Scroll Reverser vs USB Overdrive (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Scroll Reverser grades higher than USB Overdrive: 3.0 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Scroll Reverser grades higher on ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
USB Overdrive
Mac driver utility for mice, keyboards, trackballs and gamepads
Free plan · from $20 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 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
How we grade them
| 3.0GPAScroll ReverserVery good | 2.8GPAUSB OverdriveGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree under Apache 2.0, with voluntary donations. | A$20 one-time, and the vendor says licences don't expire. The unregistered version works fully. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole app is free, and donations are voluntary, so nothing is charged on record. | AThe unregistered version has no feature or time limit, only a reminder at login and a short countdown. |
| Features | CSeparate direction per device, horizontal control and wheel step size. It does that job fully, but it is a smaller one. | CWide device support, button remapping and scroll options. It leaves out all Apple mice, trackpads and keyboards, which the listing names as a limit. |
| Ease of use | BInstall and tick a box: nothing to set up. No store rating is on record. | CDriver-style settings per device to work through. 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 15 or later for version 5.4. No other platform. |
| Best for | different scroll directions for mouse and trackpad | mouse and gamepad remapping 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 USB Overdrive. How we grade
Where they differ
- Scroll Reverser is open source, according to its own site.
- USB Overdrive can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Scroll Reverser also covers menu bar app.
In commonFree planmacOSKeyboard and mouse remapping
At a glance
| Scroll Reverser | USB Overdrive | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $20 one-time license |
| Free plan | The whole app is free; the author accepts voluntary donations. | The unregistered version has no feature limits and no time limit, with a reminder at login and a short countdown when the interface opens. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Made by | Pilotmoon Software | USB Overdrive |
| Price read from | pilotmoon.com | sites.fastspring.com |
| 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.
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.
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.
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.
Plans
Scroll Reverser
Free$0
Full app, open source under Apache 2.0. Voluntary donations are accepted.
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.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Scroll Reverser or USB Overdrive?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Scroll Reverser is free, and USB Overdrive starts at $20 one-time license.
Which has a free plan, Scroll Reverser or USB Overdrive?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Scroll Reverser and USB Overdrive have a free plan.
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.