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Utilities · head to head

BetterTouchTool vs CrystalDiskInfo

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
CrystalDiskInfo logo

CrystalDiskInfo

Utilities

Free Windows tool that reads S.M.A.R.T. data from drives and warns before they fail

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CrystalDiskInfo 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.; CrystalDiskInfo many USB enclosures do not pass S.M.A.R.T. commands through, so external drives often report nothing at all and users read that as a healthy result.
  • They diverge on capability: BetterTouchTool covers Gesture customisation, CrystalDiskInfo covers S.M.A.R.T. reporting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which BetterTouchTool and CrystalDiskInfo actually diverge.

Attributes where BetterTouchTool and CrystalDiskInfo differ
AttributeBetterTouchToolCrystalDiskInfo
Starting price$12/one-timeFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchaseOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsMacWindows

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 CrystalDiskInfo

  • S.M.A.R.T. reporting
  • NVMe support
  • Threshold alerts
  • Temperature monitoring
  • Standard and Shizuku editions
  • MIT licensed

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

CrystalDiskInfo

  • Checking the true condition of a second-hand drive before trusting data to itnot BetterTouchTool
  • Watching SSD endurance on write-heavy machines such as build servers and video workstationsnot BetterTouchTool
  • Getting early warning of mechanical failure while a backup can still be takennot BetterTouchTool
  • Auditing power-on hours and wear across a small fleet of machines one at a timenot 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.

CrystalDiskInfo

  • Many USB enclosures do not pass S.M.A.R.T. commands through, so external drives often report nothing at all and users read that as a healthy result.
  • It is Windows only, and there is no central console, so checking a fleet means visiting each machine or scripting an alternative.
  • A good status is not a prediction: drives fail suddenly with clean attributes, and treating the summary as an assurance leads people to skip backups.
  • The Shizuku edition ships anime artwork and voice packs, which is unsuitable on company machines and is often downloaded by mistake because it is the more visible option.
  • Vendors define raw attribute values inconsistently, so the same number means different things on different drives and the detailed view needs interpretation to be useful.

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

CrystalDiskInfo

Free
  • CrystalDiskInfoFree
    • MIT licensed
    • Commercial use permitted
    • All features in the free download

Which should you pick?

Choose BetterTouchTool if

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

Choose CrystalDiskInfo if

  • You need s.m.a.r.t. reporting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want nvme support.
CrystalDiskInfo review

Questions people ask

Is BetterTouchTool or CrystalDiskInfo better?
Neither clearly leads. BetterTouchTool starts at $12/one-time and CrystalDiskInfo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, BetterTouchTool or CrystalDiskInfo?
CrystalDiskInfo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $12/one-time for BetterTouchTool and Free for CrystalDiskInfo.
Does BetterTouchTool or CrystalDiskInfo run on more platforms?
BetterTouchTool runs on Mac. CrystalDiskInfo runs on Windows.
Can I use CrystalDiskInfo for free?
Yes. CrystalDiskInfo 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 CrystalDiskInfo is typically brought in for.
What can BetterTouchTool do that CrystalDiskInfo cannot?
BetterTouchTool covers Gesture customisation, Keyboard shortcut remapping, Window snapping, Touch Bar customisation. CrystalDiskInfo covers S.M.A.R.T. reporting, NVMe support, Threshold alerts, Temperature monitoring.

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.

CrystalDiskInfo: Can I use it in a business?

Yes. It is MIT licensed with no personal-use restriction, which distinguishes it from several other free Windows utilities.

BetterTouchTool: Can I get it without buying it directly?

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

CrystalDiskInfo: Why does my external drive show no data?

Most USB bridge chips do not pass S.M.A.R.T. commands through. Connecting the drive directly by SATA or NVMe usually reveals the attributes.

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.

CrystalDiskInfo: Does a caution status mean I should replace the drive immediately?

It means an attribute has crossed a vendor threshold, most often reallocated sectors. Back up now, then decide. It is a warning, not a countdown.

CrystalDiskInfo: What is the difference between the editions?

Function is identical. The Shizuku edition adds themed artwork and voice packs; the standard edition is the plain one you want on a work machine.

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