Compare · updated July 2026
Orbital vs BetterTouchTool
BetterTouchTool can, with enough configuration, build something like Orbital: it maps middle clicks, gestures, and keys to window snapping, clipboard, and floating menus. The difference is the word “build.” BTT is a toolkit; Orbital is the finished instrument, tuned out of the box.
Pick BetterTouchTool if
- You enjoy building your own automation and menus
- You need trackpad gestures, Touch Bar, MIDI, or exotic triggers
- Maximum power per dollar matters more than setup time
Pick Orbital if
- You want the middle-click dial working in the first five minutes
- You'd rather have opinionated, polished sections than a blank canvas
- Workspaces, clipboard, windows, and actions should just be there
Side by side
| Orbital | BetterTouchTool | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €9.99 one-time · 2 Macs | ≈$12 (2 yrs of updates) / ≈$24 lifetime (as of July 2026) |
| Free trial | 7 days, every feature, no card | 45 days |
| Trigger | Middle click (default) or ⌥ Space | Anything — gestures, keys, mouse buttons (incl. middle click) |
| Opens at the cursor | Yes — radial dial at the cursor | Possible — floating menus you build yourself |
| Middle-click support | Yes — default, any mouse | Yes — as a trigger you configure |
| Scope | Apps · Windows · Clipboard · Workspaces · Actions | Window snapping · Clipboard · Custom menus · Hundreds of actions (DIY) |
| Platform | macOS 15+ (Apple silicon & Intel) | macOS (broad support) |
BetterTouchTool details from folivora.ai and public listings, last checked July 2026. Spotted something outdated? Tell us and we'll fix it.
Where BetterTouchTool shines
BTT is legendary power-per-price: nearly any input can trigger nearly any action, it includes window snapping and a clipboard manager, and its floating menus can be shaped into custom launchers. For tinkerers it's one of the best purchases on the Mac.
Where Orbital differs
Orbital is what you'd build in BTT after a weekend of configuration — already designed. A middle click opens a dial with apps, open windows, encrypted clipboard history, workspaces, and system actions; presets, themes, and motion are tuned; the whole thing needs one permission and zero scripting.
Common questions
- Can BetterTouchTool replicate Orbital?
- Partially — BTT can trigger floating menus from a middle click and cover window snapping and clipboard, but you assemble and maintain it yourself. Orbital ships the radial dial with windows, clipboard, workspaces, and actions pre-built.
- Is BetterTouchTool a subscription?
- No — a standard license (≈$12 as of July 2026) includes two years of updates and the last version keeps working; a lifetime option exists (≈$24). Orbital is €9.99 one-time with all 1.x updates included.
- Which needs more setup?
- BTT is a construction kit — nothing exists until you configure it. Orbital works out of the box: install, grant Accessibility, middle click.
Try the middle-click dial.
Every feature free for 7 days — no card, no account.
Download Orbital 0.2.6