Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

JoyToKey VS SharpKeys

Compare JoyToKey VS SharpKeys and see what are their differences

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JoyToKey logo JoyToKey

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

SharpKeys logo SharpKeys

SharpKeys is a utility that manages a Registry key that allows Windows to remap one key to any...
  • JoyToKey Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-11-18

JoyToKey (or Joy2Key) enables PC game controllers to emulate the keyboard and mouse input, so that windows applications and web games can be controlled with your favorite joysticks! Whenever buttons and sticks are pressed on the controllers, JoyToKey converts them into keyboard strokes and/or mouse movements so that the target application will work as if a real keyboard and a mouse were used.

  • SharpKeys Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-02

JoyToKey features and specs

  • Customizability
    JoyToKey allows for a high degree of customization, enabling users to map keyboard and mouse inputs to their game controller based on their personal preferences.
  • Ease of Use
    The software is user-friendly and easy to set up, making it accessible even for beginners who want to utilize their controllers efficiently.
  • Compatibility
    It supports a wide range of controllers and can run on different versions of Windows, ensuring broad usability.
  • Offline Functionality
    JoyToKey can be used without the need for an internet connection, providing flexibility in various situations.
  • Profile Switching
    The program allows users to create multiple profiles for different games or applications and switch between them effortlessly.

Possible disadvantages of JoyToKey

  • Paid Software
    Although there is a free trial, the full version of JoyToKey requires a purchase, which may be a downside for some users.
  • Outdated Interface
    The user interface appears somewhat outdated compared to more modern software, which can be less appealing to new users.
  • Steeper Learning Curve
    While it's generally easy to use, some advanced features may require additional time and effort to master.
  • Lack of Mac Support
    JoyToKey is only available for Windows, which limits its availability to users on other operating systems like macOS.
  • Potential for Compatibility Issues
    Some users may experience issues with certain games or applications not working perfectly with the software, necessitating further troubleshooting.

SharpKeys features and specs

  • Open Source
    SharpKeys is available on GitHub, which means it is open source. This allows users to inspect the code, contribute to development, or customize it for their needs.
  • Free of Cost
    SharpKeys is entirely free to use, making it accessible to anyone without the need for a commercial license.
  • Simple User Interface
    The interface is straightforward and easy to use, which makes the process of remapping keys simple even for non-technical users.
  • Registry-Based Remapping
    SharpKeys makes changes directly to the Windows registry, ensuring that the remapped keys work across all applications without the need for additional software running in the background.
  • Minimal Resource Usage
    Because SharpKeys modifies the registry rather than running a constant background process, it uses minimal system resources.
  • Portability
    Once the registry changes are made, SharpKeys does not need to remain installed on the system, making it a lightweight, one-time-use tool.

Possible disadvantages of SharpKeys

  • Windows Only
    SharpKeys is designed to work exclusively on Windows operating systems, which limits its usability for users on macOS, Linux, or other platforms.
  • Limited to Registry
    The tool operates by modifying the Windows registry, so it cannot handle complex remapping scenarios that need real-time processing, such as conditional key mappings.
  • No Advanced Features
    SharpKeys lacks advanced features found in more sophisticated key remapping software, such as macro recording, multi-key remapping, or application-specific profiles.
  • Requires Admin Rights
    Since changes are made to the Windows registry, administrative privileges are required, which might be restrictive in some organizational environments.
  • Potential for Errors
    Incorrect registry changes could potentially lead to system instability or errors, especially for users who are not familiar with the Windows registry.
  • Reboot Required
    For registry changes to take effect, a system reboot is necessary, which can be inconvenient for users needing immediate results.

Analysis of JoyToKey

Overall verdict

  • Yes, JoyToKey is generally considered good. It is reliable and offers robust features for mapping inputs, making it helpful for gamers and users who prefer using controllers for non-game applications. It's particularly appreciated for its user-friendly interface and lightweight installation.

Why this product is good

  • JoyToKey is a popular software that allows users to map keyboard and mouse inputs to a game controller. It is widely used due to its flexibility, ease of use, and support for a wide range of controllers. Many users appreciate its ability to customize and save different configuration profiles for various applications or games, making it a versatile tool for enhancing their gaming or program interaction experience.

Recommended for

  • Gamers who want to use controllers for PC games that do not have built-in controller support.
  • Individuals who prefer using a game controller for regular desktop applications.
  • Users looking for a customizable and flexible input mapping solution across various applications.

Analysis of SharpKeys

Overall verdict

  • SharpKeys is generally considered a good tool for users who need an easy and effective way to remap keys on Windows. It has a straightforward interface and does not require advanced technical skills to use, making it accessible to a wide range of users. It is also open-source and has a supportive community on GitHub, which contributes to its reliability and improvement over time.

Why this product is good

  • SharpKeys is a utility that allows users to remap keys on their Windows keyboards. It modifies the Windows Registry to achieve this, which is particularly useful for users who want to change the function of a specific key, disable a key, or swap keys to better match their personal typing preferences or overcome keyboard limitations.

