Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Joystick Mapper VS Xpadder

Compare Joystick Mapper VS Xpadder and see what are their differences

Joystick Mapper logo Joystick Mapper

Joystick Mapper, An app for Mac OS X that allows you to use gamepads in any app or game

Xpadder logo Xpadder

Xpadder simulates the keyboard and mouse using your gamepad What does Xpadder let you do?
  • Joystick Mapper Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-03-04
  • Xpadder Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-16

Joystick Mapper features and specs

  • Versatility
    Joystick Mapper allows users to map joystick inputs to keyboard and mouse actions, providing support for a wide range of games and applications.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The application offers a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to set up and customize their input settings.
  • Mac Compatibility
    Joystick Mapper is specifically designed for macOS, making it an excellent tool for Mac users who want to use controllers for their gaming and productivity needs.
  • Customizable Profiles
    Users can create and save multiple profiles for different games and applications, allowing for quick switching between different configurations.

Possible disadvantages of Joystick Mapper

  • Lack of Advanced Features
    Compared to some other similar tools, Joystick Mapper might lack advanced features like macros, combo keys, or gyro support.
  • Limited Controller Support
    While it supports many popular controllers, Joystick Mapper might not work with all types of controllers, particularly without additional configuration or software.
  • Paid Software
    Joystick Mapper is not a free application, which might be a limitation for users looking for a budget-friendly solution.
  • macOS Only
    The application is limited to macOS, which means Windows and Linux users must look for alternative solutions.

Xpadder features and specs

  • Customizable Controls
    Xpadder allows users to map keyboard and mouse functions to game controllers, providing a high level of customization for different games and applications.
  • Compatibility
    The software supports a wide range of game controllers and works with almost any game or application, even those that don't offer native controller support.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Xpadder features an intuitive and straightforward UI, making it easy for users to set up and configure their game controllers.
  • Offline Functionality
    Xpadder does not require an internet connection to function, which can be beneficial for users with limited or no internet access.
  • Frequent Updates
    The software receives regular updates to improve performance and add new features, keeping it up-to-date with modern gaming requirements.

Possible disadvantages of Xpadder

  • Paid Software
    Xpadder is not free; users need to purchase a license to use the software, which may be a deterrent for some.
  • Initial Setup Complexity
    While the interface is user-friendly, the initial setup can be somewhat complex for beginners, requiring time and patience to configure fully.
  • Limited OS Support
    Xpadder is primarily designed for Windows, and does not natively support macOS or Linux, limiting its user base.
  • No Built-in Profiles
    The software does not come with pre-configured profiles for popular games, requiring users to create their own mappings from scratch.
  • Variable Performance
    Performance may vary depending on system configuration and controller compatibility, potentially leading to inconsistent experiences for some users.

Analysis of Xpadder

Overall verdict

  • Xpadder is generally considered good, especially for those who need a simple yet powerful tool for adapting their controllers to games lacking native support. Its robust feature set and reliable performance make it a favorable choice for gamers who prefer or require controller use for all of their PC games.

Why this product is good

  • Xpadder is a utility that allows users to map keyboard keys and mouse actions to gamepad buttons. It's often praised for its ease of use, flexibility, and ability to customize controls for a wide variety of games, particularly those that do not natively support gamepads. The software is lightweight and runs smoothly on most systems without consuming much in the way of resources. Users appreciate its ability to enhance gameplay by offering a more ergonomic control scheme, particularly in older or niche titles.

Recommended for

    Xpadder is best recommended for gamers who want to use a gamepad with their PC games, particularly those games that lack built-in controller support. It's also suitable for users who enjoy customizing their control schemes to optimize their gaming experience or who frequently switch between different game genres that may benefit from unique control layouts.

