ControllerBuddy vs Universal Control Remapper

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.

Universal Control Remapper (UCR) is a free, open-source Windows application for routing physical device inputs to virtual outputs. It can connect any number of inputs to any number of outputs, including analog input, and supports devices such as keyboards, mice, joysticks, racing wheels, and Tobii eye trackers. Listed outputs include Xbox 360 and DualShock 4 controllers, DirectInput controllers, keyboards, and mice; provider documentation also names Titan One, 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse, and MIDI devices. Nested profiles can be switched by external programs using command-line parameters, and remapping and device order persist across reboots and unplugging. Plugins can add input and output transformations, while device providers can extend compatibility. The project says UCR uses no injection and is compatible with games that use anti-tampering technologies such as Denuvo. Some providers may require technical setup, command-line use, and administrator rights to install drivers; additional drivers may be needed for virtual Xbox or DirectInput controllers. UCR is labeled Alpha, and the project warns of bugs, experimental features, and settings files that may not work across versions. Its latest listed release is v0.9.0 Alpha, dated 2020-01-02.