Side by side

Controller Companion vs ControllerKeys

Both stand on game controller mapper software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

Controller Companion

Paid Windows

Controller Companion focuses on controller-based desktop operation, with keyboard, media, scrolling, and display functions. Buyers choose between two one-time purchase options, but need compatible Windows hardware.

Visit Controller Companion

ControllerKeys

Free trial Mac

ControllerKeys offers extensive ways to turn controller input into Mac keyboard and mouse actions, with app-specific profiles and automation options. Note the macOS requirement, Accessibility permission and single-active-controller limit.

Visit ControllerKeys

The facts

	Controller Companion	ControllerKeys
Free plan	No	A free trial
Open source	Not published	Not published
Runs on	Windows	Mac
Lowest paid plan	Controller Companion (Steam): $2.99, paid once	ControllerKeys license: $19.99, paid once
Plans published	2	1
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	controllercompanion.com	kevintang.xyz
On game controller mapper software	#23 of 27	#19 of 27

Controller Companion: what it does well

Controller-based mouse and scrolling
Arcade-style virtual keyboard
Remappable controls
Media and display controls
No DRM; free updates

What to know first

Windows only
No free plan
PlayStation controllers need an XInput wrapper
Chatpad support is experimental

ControllerKeys: what it does well

Maps controller buttons to keys, chords and sequences.
Supports macros, scripts, shell commands and webhooks.
Profiles can switch based on the active app.
Supports more than 300 third-party controllers.
Public source under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 license.

What to know first

Requires macOS 14.6 or later.
Requires macOS Accessibility permission.
Only one controller is active at a time.

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