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The BetterTouchTool Insider’s Guide

Everything we know about BetterTouchTool in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.

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ToolGPAOctober 2026

BetterTouchTool

The Insider’s Guide

Mac input customization: gestures, shortcuts and automation

Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from BetterTouchTool’s own pages.

Made by folivora.AI GmbH · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com

2.6GPA

Contents

  1. 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
  2. 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
  3. 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
  4. 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
  5. 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
  6. 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
  7. 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

ToolGPA put this guide together from BetterTouchTool’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on BetterTouchTool’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.

Part 01 · Overview

Welcome

What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first

2.6

GPA, above 36 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade

BetterTouchTool is a macOS app for customizing input devices and automating tasks. It maps trackpad and Magic Mouse gestures, mouse buttons, keyboard shortcuts, Stream Deck keys, game controllers and other devices to more than 600 built-in actions, which can be chained and made conditional on the active app. It also bundles window snapping, a clipboard manager, a Spotlight-style launcher and custom AI agents that work with OpenAI, Anthropic or local models.

To get you started, here are 9 things to know about BetterTouchTool, taken from its own pages and our grades.

No rating is on record, and this is the deep end.
From our grade for ease of use
  1. 1

    Best for custom gestures and shortcuts on a Mac

    Expect an evening of setup, and it's Mac only.

  2. 2

    What it costs

    Paid plans start at $15 one-time purchase (Standard License, 2 years of updates).

  3. 3

    You can try it first

    45-day free trial, no account required

  4. 4

    It runs on macOS

    macOS.

  5. 5

    Trackpad and Magic Mouse gestures

    Map multi-finger taps, clicks, swipes and drawn shapes on a MacBook trackpad, Magic Trackpad or Magic Mouse to any action.

  6. 6

    Keyboard shortcuts and Hyper Key

    Global hotkeys that tell left and right modifiers apart, short and long presses, typed key sequences, text triggers and a configurable Hyper Key.

  7. 7

    Window snapping and built-in tools

    Window snapping, resizing and switching, plus a clipboard manager and a screenshot tool. The vendor says the snapping is the same technology as its separate BetterSnapTool app.

  8. 8

    A 2.6 GPA, above 36 of 94

    That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.

  9. 9

    Keep it

    To replace BetterTouchTool you would be making keys and buttons remapped below the level of apps. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.

BetterTouchTool at a glance

Pricing
Free trial, from $15 one-time purchase (Standard License, 2 years of updates)
Free plan
No
Free trial
45-day free trial, no account required
Runs on
macOS
Made by
folivora.AI GmbH
Category
Desktop Utilities
Our grade
2.6 GPA, good

The report card

Best for custom gestures and shortcuts on a Mac

BetterTouchTool is a Mac app that maps trackpad gestures, mouse buttons, shortcuts, Stream Deck keys and game controllers to more than 600 actions, with window snapping, a clipboard manager and a launcher included. It costs $15 once, but there's no free version after the 45-day trial and Standard stops updating after 2 years. Expect an evening of setup, and it's Mac only.

ToolGPA report cardBetterTouchToolGraded Oct 10, 2026
SubjectGradeComment
Value for moneyA$15 once for the Standard License, covering all your personal Macs with 2 years of updates, and $25 for Lifetime. Pay-once utilities here sit right around $15, and this one includes window snapping, a clipboard manager and a launcher too. Prices do vary by country and taxes.
Free plan and trialCNo free version. The trial is a long one, though: 45 days with no account required. After that it's a license or a Setapp subscription.
FeaturesAIt covers the whole input job: gestures, hotkeys, a Hyper Key, text triggers, more than 600 actions that chain and change by app, Wi-Fi or time. It adds window snapping, a clipboard manager, a launcher, a screenshot tool, 43 macro pads and game controllers, which its rivals don't put in one app.
Ease of useCNo rating is on record, and this is the deep end. More than 600 actions, triggers that behave differently depending on the app in front, and scripting underneath: you'll spend an evening setting it up before it does what you pictured.
Platforms and integrationsDMac only, so one operating system. BTT Mobile for iPhone and iPad is a remote control for the Mac app, not a version of its own. It connects to Stream Deck, Apple Shortcuts, OpenAI and Anthropic, and can be driven by URL scheme, web server or CLI.
Grade point averageGood, out of 4.02.6

An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.

