Scroll Reverser review (2026): is it any good?
Mac menu bar app that sets scroll direction per device
Scroll Reverser report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for different scroll directions for mouse and trackpad
Scroll Reverser lets a Mac's trackpad and mouse scroll in different directions, and it is free and open source. But swipe gestures can't be reversed, and it is Mac only.
Who Scroll Reverser is for
- 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
Who Scroll Reverser is not for
- 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
Why Scroll Reverser gets a 3.0
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree under Apache 2.0, with voluntary donations.
- AFree plan and trialThe whole app is free, and donations are voluntary, so nothing is charged on record.
- CFeaturesSeparate direction per device, horizontal control and wheel step size. It does that job fully, but it is a smaller one.
- BEase of useInstall and tick a box: nothing to set up. No store rating is on record.
- CPlatforms and integrationsMac only, macOS 13.5 or later for version 2.1.1. Intel and Apple silicon builds.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Pilotmoon Software's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
Make Scroll Reverser? Put this grade on your site
Paste this where you want the badge. It links here and follows the grade if it changes. About badges
<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/scroll-reverser#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/scroll-reverser.svg" alt="Scroll Reverser: 3.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Scroll Reverser stands among desktop utilities
Scroll Reverser's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 27.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 107 of 186) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Scroll Reverser has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 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 187 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Scroll Reverser’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 55 of 186, level with 131
- AFree plan and trialAbove 107 of 186, level with 79
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 186, level with 110
- BEase of useAbove 78 of 186, level with 108
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 111 of 186, level with 60
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 desktop utilities. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Keep Scroll Reverser, or make your own?
Keep it
Scroll Reverser is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade.
What you could not
- Keys and buttons remapped below the level of apps.
- A native app living in the menu bar.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Scroll Reverser’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.
What is Scroll Reverser?
Scroll Reverser is a macOS utility that lets the trackpad and the mouse scroll in different directions. Each connected device gets its own vertical and horizontal setting, and wheel mice can scroll a fixed number of lines per click. It is free and its source code is published on GitHub under the Apache License 2.0.
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
Scroll Reverser pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Scroll Reverser is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- The whole app is free; the author accepts voluntary donations.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Full app, open source under Apache 2.0. Voluntary donations are accepted. |
Read from pilotmoon.com on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Scroll Reverser before you buy.
Scroll Reverser alternatives
- Scroll Reverser vs Mac Mouse Fix
Free trial · from $2.99 one-time
- Scroll Reverser vs SteerMouse
Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
- Scroll Reverser vs Smooze
Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
Common questions
Does Scroll Reverser have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Scroll Reverser is listed for macOS.
Does Scroll Reverser have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Scroll Reverser is listed for macOS.
Is Scroll Reverser open source?
Yes. Scroll Reverser is open source, according to its own site.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.