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BetterMouse alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 29, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave BetterMouse: paid, unlike free tools such as Mos and LinearMouse, and can conflict with Logitech's own apps, which need removing. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces BetterMouse, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Mos currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Mos logoMosFreeNomacOS5 of 568.8
2LinearMouse logoLinearMouseOpen sourceYesmacOS4 of 464.8
3StSteerMousePaidNomacOS5 of 559.6
4BetterTouchTool logoBetterTouchToolPaidNomacOS5 of 559.4
  1. Mos logo

    1. MosTop pick

    Best for: Mac users with a non-Apple mouse who find wheel scrolling jerky or want separate scroll directions

    FreemacOS

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from BetterMouse

    Free and open source if smooth scrolling and scroll direction are all you need.

    Pros

    • Trackpad-like smooth scrolling for any wheel mouse
    • Separate scroll direction for mouse and trackpad, per axis
    • Per-app profiles and mouse button bindings
    • Free, with support back to macOS 10.13

    Cons

    • Licence is non-commercial (CC BY-NC), not true open source
    • Needs Accessibility permission to work
    • macOS only; no pointer acceleration controls
    Visit Mos Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Mos a good BetterMouse alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 29, 2026mos.caldis.me(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS 10.13 and later
    Checked Oct 29, 2026mos.caldis.me(opens source in a new tab)
    Per-app profiles
    Yes
    Checked Oct 29, 2026mos.caldis.me(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    CC BY-NC 4.0
    Checked Oct 29, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Install via Homebrew
    Yes
    Checked Oct 29, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. LinearMouse logo

    2. LinearMouse

    Best for: Mac users with a third-party mouse who want Windows-like scrolling and no acceleration

    Open sourcemacOS

    64.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from BetterMouse

    Free, open-source option for disabling acceleration and remapping buttons.

    Pros

    • Separate scroll direction for mouse and trackpad
    • Can turn off pointer acceleration completely
    • Per-device, per-app and per-display profiles switch automatically
    • Free and MIT-licensed, with no account or upsell

    Cons

    • macOS only
    • Button remapping is basic compared with BetterTouchTool or Karabiner-Elements
    • No smooth-scrolling engine or vendor features such as DPI and lighting control
    Visit LinearMouse Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is LinearMouse a good BetterMouse alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS
    Checked Oct 29, 2026linearmouse.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Disable acceleration
    Yes
    Checked Oct 29, 2026linearmouse.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Homebrew
    brew install --cask linearmouse
    Checked Oct 29, 2026linearmouse.org(opens source in a new tab)
  3. St

    3. SteerMouse

    Best for: Mac users with multi-button mice or trackballs who want one driver for every brand

    PaidmacOS

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from BetterMouse

    Long-running paid utility with deep button, chording and cursor settings.

    Pros

    • Works across mouse brands instead of separate vendor apps
    • Per-app button mappings and chord combinations
    • Cursor and scroll speed controls beyond System Settings
    • One-time licence with a 30-day trial

    Cons

    • No support for Apple Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad
    • Mac only
    • Major version upgrades cost extra
    • Some special buttons on certain mice may not be recognised
    Visit SteerMouse Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is SteerMouse a good BetterMouse alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Price
    US$19.99 new licence
    Checked Oct 29, 2026plentycom.jp(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    30 days
    Checked Oct 29, 2026plentycom.jp(opens source in a new tab)
    Supported mice
    USB and Bluetooth
    Checked Oct 29, 2026plentycom.jp(opens source in a new tab)
    First released
    2005
    Checked Oct 29, 2026plentycom.jp(opens source in a new tab)
    System requirements
    macOS 12 Monterey or later
    Checked Oct 29, 2026plentycom.jp(opens source in a new tab)
  4. BetterTouchTool logo

    4. BetterTouchTool

    Best for: Mac power users who want to remap gestures, mice and keys and automate with them

    PaidmacOS

    59.4

    score / 100

    Why switch from BetterMouse

    Broader paid tool covering mice, trackpads, keyboards and automation.

    Pros

    • Huge range of triggers and actions
    • Window snapping, clipboard and launcher included
    • Low one-off price with a lifetime option
    • Long free trial

    Cons

    • Dense, complicated settings
    • Mac only
    • Standard licence only covers two years of updates
    Visit BetterTouchTool Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is BetterTouchTool a good BetterMouse alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Standard licence
    $15, 2 years of updates
    Checked Oct 29, 2026folivora.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    Lifetime licence
    $25
    Checked Oct 29, 2026folivora.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    45 days
    Checked Oct 29, 2026folivora.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    Built-in actions
    600+
    Checked Oct 29, 2026folivora.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    Setapp
    Included
    Checked Oct 29, 2026folivora.ai(opens source in a new tab)

The best BetterMouse alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Mos logo

Best BetterMouse alternative for most people

Mos

Free and open source if smooth scrolling and scroll direction are all you need.

LinearMouse logo

Best BetterMouse alternative for a free option

LinearMouse

Free, open-source option for disabling acceleration and remapping buttons.

LinearMouse logo

Best BetterMouse alternative for open source

LinearMouse

Free, open-source option for disabling acceleration and remapping buttons.

St

Best BetterMouse alternative for Mac

SteerMouse

Long-running paid utility with deep button, chording and cursor settings.

BetterMouse alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to BetterMouse?

Mos ranks first right now. Free and open source if smooth scrolling and scroll direction are all you need. LinearMouse and SteerMouse follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to BetterMouse?

Yes. Mos (free) and LinearMouse (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to BetterMouse?

Yes: LinearMouse.

Why do people switch from BetterMouse?

The complaints we hear most: paid, unlike free tools such as Mos and LinearMouse; can conflict with Logitech's own apps, which need removing; mac only.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces BetterMouse, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.