ControllerBuddy vs Xpadder
ControllerBuddy
controllerbuddy.orgXpadder
xpadder.comSide by side
| Figure | ControllerBuddy | Xpadder |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Controller Mapping Software | 8.8 (#1) | 6.8 (#29) |
| Spec score · Game Controller Mapper Software | 8.8 (#2) | 6.8 (#26) |
| Purpose | ControllerBuddy maps gamepad inputs for flight simulators, aiming to let users fly without a joystick, keyboard, or mouse. | Xpadder maps keyboard keys and mouse button actions to game controller buttons. |
| Security and compliance | The pages reviewed do not state security certifications or compliance claims. | The official page opened for this research does not state security certifications or compliance claims. |
| Support | The project directs bug reports to GitHub Issues and questions to its Discord community. | The developer says he works full-time on Xpadder, including customer support and programming for the software and website. |
| Supported systems | The stated operating-system requirements are Windows 10 or 11 (x64) and Linux (x64 or aarch64). | The maker lists Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, and XP as supported design targets. |
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.