Joystick Mapper videos

Joystick Mapper : Use any Gamepad on your Mac! (HD)

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Joystick Mapper Tutorial | Tech With Ro - Episode 12

Xpadder videos

Xpadder Tutorial - Setup / How To Beginner's Guide - Controller Mapping

More videos:

  • Review - xpadder review/for free
  • Review - Xpadder 5.7 review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Joystick Mapper and Xpadder)
Gaming
22 22%
78% 78
Controller Mapping
24 24%
76% 76
Gaming Tools
19 19%
81% 81
OS & Utilities
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Joystick Mapper and Xpadder

Joystick Mapper Reviews

We have no reviews of Joystick Mapper yet.
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Xpadder Reviews

Top 5 REWASD Alternatives in 2021
Letโ€™s start by talking about the easiest and one of the oldest keymapping solutions in the market, Xpadder. Xpadder allows you to take your gaming to the next level by simply mapping your keyboard and mouse as well as gamepad controls to the device of your choice.
Fantastic Controller Mappers and Where to Find Them
The significant ability of Xpadder is to support almost any controller device: this controller mapper allows you to add each button or analog element that your controller has one-by-one. As a result, you literally build a unique scheme. Once the controller is plugged in, Xpadder asks you to move analog controls to add them to the controller scheme and tune the deadzone. The...
Source: www.rewasd.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Xpadder should be more popular than Joystick Mapper. It has been mentiond 14 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Joystick Mapper mentions (3)

  • Max VM controller support
    Have you tried a third party controller configuration app like Joystick Mapper?https://joystickmapper.com. Source: over 2 years ago
  • OG Xbox One Controller for Game Pass on Mac Mini M1 Monterey
    Checkout https://joystickmapper.com/ for the mapper (if it still works even) and https://gamepad-tester.com/ to see if your OS detects a gamepad. Source: over 3 years ago
  • As promised, I did the Guitar Hero Drums as Midi controller Tutorial.
    You guys from MAC will use https://joystickmapper.com/ Instead of JoyToMidi to map your Drumset. That's the only difference between Windows and Mac process. Source: about 4 years ago

Xpadder mentions (14)

  • free alternative to reWASD
    It mentions some alternatives, though, such as Input Mapper and Xpadder. If your games are on Steam, you could try Steam's controller config thing. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Pinball FX Guide - A Start
    Did you download it from an e-mail sent to you from xpadder.com? The version I'm using is 2022.05.01. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Picked Up a Pair of MyMyBox MXMT6's This Weekend!
    You might be able to use JoyToKey (free) or xpadder ($10) to at least verify different inputs are recognized per button. Source: over 2 years ago
  • My take on a DDR soft pad mod in 2022
    To remedy, I've been using this little app found from another thread. I keep this app open while running stepmania and it remap button presses solving the problem. It seems to poll quickly enough for my needs! https://www.mediafire.com/?asju7uk8shr81co Or there's xPadder - https://xpadder.com/ ($9.99) as a more rounded software solution as well. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Help with remapping a controller analog stick to the arrow keys.
    If it doesn't work out, I'd personally just get Xpadder. Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Joystick Mapper and Xpadder, you can also consider the following products

DS4Windows - DS4Windows is an open-source gamepad input mapper and virtual emulator designed to use and connect your PlayStation controller (DualShock 3/4 and DualSense 5) to a Windows 10 & 11 PC.

JoyToKey - JoyToKey enables users to control the keyboard using any USB compatible controller (Dualshock 3, Xbox 360, etc.)

AntimicroX - AntiMicroX is a program used to map keyboard and mouse actions to gamepad/joystick buttons. It is useful for playing games with poor or no gamepad support. It is a new fork of discontinued AntiMicro

reWASD - First and only gamepad mapper to make Xbox Elite paddles separate buttons.

AntiMicro - A tool for mapping keyboard and mouse events to gamepads and joysticks.

SDL2 Gamepad Tool - It's a simple GUI tool to create/modify gamepad mappings for games that use SDL2 Game Controller API. Created to be an alternative to Steam Bigpicture gamepad configurator.