LinearMouse alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave LinearMouse: macOS only, and button remapping is basic compared with BetterTouchTool or Karabiner-Elements. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces LinearMouse, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. BetterTouchTool currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Karabiner-Elements	Open source	Yes	macOS	4 of 4	62.6
2	Hammerspoon	Open source	Yes	macOS	4 of 4	50.3

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 LinearMouse
Free, open-source input remapper that can rewrite mouse buttons and keys with complex rules.
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 LinearMouse 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. Hammerspoon
Best for: Developers who want to script their own Mac utilities instead of buying several
Open sourcemacOS
50.3
score / 100
Why switch from LinearMouse
Free Lua automation tool that can script mouse events and scrolling if you want full control.
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 ×0.346
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 Hammerspoon a good LinearMouse 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 LinearMouse alternative for…

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

Best LinearMouse alternative for most people

BetterTouchTool

Paid app with far deeper mouse, trackpad and gesture customisation, plus keyboard and Touch Bar tools.

Best LinearMouse alternative for a free option

Karabiner-Elements

Free, open-source input remapper that can rewrite mouse buttons and keys with complex rules.

Best LinearMouse alternative for open source

Hammerspoon

Free Lua automation tool that can script mouse events and scrolling if you want full control.

Best LinearMouse alternative for Mac

BetterTouchTool

Paid app with far deeper mouse, trackpad and gesture customisation, plus keyboard and Touch Bar tools.

LinearMouse alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to LinearMouse?

BetterTouchTool ranks first right now. Paid app with far deeper mouse, trackpad and gesture customisation, plus keyboard and Touch Bar tools. Karabiner-Elements and Hammerspoon follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to LinearMouse?

Yes. Karabiner-Elements (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 LinearMouse?

Yes: Karabiner-Elements and Hammerspoon.

Why do people switch from LinearMouse?

The complaints we hear most: 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.

How is this list ranked?

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