Scroll Reverser vs SteerMouse (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Scroll Reverser grades higher than SteerMouse: 3.0 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Scroll Reverser grades higher on the free plan and ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
SteerMouse
Mac utility for customizing mouse buttons, wheels and cursor speed
Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
Which one is for you
Pick Scroll Reverser if
- Fits if you use a trackpad and a mouse on the same Mac and want opposite scroll directions
- Works for people who want an AppleScript on/off switch
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want swipe gestures reversed, as they follow the system Scroll Direction setting
- Not for you if you use Windows or Linux, since it is Mac only
- Watch out: it doesn't work in iPhone Mirroring or Calendar, which scroll by gesture
- Watch out: it needs macOS 13.5 or later
Pick SteerMouse if
- Fits if you have a third-party USB or Bluetooth mouse with extra buttons on a Mac
- Works for per-app button setups
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you use Apple's Magic Mouse or Trackpad, as neither is supported
- Skip it if you use Windows or Linux, since it is Mac only
- Pricey if you upgrade often: major upgrades like 5.x to 6.0 are charged
- Watch out: settings from version 4 are not carried over to version 5, and older Macs need older builds
How we grade them
| 3.0GPAScroll ReverserVery good | 2.4GPASteerMouseFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree under Apache 2.0, with voluntary donations. | A$19.99 one-time for version 5, a lifetime licence for that version, under a year of this category's typical subscription. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole app is free, and donations are voluntary, so nothing is charged on record. | CA 30-day free trial, with no card mentioned. No free edition after it. |
| Features | CSeparate direction per device, horizontal control and wheel step size. It does that job fully, but it is a smaller one. | CButton assignments, per-app settings, cursor speed, scroll tuning and snapping. It does not support the Magic Mouse or Trackpad, which the listing names as a gap. |
| Ease of use | BInstall and tick a box: nothing to set up. No store rating is on record. | CMany settings to work through per mouse and per app. No store rating is on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | CMac only, macOS 13.5 or later for version 2.1.1. Intel and Apple silicon builds. | CMac only, macOS 12 or later for version 5.8.2. No other platform. |
| Best for | different scroll directions for mouse and trackpad | remapping mouse buttons on a Mac |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Scroll Reverser and SteerMouse. How we grade
Where they differ
- Scroll Reverser is open source, according to its own site.
- SteerMouse can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Scroll Reverser also covers menu bar app.
In commonmacOSKeyboard and mouse remapping
At a glance
| Scroll Reverser | SteerMouse | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free trial |
| Starts at | Free | $19.99 one-time, lifetime license |
| Free plan | The whole app is free; the author accepts voluntary donations. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 30-day free trial |
| macOS | ||
| Made by | Pilotmoon Software | PLENTYCOM SYSTEMS |
| Price read from | pilotmoon.com | plentycom.jp |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Scroll Reverser
- Swipe gestures cannot be reversed; they follow the system Scroll Direction setting.
- Does not work in iPhone Mirroring or Calendar, which use gesture-based scrolling rather than scroll events.
- Version 2.1.1 requires macOS 13.5 or later; the page lists Intel and Apple silicon builds.
- Mac only, with no Windows or Linux version.
SteerMouse
- Does not support the Apple Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad, and some special buttons may not work.
- Version 5.8.2 needs macOS 12 Monterey or later; older macOS versions use older builds.
- Major upgrades, such as 5.x to 6.0, are charged for.
- Settings from version 4 are not carried over when moving to version 5.
Key features
Scroll Reverser
- Separate direction per device
- Choose Natural, Classic or Unchanged for each trackpad and mouse. By default trackpads use Natural and mice use Classic.
- Horizontal scrolling control
- Horizontal scrolling follows the vertical setting by default and can be set to Reversed or Unchanged in the settings popover.
- Step size for wheel mice
- Scrolls a fixed number of lines with each wheel click instead of macOS scroll acceleration. The control can be turned off.
- Scrolling from apps
- Scroll events that come from other apps, such as remote access software, can be reversed or left unchanged.
- AppleScript on/off switch
- An enabled property lets a script turn the app on or off.
SteerMouse
- Button assignments
- Up to 24 functions per button, with modifier keys or button combinations (chording). Functions include shortcuts, clicks, scrolling, zoom and Mission Control.
- Per-application settings
- The mouse can be configured separately for each application.
- Cursor speed and sensitivity
- Adjusts sensitivity on top of the tracking speed in System Settings, and shows a ranking of settings other users chose.
- Scroll tuning
- Adjusts scroll acceleration and sensitivity, and has an auto-scroll option for hands-free scrolling.
- Cursor snapping
- Moves the cursor to a default or close button automatically, with an option to return it afterwards.
Plans
Scroll Reverser
Free$0
Full app, open source under Apache 2.0. Voluntary donations are accepted.
SteerMouse
New license$19.99
one-time, lifetime license for version 5
Minor upgrades such as 5.0 to 5.1 are free; a major upgrade such as 5.0 to 6.0 is charged.
Upgrade from version 4$12.99
one-time upgrade license
For existing SteerMouse 4 users moving to version 5.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Scroll Reverser or SteerMouse?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Scroll Reverser is free, and SteerMouse starts at $19.99 one-time, lifetime license.
Which has a free plan, Scroll Reverser or SteerMouse?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Scroll Reverser has a free plan. SteerMouse does not, though it has a free trial.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.