Who BetterTouchTool is for

  • Fits if you want your own trackpad, mouse and keyboard gestures in one Mac app
  • Works for Stream Deck or macro pad owners who want to skip the vendor software

Who it is not for

  • Skip it if you want something free, as a license or Setapp is needed after the 45-day trial
  • Not for you if you're on Windows; it's macOS only, and BTT Mobile is just a remote for the Mac app
  • Tight if you buy the $15 license and expect updates for good, because Standard stops getting them after 2 years
  • Not for you if you want it working in minutes, with more than 600 actions and app-specific triggers to set up
  • Watch out: prices vary by country and taxes, and refunds outside the EU are decided case by case

Good to know

Good for

  • Mac users who want custom trackpad, mouse and keyboard gestures in one app
  • People automating multi-step tasks triggered from any input device
  • Stream Deck and macro pad owners who want to skip the vendor software
  • Buyers who prefer a one-time license to a subscription

Worth knowing

  • macOS only. BTT Mobile for iPhone and iPad is a companion remote control for the Mac app, not a standalone version.
  • There is no free version: after the 45-day trial a license or a Setapp subscription is needed.
  • The Standard License stops receiving updates after 2 years, though the last version received keeps working.
  • Listed prices vary by country and taxes, and refunds outside the European Union are decided case by case.

Part 02 · Pricing

What it costs

Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved

$15 one-time

To start

BetterTouchTool is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $15 one-time purchase (Standard License, 2 years of updates).

After that it's a license or a Setapp subscription.
From our grade for free plan and trial

  • Standard License

    $15

    one-time purchase, 2 years of updates

    Updates for 2 years, after which the last version received keeps working. Covers all of the buyer's personal Macs and unlocks BTT Mobile.

  • Lifetime License

    $25

    one-time purchase, lifetime updates

    All updates for as long as BetterTouchTool exists, plus any other Mac apps the developer releases in the 2 years after purchase.

Trying it first

45-day free trial, no account required

Read from folivora.ai on Oct 5, 2026.

Ways to pay less

  • Lifetime license

    Lifetime License with all future updates

    The $25 Lifetime License receives every update for as long as BetterTouchTool exists, where the $15 Standard License covers 2 years of updates.

    Stated on folivora.ai

  • Other savings

    Included with a Setapp subscription

    BetterTouchTool is also available through Setapp, a subscription service that bundles many Mac apps for a monthly fee.

    Stated on folivora.ai

Part 03 · Features

What it does

Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it

1

Place it runs: macOS

Mac input customization: gestures, shortcuts and automation. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, AI features, workflow automation, launcher, clipboard manager, window management, keyboard and mouse remapping.

BTT Mobile for iPhone and iPad is a remote control for the Mac app, not a version of its own.
From our grade for platforms and integrations
Trackpad and Magic Mouse gestures
Map multi-finger taps, clicks, swipes and drawn shapes on a MacBook trackpad, Magic Trackpad or Magic Mouse to any action.
Keyboard shortcuts and Hyper Key
Global hotkeys that tell left and right modifiers apart, short and long presses, typed key sequences, text triggers and a configurable Hyper Key.
Window snapping and built-in tools
Window snapping, resizing and switching, plus a clipboard manager and a screenshot tool. The vendor says the snapping is the same technology as its separate BetterSnapTool app.
Spotlight-style launcher
Searches apps, windows, files, actions and calendar events, calculates inline and browses clipboard history. Several launchers can run in parallel, each with its own pinned items.
Stream Deck, macro pads and controllers
Drives Elgato Stream Deck and 43 recognized macro pad models without vendor software, and maps Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch controllers, MIDI devices and the Touch Bar.
Conditional automations and scripting
A trigger can run different actions by active app, Wi-Fi or time of day. It can run Apple Shortcuts, JavaScript or AppleScript, and BTT itself is controllable by URL scheme, web server or CLI.

Where it runs

  • macOS

What it works with

  • Elgato Stream Deck
  • Apple Shortcuts
  • OpenAI
  • Anthropic
  • Logitech MX Creative Keypad
  • Loupedeck Live
  • Setapp

BetterTouchTool is made by folivora.AI GmbH.

Part 04 · Standing

Where it stands

Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own

36/94

Other desktop utilities it is graded above

BetterTouchTool's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 36 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 20.

It stands best on features (A, above 93 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. BetterTouchTool’s own letter is outlined.

  • AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
  • CFree plan and trialAbove 4 of 94
  • AFeaturesAbove 93 of 94
  • CEase of useAbove 6 of 94
  • DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 94

Keep it, or make your own?

Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.

Keep it

To replace BetterTouchTool you would be making keys and buttons remapped below the level of apps. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.

It costs $15, paid once.

