads, to one device by vendor and product ID, to one app or process, or to a named display, and matching groups are merged.

Scroll direction and smoothing

Reverse vertical or horizontal scrolling on a mouse while the trackpad keeps natural scrolling, and add smoothed scrolling from presets with adjustable response, speed, acceleration and inertia.

Pointer speed and acceleration

Adjust pointer acceleration and speed per device, switch acceleration off entirely, or return either value to the system default.

Button mappings

Bind mouse buttons and wheel movements, with optional modifier keys, to Mission Control, Launchpad, media and brightness controls, keyboard shortcuts or shell commands.

Long presses, chords and swipes

Version 0.12.0 added long-press, button-combination and swipe triggers, so one button can do different things on a short press, a long press and a swipe in each direction.

Click debouncing and hover focus

Click debouncing filters repeated signals from worn mouse switches, and an optional setting focuses a window when the pointer moves over it.

USB Overdrive

Wide device support

Works with USB and Bluetooth mice, keyboards, trackballs, trackpads, joysticks, gamepads and other gaming devices from almost any vendor.

Scroll axis options

Version 5.3 added options to invert each scroll axis separately and to swap the axes while a modifier key is held.

Free to try without limits

The unregistered version has no feature limits or time limits; a built-in uninstaller removes the app if it does not fit.

Long-running license

The vendor says original registration codes from 25 years ago are still accepted and the license will not expire.

LinearMouse

• LinearMouse$0

  Every feature, with no paid tier or license key. The project says donations go only to developer fees, infrastructure and test devices.

USB Overdrive

• Unregistered$0

  Every feature and no time limit, plus a login reminder and a short countdown on opening the interface.

• USB Overdrive license$20

  one-time; the vendor says licenses do not expire

  Registers the app and removes the reminders. Price shown in US dollars on the vendor's FastSpring store page.