Keysticks vs OmniControl
Keysticks
keysticks.net
OmniControl
omnicontrol.meSide by side
| Figure | Keysticks | OmniControl |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $5/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 6 |
| Spec score · Controller Mapping Software | 8.1 (#10) | 8.5 (#5) |
| Profiles | Sample Windows profiles are included, and users can download or share additional profiles through the Profile Browser. | Profiles save mappings, tuning, emulation, lighting, calibration and related settings, with unlimited profile storage. |
| Support | The maker provides online help and an FAQ and invites users to contact Tim, the creator, through a contact form. | Discord is the primary support channel, while [email protected] handles account, licensing and purchase questions. |
| System requirements | The published minimum is Windows 10, 8, 7 or Vista with at least 30 MB of free disk space. | The download requires Windows 10 or Windows 11 64-bit; the installer is listed as 43.6 MB. |
| What it does | Keysticks maps game-controller input to mouse, keyboard and application actions for PC use. | OmniControl is a native Windows desktop app that remaps controller inputs, tunes sticks and triggers, records macros, and can expose a virtual controller to games. |
Plans
OmniControl
- FreeFree
- Insider$9.99 a month
- Pro Monthly (Quest page)$9.99 a month
- Pro Monthly$14.99 a month
- Pro Annual (Quest page)$59.99 a year
- Pro Annual$74.99 a year
In their own words
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.
OmniControl
OmniControl is a Windows desktop app for changing controller inputs and presenting them to games as a virtual controller. It can remap buttons, sticks, and triggers, read motion, and record macros. Emulation requires the separate ViGEmBus driver, which can be installed from the app. Supported devices include DualSense and DualShock controllers, Xbox models, Switch Pro, GameCube and Wii Remote through Dolphin outputs, Meta Touch Plus, Quest 3/3S over Link, and Razer Raiju V3. Its Game Packs catalog has ready-made setups for 251 games that users can browse and import for free. For PS5 Remote Play, it works with chiaki-ng using a virtual DualShock 4 and includes presets for about 60 PS5 games. Game Center scans Steam and Epic libraries, accepts manual additions, and links games to profiles for automatic switching. The free plan covers reading, mapping, and tuning. Insider costs $9.99/mo; Pro Annual costs $59.99 per year. The 64-bit Windows 10 and 11 installer is 48.1 MB and updates automatically.