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Utilities · head to head

BetterTouchTool vs Johnson Controls Metasys

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
Johnson Controls Metasys logo

Johnson Controls Metasys

Energy

Building management and control system platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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.; Johnson Controls Metasys a Metasys server supports 1,300 devices and 65,000 objects, so larger estates require additional servers
  • They diverge on capability: BetterTouchTool covers Gesture customisation, Johnson Controls Metasys covers HVAC control.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which BetterTouchTool and Johnson Controls Metasys actually diverge.

Attributes where BetterTouchTool and Johnson Controls Metasys differ
AttributeBetterTouchToolJohnson Controls Metasys
Starting price$12/one-timeOn request
Pricing modelOne-time purchasequote
PlatformsMacWeb, Mobile
CategoryUtilitiesEnergy
FoundedUnknown1885

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Johnson Controls Metasys

  • HVAC control
  • Building automation
  • Energy management
  • Security integration
  • Analytics dashboard
  • SOC2
  • SSL encryption
  • On-premise deployment

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 Johnson Controls Metasys
  • Someone with accessibility needs who benefits from remapping input devices away from default behaviournot Johnson Controls Metasys
  • A user who wants window snapping bundled with much broader system customisation rather than a single-purpose appnot Johnson Controls Metasys
  • Someone already on a Setapp subscription who wants BetterTouchTool included rather than purchased separatelynot Johnson Controls Metasys

Johnson Controls Metasys

  • Building automation for offices, data centres, hospitals and universitiesnot BetterTouchTool
  • Managing multi site campuses from one building management systemnot BetterTouchTool
  • Meeting compliance and reporting requirements for regulated facilitiesnot 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.

Johnson Controls Metasys

  • A Metasys server supports 1,300 devices and 65,000 objects, so larger estates require additional servers
  • No hardware requirement, licensing model, subscription term or price is published on the product page; the routes offered are a demo booking and a contact form

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

Johnson Controls Metasys

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Johnson Controls Metasys review.

Which should you pick?

Choose BetterTouchTool if

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

Choose Johnson Controls Metasys if

  • You need hvac control.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want building automation.
Johnson Controls Metasys review

Questions people ask

Is BetterTouchTool or Johnson Controls Metasys better?
Neither clearly leads. BetterTouchTool starts at $12/one-time and Johnson Controls Metasys at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, BetterTouchTool or Johnson Controls Metasys?
BetterTouchTool starts at $12/one-time and Johnson Controls Metasys at On request.
Does BetterTouchTool or Johnson Controls Metasys run on more platforms?
BetterTouchTool runs on Mac. Johnson Controls Metasys runs on Web, Mobile.
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 Johnson Controls Metasys is typically brought in for.
What can BetterTouchTool do that Johnson Controls Metasys cannot?
BetterTouchTool covers Gesture customisation, Keyboard shortcut remapping, Window snapping, Touch Bar customisation. Johnson Controls Metasys covers HVAC control, Building automation, Energy management, Security integration.

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.

Johnson Controls Metasys: How much does Johnson Controls Metasys cost?

Johnson Controls Metasys pricing is not published online. Contact Johnson Controls directly for enterprise building automation system pricing and licensing.

Source
BetterTouchTool: Can I get it without buying it directly?

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

Johnson Controls Metasys: What licensing models does Metasys offer?

Specific Metasys licensing models and pricing are available through Johnson Controls sales team. Contact Johnson Controls for custom quotes based on building management requirements.

Source
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.

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