Recommended for

    SharpKeys is recommended for Windows users who need to customize their keyboard layout, such as programmers, writers, or anyone who frequently uses specific key combinations. It is also suitable for users who want to disable keys that are accidentally pressed often, such as Caps Lock or Insert, as well as those who want to swap keys for ergonomic reasons or due to a damaged key on their keyboard.

JoyToKey videos

How to use any Controller on a PC - JoyToKey Guide/Tutorial

More videos:

  • Review - JoyToKey Review
  • Tutorial - [REVIEW]์ •๋ง ๊ฐ„๋‹จํ•˜๊ฒŒ ์กฐ์ด์Šคํ‹ฑ์œผ๋กœ ๋ฆฌ๋“ฌ๊ฒŒ์ž„ ํ•˜๋Š” ๋ฐฉ๋ฒ•! JoyToKey๋ฅผ ์•Œ๋ ค๋“œ๋ฆฝ๋‹ˆ๋‹ค!(How to Play Rhythm Game with Joystick)

SharpKeys videos

[Windows] Changing Modifier Keys Using SharpKeys | Reassigning Modifier Keys & SharpKeys Tutorial

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to Map Keys with SharpKeys

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to JoyToKey and SharpKeys)
Gaming
100 100%
0% 0
Automation
0 0%
100% 100
Controller Mapping
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare JoyToKey and SharpKeys

JoyToKey Reviews

Top 5 REWASD Alternatives in 2021
Overall, JoyToKey is a great tool, and youโ€™re going to like it because of how simple and essential it is. And it serves its purpose of providing free key mapping well. So, getting it is undoubtedly going to be a good decision for you. On the other hand, if youโ€™re looking for advanced editing, perhaps you should choose another one of the tools in this list.
Fantastic Controller Mappers and Where to Find Them
JoyToKey is a fairly good and functional controller mapper with a bit weird interface, and lots of hidden treasures. The hierarchy is the following: you create the profile, then add your joysticks with different configs. You also can change stuff in Button mapping (which Iโ€™ve called a hidden treasure because it took me some time to find that useful section). This gamepad...
Source: www.rewasd.com

SharpKeys Reviews

We have no reviews of SharpKeys yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SharpKeys seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 53 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.

JoyToKey mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of JoyToKey yet. Tracking of JoyToKey recommendations started around Mar 2021.

SharpKeys mentions (53)

  • I Hate (Most) Keyboard 'Fn' Keys
    You can remap the keys so that "Special: Power" key button does nothing.. Or even to the original function (on my keyboard it would mean Volume Down would be F12 instead). One Windows software to do that: https://github.com/randyrants/sharpkeys / https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/xpffcg7m673d4f?hl=en-US On Linux, heck it's Linux, for sure it's doable. - Source: Hacker News / 30 days ago
  • Shortcut for rotating canvas by 15ยฐ left or right without a mouse
    I don't like using my mouse while drawing and I couldn't find how to do this anywhere, but luckily when I was about to give up I achieved it! So, for this you'll need a program called SharpKeys. You can download it here: https://github.com/randyrants/sharpkeys/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Caps Lock Behaviour Disabled in Gnome
    Sharpkeys can swap keys, the readme says as much: > Things that SharpKeys will do: > ... > Allow you to swap two keys with each other - e.g. You can swap Left Windows with Left Control and vice versa I do have a vague recollection of Sharpkeys previously saying that it couldnโ€™t, but that I tried and it worked. Long time since I last used Windows though. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Total Commander
    > Total commander isnโ€™t FOSS. I'm aware of that. There are lots of FOSS equivalents, though. Including, I believe, on Windows. Wikipedia lists 23 of which I think -- haven't checked -- the majority are FOSS. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_manager#Orthodox_file_managers > Ironically windows 11 canโ€™t do vertical taskbars. True. Easily fixed with Explorer Patcher, though. Which, ironically, is FOSS. > And... - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Learn AutoHotKey by stealing my scripts
    Remapping Capslock to Control: Windows: https://github.com/randyrants/sharpkeys Ubuntu Linux (don't know about other Linuxes): /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc
        key  { [ Caps_Lock  ] };
    . - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing JoyToKey and SharpKeys, you can also consider the following products

Pinnacle Game Profiler - Pinnacle Game Profiler enables the use of virtually any game controller (gamepad, joystick, etc.) with any PC game. It's preconfigured for most game titles and controllers. Just download and play.

Karabiner - Karabiner, previously called KeyRemap4MacBook, is a very powerful keyboard remapper for Mac OS X.

Xpadder - Xpadder simulates the keyboard and mouse using your gamepad What does Xpadder let you do?

Key Manager - ATNSOFT Key Manager, Key Remapper, Text Paster

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.

Microsoft keyboard layout creator - Edit the windows keyboard layout.