Software Alternatives & Startups

LinearMouse VS Polychromatic

Compare LinearMouse VS Polychromatic and see what are their differences

LinearMouse

LinearMouse is a free and open-source utility for macOS which aims to improve the experience and functionality of third-party mice.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Polychromatic

Graphical front end and tray applet for configuring Razer peripherals on GNU/Linux.

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, LinearMouse seems to be a lot more popular than Polychromatic. While we know about 53 links to LinearMouse, we've tracked only 4 mentions of Polychromatic.

social mentions
53 vs 4
Note Taking popularity
84% vs 16%
alternatives listed
140 vs 16

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

LinearMouse
Polychromatic
Website linearmouse.app github.com
Pricing
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

LinearMouse 5 features
Polychromatic 5 features
  • User-friendly Interface
    LinearMouse provides a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to customize mouse settings without a steep learning curve.
  • Customizable Scrolling
    The app allows users to adjust the scrolling speed and direction, which can be tailored for specific needs or preferences.
  • Free and Open Source
    LinearMouse is free to use and its open-source nature ensures transparency, allowing users to examine the code and contribute if desired.
  • Multi-platform Support
    It supports multiple operating systems, making it accessible to a broader range of users with different computing environments.
  • Low Resource Usage
    The app is lightweight and does not consume significant system resources, ensuring smooth and efficient performance even on older machines.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While it covers basic mouse customization needs, it may lack some advanced features sought by power users compared to paid solutions.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    Some users might experience compatibility issues with specific hardware or software configurations, which can be a drawback.
  • Limited Support Options
    As a free and open-source project, professional support options may be limited, leaving users reliant on community forums for help.
  • Learning Curve for New Users
    New users who are not familiar with customizing mouse settings might need some time to understand and utilize all available features effectively.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Polychromatic offers a user-friendly graphical interface to manage Razer devices, making it accessible for users who prefer not to use command-line tools.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, Polychromatic allows users to contribute to its development, customize it according to their needs, and ensure transparency.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Polychromatic runs on Linux, which provides a solution for Linux users who own Razer devices and want to control their features without relying on proprietary software.
  • Community Support
    Polychromatic benefits from active community support, where users can get help, share ideas, and stay updated on the latest developments.
  • Integration with OpenRazer
    It integrates with OpenRazer, providing comprehensive support for controlling a wide range of Razer hardware features.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited to Razer Devices
    Polychromatic is specifically designed for Razer hardware, limiting its usefulness to owners of these products.
  • Linux-Only
    The software is only available for Linux, which can be a drawback for users on other operating systems who want similar functionality.
  • Dependency on OpenRazer
    As it relies on OpenRazer, any issues or limitations within OpenRazer can directly affect the performance and capabilities of Polychromatic.
  • Potential for Software Conflicts
    Running Polychromatic alongside official Razer software (if available for dual-boot systems) might lead to conflicts or unexpected behavior.
  • Updates and Maintenance
    Being community-driven, the frequency and speed of updates and maintenance might vary, sometimes lagging behind official alternatives.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

LinearMouse 2 videos + Add
Polychromatic 3 videos + Add

How to disable mouse acceleration on a Mac for FREE! LinearMouse tutorial

More videos

  • - LinearMouse (FREE) - Make Mouse Faster - MouseZoom Replacement on macOS Monterey

Polychromatic Review | Show and Tell | Polychromatic Gameplay

More videos

  • - Polychromatic Review
  • - Polychromatic Xbox One Review

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
LinearMouse
Polychromatic
84% 84%
16% 16%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
83% 83%
17% 17%

User comments

Share your experience with using LinearMouse and Polychromatic. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

LinearMouse 53 mentions
Polychromatic 4 mentions
  • SteerMouse
    Problem solved: https://linearmouse.app/ Approximately the same features as SteerMouse but free. I've voluntarily donated to the dev, though. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Dynamouse: Mouse driver for big Mac studios
    I haven't been using it for this purpose, but Linear Mouse should be able to do the trick: https://linearmouse.app/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • MacOS tools to make your life easier
    To add to the mouse/input apps mentioned, I'll add https://github.com/thealpa/SaneSideButtons and https://linearmouse.app/, the "avoid installing steelseriesengine or logi options" stack. Source: almost 3 years ago

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  • Hardware Brand
    I've tried multiple different brands of keyboards and mice and all of them worked well with Linux, often even if Linux wasn't advertised on the box (I wouldn't bet on that though). More well known brands have better support e.g. Razer... Source: about 4 years ago
  • Razer blackwidow keyboard backlights
    I re-installed open-razer on Ubuntu and also installed Polychromatic. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Work towards a standard appindicator protocol has started (with support from GNOME and KDE)
    Some apps are still using appindicator like Polychromatic (https://github.com/polychromatic/polychromatic) and it's a buggy mess. I hope this time they make something good and not something totally crap that is going to be a problem for... Source: over 4 years ago

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Alternatives to LinearMouse and Polychromatic

When comparing LinearMouse and Polychromatic, you can also consider the following products.