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BetterTouchTool alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave BetterTouchTool: dense, complicated settings, and mac only. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces BetterTouchTool, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Karabiner-Elements currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Karabiner-Elements logoKarabiner-ElementsOpen sourceYesmacOS4 of 462.6
2KeKeyboard MaestroPaidNomacOS4 of 454.5
3Swish logoSwishPaidNomacOS4 of 450.3
4Rectangle logoRectangleOpen sourceYesmacOS5 of 548.9
5Hammerspoon logoHammerspoonOpen sourceYesmacOS4 of 447.8
  1. Karabiner-Elements logo

    1. Karabiner-ElementsTop pick

    Best for: Mac users who want to remap keys, build a hyper key or customise external keyboards

    Open sourcemacOS

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from BetterTouchTool

    Free, open-source keyboard remapping if keys are all you need.

    Pros

    • Free and open source
    • Simple remaps in a GUI, complex ones as rules
    • Large library of community rules
    • Per-device and per-app rules

    Cons

    • Complex rules require editing JSON
    • Setup needs a system extension and permissions
    • Keyboard-only; no gestures or window tools
    Visit Karabiner-Elements Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    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 Karabiner-Elements a good BetterTouchTool alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    Unlicense (public domain)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Apple Silicon
    Supported, as is Intel
    Checked Oct 25, 2026karabiner-elements.pqrs.org(opens source in a new tab)
    GUI remapping
    Yes, for simple mappings
    Checked Oct 25, 2026karabiner-elements.pqrs.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Community rules
    Importable from the web
    Checked Oct 25, 2026karabiner-elements.pqrs.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Ke

    2. Keyboard Maestro

    Best for: Mac users who want to automate repetitive work across many apps without coding

    PaidmacOS

    54.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from BetterTouchTool

    Stronger at macro automation across apps, though less focused on gestures.

    Pros

    • Hundreds of actions and many trigger types
    • No subscription; one-time purchase
    • Active community forum with shared macros

    Cons

    • Interface feels dated and dense
    • Major upgrades cost extra
    • Accessibility permission issues can need manual fixing after macOS updates
    Visit Keyboard Maestro Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.360
    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 Keyboard Maestro a good BetterTouchTool alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    US$36 one-time
    Checked Oct 25, 2026keyboardmaestro.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Upgrade price
    US$25
    Checked Oct 25, 2026keyboardmaestro.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Actions
    Hundreds built in
    Checked Oct 25, 2026keyboardmaestro.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Current version
    11
    Checked Oct 25, 2026keyboardmaestro.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Swish logo

    3. Swish

    Best for: Trackpad users who want to snap and manage windows with gestures

    PaidmacOS

    50.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from BetterTouchTool

    Simpler, gesture-first window management for trackpad users.

    Pros

    • Natural trackpad gestures for snapping and window control
    • Grid snapping beyond halves and quarters
    • One-off licence with a 14-day trial

    Cons

    • Much less useful with an ordinary mouse
    • Licence covers only two Macs
    • Not available on the Mac App Store
    Visit Swish Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.346
    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 Swish a good BetterTouchTool alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    $16 one-off
    Checked Oct 25, 2026highlyopinionated.co(opens source in a new tab)
    Gestures
    About 30
    Checked Oct 25, 2026highlyopinionated.co(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026highlyopinionated.co(opens source in a new tab)
    Licence
    Two Macs at a time
    Checked Oct 25, 2026highlyopinionated.co(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Rectangle logo

    4. Rectangle

    Best for: Mac users who want simple, free keyboard and drag-to-edge window snapping

    Open sourcemacOS

    48.9

    score / 100

    Why switch from BetterTouchTool

    Free window snapping if that was the main reason for BetterTouchTool.

    Pros

    • Free and open source
    • Shortcuts and drag-to-snap both work well
    • Easy switch from Spectacle
    • Paid Pro version available for layouts and more

    Cons

    • No automatic tiling
    • Workspace layouts need the separate paid Pro app
    • Latest version needs macOS 14 or later
    Visit Rectangle Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.341
    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 Rectangle a good BetterTouchTool alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free and open source
    Checked Oct 25, 2026rectangleapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro free trial
    10 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026rectangleapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro licence
    3 devices at a time
    Checked Oct 25, 2026rectangleapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Spectacle shortcuts
    Supported
    Checked Oct 25, 2026rectangleapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Hammerspoon logo

    5. Hammerspoon

    Best for: Developers who want to script their own Mac utilities instead of buying several

    Open sourcemacOS

    47.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from BetterTouchTool

    Free, scriptable automation in Lua for people comfortable with code.

    Pros

    • Can replace many small utilities with code
    • Broad APIs across windows, input, network and devices
    • Spoons provide ready-made modules
    • Free and open source

    Cons

    • Requires writing Lua
    • No graphical editor for automations
    • Debugging configs can be fiddly
    Visit Hammerspoon Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.338
    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 Hammerspoon a good BetterTouchTool alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Scripting language
    Lua
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hammerspoon.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Default behaviour
    Does nothing until configured
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hammerspoon.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Plugins
    Spoons
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hammerspoon.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best BetterTouchTool alternative for…

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

Karabiner-Elements logo

Best BetterTouchTool alternative for most people

Karabiner-Elements

Free, open-source keyboard remapping if keys are all you need.

Rectangle logo

Best BetterTouchTool alternative for a free option

Rectangle

Free window snapping if that was the main reason for BetterTouchTool.

Hammerspoon logo

Best BetterTouchTool alternative for open source

Hammerspoon

Free, scriptable automation in Lua for people comfortable with code.

Ke

Best BetterTouchTool alternative for Mac

Keyboard Maestro

Stronger at macro automation across apps, though less focused on gestures.

BetterTouchTool alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to BetterTouchTool?

Karabiner-Elements ranks first right now. Free, open-source keyboard remapping if keys are all you need. Keyboard Maestro and Swish follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to BetterTouchTool?

Yes. Karabiner-Elements (open source), Rectangle (open source) and Hammerspoon (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to BetterTouchTool?

Yes: Karabiner-Elements, Rectangle and Hammerspoon.

Why do people switch from BetterTouchTool?

The complaints we hear most: dense, complicated settings; mac only; standard licence only covers two years of updates.

How is this list ranked?

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