Controller Companion vs ControllerBuddy
Controller Companion
controllercompanion.com
ControllerBuddy
controllerbuddy.orgSide by side
| Figure | Controller Companion | ControllerBuddy |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Spec score · Game Controller Mapper Software | 8.5 (#4) | 8.8 (#2) |
| Spec score · Controller Mapping Software | 8.4 (#6) | 8.8 (#1) |
| Controller compatibility | The Steam listing requires an XInput-compatible controller; PlayStation pads need an XInput wrapper. | Supported examples include Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, DualShock 3/4 and DualSense controllers, with additional SDL_GameControllerDB devices supported. |
| Purpose | Controller Companion lets users control a PC desktop with a game controller, including mouse, keyboard, and media controls. | ControllerBuddy maps gamepad inputs for flight simulators, aiming to let users fly without a joystick, keyboard, or mouse. |
| Support | The maker's homepage directs questions to [email protected]. | The project directs bug reports to GitHub Issues and questions to its Discord community. |
| System requirements | Minimum requirements are Windows 7 and an XInput controller; Windows 10 is recommended. | The FAQ lists Windows 10 or 11 on x64 and Linux on x64 or aarch64. |
| Updates | The FAQ says updates are free and itch buyers can download newer builds from their purchase link. | ControllerBuddy uses rolling releases, and the FAQ says backward compatibility is best-effort and not guaranteed. |
| What it does | Controller Companion lets a game controller operate the Windows desktop, including mouse, keyboard and media functions. | ControllerBuddy maps gamepad controls to keyboard, mouse and virtual-joystick inputs for flight simulators. |
Plans
Controller Companion
- Controller Companion (Steam)$2.99, paid once
- Controller Companion (Steam)$2.99, paid once
- Controller Companion (itch.io)$3, paid once
- Controller Companion (itch.io)$3, paid once
In their own words
Controller Companion
Controller Companion has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
ControllerBuddy
ControllerBuddy maps gamepad inputs to keyboard and mouse actions or a virtual joystick for flight simulators. Profiles can assign controls through different modes, and an overlay displays the active mode and virtual-axis states. A gamepad-controlled on-screen keyboard supports selecting keys and holding multiple keys at once. The software supports Xbox Controller, DualShock 4, DualSense and other controllers supported by SDLGameControllerDB. Community-maintained profiles are listed for simulators and aircraft, including DCS World and Microsoft Flight Simulator versions 2020 and 2024. ControllerBuddy runs on Windows 10 or 11 (x64) and Linux (x64 or aarch64); its official Flatpak package includes profiles and optional helper scripts for Proton games and DOSBox Staging. The software is free and open-source under GNU GPL v3.0. There are control limits: mode actions must be assigned at Default Mode level and cannot combine multiple buttons, and the two triggers cannot be merged into one rudder axis. It uses rolling releases, with backward compatibility not guaranteed.