Gamepad Mapper for Mac: the free alternative
InputConfig is completely free on the Mac App Store. You don't have to make an account, there are no subscriptions, and nothing is locked. Optimized for Apple silicon.
There is a free alternative to Gamepad Mapper with no subscription: InputConfig, which I make, so weigh that. Gamepad Mapper is a long-running Mac App Store mapper that turns a controller into a mouse and keyboard. It is free to download, and support for specific controllers is sold inside the app: PS5, Xbox Series X and Switch Pro drivers at $3.99 each, or everything for $2.99 a month. Its current version, 1.8, came out in August 2024. The full comparison of Mac mappers covers every other option too.
Steps
- Install InputConfig from the Mac App Store and allow Accessibility access.
- Pair the controller. No driver purchase is needed.
- Pick a built-in preset or search the Smart Preset Maker for the game or app.
- Press Scan on any row to change it, then press Activate.
Compare what each one charges for
| Gamepad Mapper | InputConfig | |
|---|---|---|
| Download | Free | Free |
| PS5, Xbox Series X, Switch Pro | $3.99 each, in the app | Included |
| Everything | $2.99 a month, All Access | Included; an optional tip adds nothing |
| Latest version | 1.8, August 2024 | 1.8, October 2026 |
| macOS | 12 or later | 14 or later |
Checked on 22 October 2026 against each app's App Store listing, GitHub or Codeberg page, and the maker's own site.
Get every controller and feature without a purchase
- Controllers. Every controller macOS sees, including the DualSense, DualSense Edge, Xbox Series and Elite, Switch Pro, Joy-Cons, 8BitDo and the adaptive controllers.
- PlayStation extras. The DualSense touchpad as a trackpad, and gyro aim.
- Row options. Macros, chords, turbo, hold and double tap.
- Switching. Per-app auto-switch.
- MIDI. MIDI in and out.
- Layouts. 450+ ready layouts.
There is no subscription and nothing to buy.
Use a PS5 controller without buying a driver
In Gamepad Mapper, DualSense support is one of the drivers sold in the app, at $3.99, or part of the $2.99 monthly All Access plan. In InputConfig the DualSense and DualSense Edge work with no purchase, and so do the parts people usually want next: the touchpad as a trackpad, gyro aim, rumble and the light bar color.
Mapping a PS5 controller to keys walks through it.
When Gamepad Mapper is the better fit
- macOS 12 or 13. InputConfig will not install there, and Gamepad Mapper will.
- Already paid. If you bought its drivers and it does what you need, there is no reason to switch.
The short version
- Gamepad Mapper. It is free to download, with controller drivers sold in the app or by subscription.
- InputConfig. It is free with everything included, on macOS 14 or later.
- Older Mac. Gamepad Mapper is the one that installs on macOS 12.
On macOS 14 or later, nothing on this page needs a purchase.
Questions
Is Gamepad Mapper free?
It is free to download. PS5, Xbox Series X and Switch Pro support are in-app purchases at $3.99 each, or all features for $2.99 a month.
Is there a free Gamepad Mapper alternative with no in-app purchases?
Yes. InputConfig is free with nothing held back, and open source.
Is there a Gamepad Mapper crack for Mac, and is it safe?
I would not use one, and that is caution rather than something I measured. A mapper needs the Accessibility permission to send keys and clicks, so a modified copy from an unknown site is a poor thing to trust with it. Download Gamepad Mapper from the Mac App Store, or use InputConfig, which is free.
Is Gamepad Mapper safe?
It is sold through the Mac App Store, so Apple reviewed and signed it. Download it from there rather than a mirror site. Like every mapper, it needs the Accessibility permission to send keys and clicks. InputConfig needs the same permission, is on the Mac App Store too, has no network access, and its source is public under the MIT license.
Can I play Minecraft with Gamepad Mapper?
Any mapper that sends keys and mouse movement can drive Minecraft Java, which has no controller support on the Mac. InputConfig has a built-in Minecraft preset ready to use, so there is nothing to build.
Related
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