What you could not

  • Keys and buttons remapped below the level of apps.
  • Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
  • Control over other apps' windows.
  • A launcher wired into the operating system.
  • A clipboard history running in the background of your computer.
  • A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
  • AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
  • Hooks into the device itself: Shortcuts.
  • The depth: we grade its features A, which means it covers the whole job.

What this rests on. BetterTouchTool’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.

Part 05 · Alternatives

The alternatives

The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side

Keyboard Maestro, Karabiner-Elements, Hammerspoon, Raycast and Swish

The 5 tools BetterTouchTool is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.

  • 2.2GPA

    Keyboard Maestro

    Free trial · from $36 one-time

    Macro automation for macOS with triggers and actions.

    • BetterTouchTool also covers launcher and keyboard and mouse remapping.
    • Keyboard Maestro also covers text expansion.
    BetterTouchTool and Keyboard Maestro compared in full
  • 2.6GPA

    Karabiner-Elements

    Free

    Free, open-source keyboard customizer for macOS.

    • Karabiner-Elements has a free plan. BetterTouchTool does not, though it has a free trial.
    • BetterTouchTool can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    • Karabiner-Elements is open source, according to its own site.
    BetterTouchTool and Karabiner-Elements compared in full
  • 2.6GPA

    Hammerspoon

    Free

    Free, open-source macOS automation scripted in Lua.

    • Hammerspoon has a free plan. BetterTouchTool does not, though it has a free trial.
    • BetterTouchTool can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    • Hammerspoon is open source, according to its own site.
    BetterTouchTool and Hammerspoon compared in full
  • 2.8GPA

    Raycast

    Free plan · from $96/yr

    Keyboard launcher with extensions, clipboard history and AI.

    • Raycast has a free plan. BetterTouchTool does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Raycast lists Windows and iOS apps.
    • Only Raycast lists a browser extension.
    BetterTouchTool and Raycast compared in full
  • 2.4GPA

    Swish

    Free trial · from $16 one-time

    Trackpad-gesture window manager for macOS.

    • BetterTouchTool also covers workflow automation, launcher, clipboard manager and keyboard and mouse remapping.
    BetterTouchTool and Swish compared in full

Part 06 · Questions

Quick answers

The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two

12

Questions, each answered in a line or two

The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.

Is BetterTouchTool free?

No, BetterTouchTool is a paid product, but you can try it first. 45-day free trial, no account required.

How much does BetterTouchTool cost?

BetterTouchTool lists 2 plans. Standard License: $15 one-time purchase, 2 years of updates.

What platforms does BetterTouchTool work on?

BetterTouchTool is available on macOS.

Does BetterTouchTool offer any discounts?

BetterTouchTool publicly lists the following: Lifetime License with all future updates; Included with a Setapp subscription.

Does BetterTouchTool have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. BetterTouchTool is listed for macOS.

Does BetterTouchTool have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. BetterTouchTool is listed for macOS.

Is BetterTouchTool open source?

BetterTouchTool is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.

What does BetterTouchTool integrate with?

BetterTouchTool's listing names Elgato Stream Deck, Apple Shortcuts, OpenAI, Anthropic, Logitech MX Creative Keypad, Loupedeck Live and Setapp.

Who makes BetterTouchTool?

BetterTouchTool is made by folivora.AI GmbH.

What are the alternatives to BetterTouchTool?

The closest alternatives to BetterTouchTool in our directory are Keyboard Maestro, Karabiner-Elements, Hammerspoon, Raycast and Swish.

How does BetterTouchTool compare with other desktop utilities?

BetterTouchTool's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 36 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 20.

Could I make my own version of BetterTouchTool?

To replace BetterTouchTool you would be making keys and buttons remapped below the level of apps.

Where this guide comes from

The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from BetterTouchTool’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from BetterTouchTool's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-25.

Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by folivora.AI GmbH. Prices change, so check folivora.ai before you buy.

Part 07 · About

About ToolGPA

Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

3,189

Tools graded, in 94 categories

ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.

Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.

  • 3,189

    tools graded

  • 94

    categories

  • 426

    price changes on record

  • 579

    apps priced in 12 countries

What else is on toolgpa.com

Scan for the live page

Prices and grades as they are today

Quoting this guide?

Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:

ToolGPA, "BetterTouchTool: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/bettertouchtool

Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?

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See our other guides

The best-graded desktop utilities after BetterTouchTool, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.

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Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›

Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what BetterTouchTool’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. BetterTouchTool is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by folivora.AI GmbH. Prices and plans change: check folivora.ai before you buy.