The LinearMouse Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about LinearMouse 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.
LinearMouse
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open-source mouse and trackpad customizer for Mac
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from LinearMouse’s own pages.
Made by LinearMouse · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from LinearMouse’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on LinearMouse’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 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
LinearMouse is a free, open-source utility for tuning how mice and trackpads behave on a Mac. It sets scroll direction, pointer speed and acceleration, and button actions separately for each device, and those settings can change with the app or display in use. Settings are edited in the app or in a JSON configuration file. The project is MIT licensed and funded by donations.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about LinearMouse, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for making a mouse behave on a Mac, for free
LinearMouse changes how a mouse behaves on a Mac: reverse the wheel while the trackpad stays natural, turn pointer acceleration off and give buttons jobs.
- 2
It is free
LinearMouse has no paid plan at all. The whole app is free and open source under the MIT license, as a direct download or a Homebrew cask. Donations through GitHub Sponsors, Open Collective or Ko-fi are optional.
- 3
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
Pointer speed and acceleration
Adjust pointer acceleration and speed per device, switch acceleration off entirely, or return either value to the system default.
- 7
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.
- 8
Keep it
LinearMouse is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
LinearMouse at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- LinearMouse
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for making a mouse behave on a Mac, for free
LinearMouse changes how a mouse behaves on a Mac: reverse the wheel while the trackpad stays natural, turn pointer acceleration off and give buttons jobs. It's free and open source, but it's Mac only, it asks for Accessibility permission twice, some advanced settings mean editing a JSON file with no comments, and gesture timings are fixed app-wide. The release is numbered 0.12.0 with one main developer, so expect a young project.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source under the MIT licence, a download anyone can run, with no paid tier or licence key. Donations are optional, and the project says they go only to developer fees, infrastructure and test devices. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Every feature is free, as a direct download or a Homebrew cask. There's nothing to upgrade to and no cap to hit. |
| Features | C | Mouse and trackpad behaviour is its one job: scroll direction and smoothing, pointer speed, acceleration off, button bindings, long presses and swipes, all per device, app or display. It does that job fully, and its own notes say gesture timings are fixed for the whole app. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and it isn't quite install-and-go: it wants Accessibility permission at first launch, another before it can simulate key presses, and the documentation says some advanced settings mean editing a JSON file that doesn't accept comments. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only. No integrations are listed, though buttons can fire keyboard shortcuts and shell commands. Worth knowing that the current release is numbered 0.12.0. |
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 LinearMouse is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Mac users who want mouse scrolling reversed without changing the trackpad
- People who want pointer acceleration turned off for a specific mouse
- Anyone who prefers a free, MIT-licensed mouse utility
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
LinearMouse is free to use.
Free and open source under the MIT licence, a download anyone can run, with no paid tier or licence key.
LinearMouse
$0
Every feature, with no paid tier or license key. The project says donations go only to developer fees, infrastructure and test devices.
The free plan
The whole app is free and open source under the MIT license, as a direct download or a Homebrew cask. Donations through GitHub Sponsors, Open Collective or Ko-fi are optional.
Read from github.com on Oct 9, 2026.
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
Free, open-source mouse and trackpad customizer for Mac. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, keyboard and mouse remapping.
It does that job fully, and its own notes say gesture timings are fixed for the whole app.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
LinearMouse is made by LinearMouse.
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
LinearMouse'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 free plan and trial (A, above 49 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
LinearMouse has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. LinearMouse’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- AFree plan and trialAbove 49 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- CEase of useAbove 6 of 94
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 94
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 55 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. LinearMouse is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
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
LinearMouse is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could not
- Keys and buttons remapped below the level of apps.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. LinearMouse’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
Mac Mouse Fix, BetterTouchTool and Karabiner-Elements
The 3 tools LinearMouse is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Mac Mouse Fix
Free trial · from $2.99 one-time
Trackpad-style gestures and smooth scrolling for third-party mice.
- LinearMouse has a free plan. Mac Mouse Fix does not, though it has a free trial.
- Mac Mouse Fix can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
BetterTouchTool
Free trial · from $15 one-time
Mac input customization: gestures, shortcuts and automation.
- LinearMouse has a free plan. BetterTouchTool does not, though it has a free trial.
- LinearMouse is open source, according to its own site.
- BetterTouchTool can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
Karabiner-Elements
Free
Free, open-source keyboard customizer for macOS.
- Karabiner-Elements also covers menu bar app.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
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 LinearMouse free?
Yes. LinearMouse is free to use.
How much does LinearMouse cost?
LinearMouse lists one plan. LinearMouse: $0.
What platforms does LinearMouse work on?
LinearMouse is available on macOS.
Does LinearMouse have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. LinearMouse is listed for macOS.
Does LinearMouse have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. LinearMouse is listed for macOS.
Is LinearMouse open source?
Yes. LinearMouse is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes LinearMouse?
LinearMouse is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to LinearMouse?
The closest alternatives to LinearMouse in our directory are Mac Mouse Fix, BetterTouchTool and Karabiner-Elements.
How does LinearMouse compare with other desktop utilities?
LinearMouse's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 36 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 20.
Is LinearMouse good value for money?
ToolGPA grades LinearMouse A for value for money. LinearMouse has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of LinearMouse?
LinearMouse is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from LinearMouse’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from LinearMouse's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-09-30.
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 LinearMouse. Prices change, so check linearmouse.app before you buy.
- linearmouse.app/en/
- github.com/sponsors/linearmouse
- github.com/linearmouse/linearmouse
- raw.githubusercontent.com/linearmouse/linearmouse/main/Documentation/Configuration.md
- raw.githubusercontent.com/linearmouse/linearmouse/main/ACCESSIBILITY.md
- github.com/linearmouse/linearmouse/releases/tag/v0.12.0
- formulae.brew.sh/cask/linearmouse
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
- LinearMouse, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/linearmouse
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
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, "LinearMouse: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/linearmouse
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/linearmouse/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
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- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- 7-Zip Insider's GuideFree, open-source file archiver with the 7z format3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what LinearMouse’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. LinearMouse is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by LinearMouse. Prices and plans change: check linearmouse.app before you buy.