SteerMouse vs X-Mouse Button Control (2026): which should you pick?

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

Pick X-Mouse Button Control if

• Fits if you want extra buttons on a Windows mouse doing different things per app
• Works for people who like a portable program

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you use a Mac or Linux, as only Windows is listed
• Not for you if your mouse has more than 5 buttons
• Watch out: the author calls it a hobby project and can't guarantee support
• Too light for you if you want a vendor-backed mouse suite

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.

X-Mouse Button Control

• Windows only; the author lists Windows 10 and 11 and Windows Server 2012 R2 to 2022 as supported.
• Supports mice with up to 5 buttons, because it relies on the Windows mouse message queue.
• The author calls it a hobby project, cannot guarantee any level of support and is not affiliated with any mouse maker.

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.

X-Mouse Button Control

Application and window profiles

Mouse behavior can differ per application or window, and profiles activate automatically as the pointer moves over the defined target.

Layers

Each profile can hold up to 10 layers of button configurations, switched with hot-keys or mouse buttons.

Many button functions

Includes simulated keystrokes, button chording, timed actions by hold length, launching programs, clipboard and media control.

Wheel and screen capture actions

Remaps the scroll and tilt wheel, can capture the screen or active window to the clipboard, and supports virtual desktops in Windows 10 and 11.

Portable version

A portable build is offered beside the installer, and the installer picks the 32-bit or 64-bit version automatically.

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.

X-Mouse Button Control

• X-Mouse Button Control$0

  Free for Windows, in an installer or a portable version. No bundled software.