ControllerBuddy vs ControllerKeys
ControllerBuddy
controllerbuddy.org
ControllerKeys
kevintang.xyzSide by side
| Figure | ControllerBuddy | ControllerKeys |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Game Controller Mapper Software | 8.8 (#2) | 7.9 (#11) |
| Controllers | It supports Xbox Controller, DualShock 4, DualSense, and other controllers supported by SDL_GameControllerDB. | It supports Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, Steam Controller, Siri Remote, 8BitDo, and more than 300 third-party controllers. |
| Profiles | Profiles are JSON configuration files that can be edited and saved inside the application. | Profiles can switch automatically based on the active app, be imported from GitHub or Stream Deck V2, and be exported and shared. |
| Purpose | ControllerBuddy maps gamepad inputs for flight simulators, aiming to let users fly without a joystick, keyboard, or mouse. | ControllerKeys turns game controllers or an Apple TV Siri Remote into keyboard and mouse input for a Mac. |
| Support | The project directs bug reports to GitHub Issues and questions to its Discord community. | The page links to a Discord community and issue reporting and lists email support at [email protected]. |
Plans
In their own words
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.
ControllerKeys
ControllerKeys has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.