ControllerBuddy vs Keysticks
ControllerBuddy
controllerbuddy.org
Keysticks
keysticks.netSide by side
| Figure | ControllerBuddy | Keysticks |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · Controller Mapping Software | 8.8 (#1) | 8.1 (#10) |
| Controller compatibility | Supported examples include Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, DualShock 3/4 and DualSense controllers, with additional SDL_GameControllerDB devices supported. | Supported controllers are correctly installed gamepads or joysticks using XInput or DirectInput. |
| Maker | The website identifies Matteo Hausner as the creator and copyright holder of ControllerBuddy. | The contact page identifies Tim Brogden as the creator of Keysticks. |
| Profiles | Profiles are JSON configuration files that can be edited and saved inside the application. | Sample Windows profiles are included, and users can download or share additional profiles through the Profile Browser. |
| Purpose | ControllerBuddy maps gamepad inputs for flight simulators, aiming to let users fly without a joystick, keyboard, or mouse. | Keysticks lets users control a Windows PC with a gamepad or joystick to browse the web, play games and music, and use the computer in place of a keyboard and mouse. |
| Support | The project directs bug reports to GitHub Issues and questions to its Discord community. | The maker provides online help and an FAQ and invites users to contact Tim, the creator, through a contact form. |
| System requirements | The FAQ lists Windows 10 or 11 on x64 and Linux on x64 or aarch64. | The published minimum is Windows 10, 8, 7 or Vista with at least 30 MB of free disk space. |
| What it does | ControllerBuddy maps gamepad controls to keyboard, mouse and virtual-joystick inputs for flight simulators. | Keysticks maps game-controller input to mouse, keyboard and application actions for PC use. |
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.
Keysticks
Keysticks lets you control a Windows PC with a gamepad or joystick, including for web browsing, games, music and tasks normally handled with a keyboard and mouse. It supports correctly installed wired or wireless XInput and DirectInput controllers. For games that accept keyboard or mouse input, you can create custom layouts and mappings; configurable pointer controls and an on-screen keyboard with word prediction cover other computer tasks. The interface is English only, though the keyboard and word prediction support multiple languages. Sample profiles are included, and the Profile Browser lets you preview and download other users’ profiles. Sharing through the Download Area requires an account and sign-in. A profile can support up to four players, and the software supports per-app profiles and profile switching. Keysticks is free and open source under the Eclipse Public License v1.0. The listed release is v2.14 for Windows, with Windows 10, 8, 7 or Vista suggested as minimum operating systems. Some games block emulated input, and administrator-level tasks require Keysticks to run with administrator privileges.