ControllerBuddy vs ControllerMate
ControllerBuddy
controllerbuddy.orgControllerMate
orderedbytes.comSide by side
| Figure | ControllerBuddy | ControllerMate |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Controller Mapping Software | 8.8 (#1) | 8.2 (#8) |
| Maker | The website identifies Matteo Hausner as the creator and copyright holder of ControllerBuddy. | OrderedBytes says it was founded in 2005 and introduced ControllerMate as its first product that year. |
| Purpose | ControllerBuddy maps gamepad inputs for flight simulators, aiming to let users fly without a joystick, keyboard, or mouse. | ControllerMate triggers custom keyboard, mouse, and MIDI actions from input devices. |
| Support | The project directs bug reports to GitHub Issues and questions to its Discord community. | Support is offered through documentation, the OrderedBytes forum, and email. |
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.
ControllerMate
ControllerMate is a macOS utility that maps input-device controls and MIDI messages to custom keyboard, mouse, and MIDI actions. Its programming combines more than 70 kinds of building blocks into functions. Blocks can handle logic, math, and timing; generate keyboard or mouse activity; run AppleScripts; open files; or launch applications. Users can remap or disable keyboard buttons and configure standard or custom mouse acceleration curves for devices using ControllerMate's driver. MIDI notes, controller values, and patch changes can trigger blocks, and the software can send MIDI messages through a virtual MIDI source. It can also create virtual mouse, tablet, and joystick devices. A helper application can monitor connected controllers and keep current programming running after the main application closes. Unregistered use has no time limit, but only 10 blocks may generate output; input, logic, math, and timing blocks have no stated limit. OrderedBytes introduced ControllerMate as its first product in 2005. The maker lists uses including audio and video editing, music production, gaming, and flight simulation.