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Utilities · head to head

BetterTouchTool vs Google Lens

BetterTouchTool logo

BetterTouchTool

Utilities

Mac gesture, shortcut and automation customisation tool sold as a one-time licence with a lifetime tier

From
$12/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Google Lens logo

Google Lens

Utilities

Visual search that identifies objects, text, plants, products and translates text from the camera

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Google Lens has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: BetterTouchTool the preferences interface has hundreds of settings across many tabs, so getting one custom gesture working can take longer than with a dedicated single-purpose app.; Google Lens product identification results are commercially influenced, since Lens surfaces shopping listings that connect to Google's ads and shopping business rather than purely neutral matches.
  • They diverge on capability: BetterTouchTool covers Gesture customisation, Google Lens covers Object and plant identification.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which BetterTouchTool and Google Lens actually diverge.

Attributes where BetterTouchTool and Google Lens differ
AttributeBetterTouchToolGoogle Lens
Starting price$12/one-timeFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchaseFree, bundled into other Google apps
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsMaciOS, Android, Web

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Utilities).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in BetterTouchTool

  • Gesture customisation
  • Keyboard shortcut remapping
  • Window snapping
  • Touch Bar customisation
  • Scripted actions
  • Floating menus and widgets

Only in Google Lens

  • Object and plant identification
  • Text translation
  • Text copy and search
  • Shopping match
  • Homework help
  • Search inside Google Photos

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

BetterTouchTool

  • A power user who wants every trackpad gesture and shortcut on the machine remapped to a specific actionnot Google Lens
  • Someone with accessibility needs who benefits from remapping input devices away from default behaviournot Google Lens
  • A user who wants window snapping bundled with much broader system customisation rather than a single-purpose appnot Google Lens
  • Someone already on a Setapp subscription who wants BetterTouchTool included rather than purchased separatelynot Google Lens

Google Lens

  • Translating a restaurant menu or street sign in real time while travellingnot BetterTouchTool
  • Identifying a plant or insect from a photo taken outdoorsnot BetterTouchTool
  • Finding where to buy an item of clothing or furniture seen in a photonot BetterTouchTool
  • Copying text out of a photographed document or whiteboard instead of retyping itnot BetterTouchTool

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

BetterTouchTool

  • The preferences interface has hundreds of settings across many tabs, so getting one custom gesture working can take longer than with a dedicated single-purpose app.
  • The Standard Licence stops receiving updates after two years unless renewed or upgraded to Lifetime, which is easy to miss and can leave a user on an outdated build.
  • It is Mac only, offering nothing for a Windows machine in a mixed household.
  • Because it can intercept almost any input, misconfiguration can make gestures or shortcuts behave unpredictably across different apps, which takes time to debug.
  • It overlaps in function with several single-purpose tools such as Rectangle for windows or Karabiner-Elements for key remapping, so a new user has to decide whether they want one broad tool or several focused ones.

Google Lens

  • Product identification results are commercially influenced, since Lens surfaces shopping listings that connect to Google's ads and shopping business rather than purely neutral matches.
  • Accuracy on plant, animal and object identification varies significantly and is not reliable enough for anything safety-critical such as identifying a poisonous plant or mushroom.
  • It requires camera or photo library access, and photographed content passes through Google's recognition systems, which is a consideration for sensitive documents.
  • It is bundled into other Google products rather than a discrete standalone app on iOS, so discoverability and access differ by platform.
  • Translation quality is inconsistent for handwriting, stylised fonts and less common languages compared with clearly printed text in major languages.

Pricing, plan by plan

BetterTouchTool

$12/one-time
  • Standard Licence$12/one-time
    • Free updates for two years
    • App keeps working on the last version after that
    • Single user licence
  • Lifetime Licence$24/one-time
    • Free updates for as long as the app exists
    • Single user licence
    • Also available bundled through Setapp

Google Lens

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited scans
    • No subscription tier exists

Which should you pick?

Choose BetterTouchTool if

  • You need gesture customisation.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want keyboard shortcut remapping.
BetterTouchTool review

Choose Google Lens if

  • You need object and plant identification.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want text translation.
Google Lens review

Questions people ask

Is BetterTouchTool or Google Lens better?
Neither clearly leads. BetterTouchTool starts at $12/one-time and Google Lens at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, BetterTouchTool or Google Lens?
Google Lens has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $12/one-time for BetterTouchTool and Free for Google Lens.
Does BetterTouchTool or Google Lens run on more platforms?
BetterTouchTool runs on Mac. Google Lens runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Google Lens for free?
Yes. Google Lens has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. BetterTouchTool starts at $12/one-time.
What is BetterTouchTool best used for?
BetterTouchTool is most often used for a power user who wants every trackpad gesture and shortcut on the machine remapped to a specific action, someone with accessibility needs who benefits from remapping input devices away from default behaviour, a user who wants window snapping bundled with much broader system customisation rather than a single-purpose app, someone already on a setapp subscription who wants bettertouchtool included rather than purchased separately. Of those, a power user who wants every trackpad gesture and shortcut on the machine remapped to a specific action and someone with accessibility needs who benefits from remapping input devices away from default behaviour are not what Google Lens is typically brought in for.
What can BetterTouchTool do that Google Lens cannot?
BetterTouchTool covers Gesture customisation, Keyboard shortcut remapping, Window snapping, Touch Bar customisation. Google Lens covers Object and plant identification, Text translation, Text copy and search, Shopping match.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

BetterTouchTool: Is BetterTouchTool a subscription?

No. It is a one-time purchase, either a Standard Licence with two years of updates or a Lifetime Licence with updates indefinitely.

Google Lens: Is Google Lens a separate app I need to download?

On Android it is usually built into the camera and Google app; on iOS it lives inside the Google app or Google Photos rather than as a standalone download.

BetterTouchTool: Can I get it without buying it directly?

Yes, it is included in the Setapp subscription bundle alongside other Mac utilities.

Google Lens: Does Google Lens cost anything?

No, it is free with no subscription tier.

BetterTouchTool: Does it replace Rectangle or Karabiner-Elements?

It can cover much of what both do, since it includes window snapping and key remapping, but each of those apps is more focused on its single job.

Google Lens: Are shopping results in Lens neutral?

No, product identification links to Google Shopping listings, which include paid placements alongside organic matches.

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