Upright vs SteerMouse
Choose SteerMouse if you use mice from several brands and want one mature remapper: it has been around since 2005, works with USB and Bluetooth mice, offers 24 functions per button with chording, and costs US$19.99 after a 30-day trial. Choose Upright if your mouse is a Logitech and you want its Logitech-only buttons remapped for free, with open-source code and nothing written to the mouse.
At a glance
| Feature | Upright | SteerMouse |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | US$19.99 new license after a 30-day trial (US$12.99 upgrade from version 4). Version 5 licenses are lifetime; major upgrades are charged. |
| Source code | Open source, MIT license | No source code offered on its site |
| macOS | 13 Ventura or later, Apple silicon and Intel | Version 5.8: macOS 12 Monterey to 27. Older versions are offered for older macOS. |
| Mice | Logitech HID++ 2.0 mice only | USB and Bluetooth mice of any brand; not the Apple Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad |
| Logitech-only buttons (gesture, DPI, SmartShift) | Yes, over HID++ | Its site says it may not support some special buttons; its update history adds support for specific Logitech models such as the MX Master 4 and MX Vertical |
| Button functions | System actions, shortcuts, Open App, Open URL, Run Shortcut, DPI, Easy-Switch; gestures with five actions per button | 24 functions per button, chords with modifier keys or other buttons, cursor snapping, Auto Scroll |
| Per-app settings | Yes | Yes |
| Pointer speed and battery | DPI presets; battery in the menu bar with low-battery alerts | Sensitivity on top of the system tracking speed; scroll acceleration and sensitivity |
Checked 19 October 2026 on the pages listed under Sources. Upright's facts come from its own README and this site.
Upright
Upright is a small native menu-bar app that talks to Logitech mice directly over HID++ 2.0, the protocol Logitech's own software uses. That lets it take over buttons generic remappers often can't see, such as the top (DPI), gesture and SmartShift buttons. It adds gestures (a click plus hold-and-move in four directions, five actions per button), per-app profiles, several mice at once, pointer speed (DPI) presets, Easy-Switch from a button, battery alerts at 15% and 5%, and export and import of every mapping. It has no account, no analytics and no telemetry, and nothing is written to the mouse's memory: quit it and the buttons go back to factory behavior.
Honest limits: it works only with Logitech HID++ mice, only the MX Vertical has been verified on real hardware so far (the other catalog models are built from published device data), it needs macOS 13 or later, and it isn't notarized yet, so macOS asks you to confirm the first launch.
SteerMouse
SteerMouse from Plentycom Systems has been around since 2005. It customizes buttons, wheels and cursor speed on USB and Bluetooth mice of any brand. Each button can take 24 functions, including chords with modifier keys or with other buttons: keyboard shortcuts, clicks and click lock, scrolling, zoom, an application switcher, Mission Control, media controls and opening files and URLs. It adds cursor snapping to default buttons, Auto Scroll (which can turn a trackball's ball into a scroll ball), per-app settings and a ranking of other users' recommended settings.
A new license is US$19.99 after a 30-day trial, or US$12.99 to upgrade from version 4. Version 5 licenses are lifetime: minor upgrades are free, major ones are charged. Version 5.8 runs on macOS 12 Monterey to 27, and older versions remain available for older systems. Its site notes that it may not support some special buttons, and it doesn't support the Apple Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad.
Which should you pick?
- You use mice from more than one brand, or a trackball: SteerMouse. Upright only works with Logitech mice.
- You want chords, cursor snapping or Auto Scroll: SteerMouse has them; Upright doesn't.
- You're on macOS 12 or older: SteerMouse, which offers versions for older systems. Upright needs macOS 13.
- You have a Logitech MX mouse and want its gesture, DPI or SmartShift button back, free: Upright.
- You want open-source code, or battery alerts and Easy-Switch on a button: Upright.
FAQ
How much does SteerMouse cost?
A new license is US$19.99 after a 30-day free trial, and an upgrade from SteerMouse 4 is US$12.99. Version 5 licenses are lifetime; minor upgrades are free and major upgrades are charged.
Does SteerMouse work with Logitech mice?
Yes. It supports USB and Bluetooth mice of any brand, and its update history names Logitech models such as the MX Master 4 and MX Vertical. Its site also says it may not support some special buttons.
Which macOS versions do they support?
SteerMouse 5.8 runs on macOS 12 Monterey to 27, with older versions offered for older systems. Upright needs macOS 13 Ventura or later, on Apple silicon or Intel.
Does Upright work with non-Logitech mice?
No. It only speaks Logitech's HID++ protocol. For other brands, SteerMouse is a strong choice.
More comparisons
- Upright vs Mac Mouse Fix: free Logitech remapper or trackpad-style scrolling for any mouse
- Upright vs BetterMouse: two ways to replace Logi Options+ on Logitech hardware
- All five Logi Options+ alternatives for Mac, side by side
- MX Vertical on Mac without Logi Options+: the one mouse Upright is verified on
- Upright home: features, supported mice, download and FAQ
Sources, checked 19 October 2026: plentycom.jp/en/steermouse (features, mouse support, price, trial, license terms), SteerMouse download page (system requirements, version 5.8 and update history), SteerMouse purchase page, Upright README.