Questions

ControllerKeys alternative for Mac

ControllerKeys, by Kevin Tang, is a capable Mac mapper that turns a game controller into a keyboard and mouse. It is sold from its own site with a 14-day trial, its source is on GitHub as NSEvent/xbox-controller-mapper under the PolyForm Noncommercial licence, and it needs macOS 14.6 or later. If you want the same job done for free, from the Mac App Store, here is how the two compare. I make InputConfig, the free alternative on this page, so weigh that. The full comparison of Mac mappers covers every other option too.

Steps

  1. Install InputConfig and allow Accessibility access.
  2. Pair the controller.
  3. Pick a preset or build one with Scan.
  4. Activate.

Side by side

ControllerKeysInputConfig
Price14-day trial, then a paid licenceFree, nothing locked
LicenceSource available, non-commercialMIT, open source
WhereOwn site, Gumroad, HomebrewMac App Store
macOS14.6 or later14 or later
InputsGame controllers, including the Siri RemoteGame controllers, MIDI devices, keyboards, mice, the trackpad, screen regions, and a tap on the MacBook

Checked on 22 September 2026 against each app's App Store listing, GitHub or Codeberg page, and the maker's own site.

Download InputConfig on the Mac App StoreInputConfig is free on the Mac App Store. macOS 14 or later, no account, no tracking, open source.

What ControllerKeys does that InputConfig does not

  • JavaScript scripting.
  • An on-screen swipe keyboard.
  • OBS integration.

If you need those, ControllerKeys is the better choice.

What InputConfig adds

  • MIDI in and out: a MIDI keyboard as input, a controller as a MIDI instrument.
  • The trackpad, screen regions and a double tap on the MacBook as inputs.
  • Accessibility features: one-stick driving, spoken feedback, the Access and Adaptive controllers.
  • 450+ ready layouts in the Smart Preset Maker.
  • An App Store install, and no cost.

Switching in five minutes

  1. Install InputConfig from the Mac App Store and allow Accessibility access.
  2. Pair the controller if it is not already.
  3. Pick a built-in preset or search the Smart Preset Maker for the game or app.
  4. Open the editor to change any row: Scan a button, choose what it sends.
  5. Activate. The menu bar icon and the emergency stop turn it off instantly.

Questions

Is ControllerKeys free?

No. It has a 14-day trial, then a paid licence.

Is there a free, open-source alternative to ControllerKeys?

Yes. InputConfig is free, MIT licensed, and on the Mac App Store.

Is ControllerKeys open source?

Its source is public on GitHub, but the PolyForm Noncommercial licence does not allow commercial use, so it is source-available rather than open source in the usual sense. InputConfig is MIT licensed, which allows any use.

Is ControllerKeys on the Mac App Store?

No. It is sold from the developer's site and Gumroad, and there is a Homebrew tap. InputConfig is on the Mac App Store, so it installs and updates like any other App Store app.

Related

Download InputConfig on the Mac App StoreFree. macOS 14 or later. No account, nothing leaves your Mac. Open source on GitHub.