Gesturefy vs Curflow: Browser Extension vs System-Level Gestures
Gesturefy works great in Firefox. Curflow works everywhere on your Mac. Here's when to choose each one.
If you found this article, you’re probably a Gesturefy user wondering: “Is there something that works outside Firefox?”
The short answer: Yes, and it’s called Curflow.
The nuanced answer: They’re not competitors — they solve different problems. Gesturefy is excellent at what it does (browser navigation). Curflow does something different (system-wide action execution).
The core difference in 30 seconds
| Gesturefy | Curflow | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Firefox only | All Mac apps |
| What it does | Browser navigation | App actions (any app) |
| Permissions | Access all websites | Accessibility (local) |
| Works offline | Yes (in browser) | Yes (system-wide) |
| Mac native | No (extension) | Yes (SwiftUI) |
| Price | Free | 14-day trial / $12-24 |
| Trial | N/A | 14-day trial available |
If you only want to navigate Firefox faster, Gesturefy is perfect. If you want gestures that work in Finder, Mail, Figma, VS Code, and everything else — you need Curflow.
What Gesturefy does well
Gesturefy is one of the best mouse gesture extensions available. It’s:
- Free and open source
- Highly customizable — 80+ commands, gesture trace styling, themes
- Lightweight — minimal performance impact
- Actively maintained — regular updates, multilingual support
For Firefox power users, Gesturefy is genuinely useful. Tab management, navigation, scrolling — all faster with gestures than keyboard shortcuts.
The 3 walls Gesturefy hits
1. The browser wall
Gesturefy only works in Firefox. When you switch to:
- Finder to organize files
- Mail to check emails
- Figma to design
- Slack to message colleagues
Your gestures stop working. The muscle memory you built in Firefox doesn’t transfer.
2. The permission wall
Gesturefy requires “Access your data for all websites.” This is necessary for the extension to track mouse movements on every page — but it’s a significant permission request for a productivity tool.
Curflow uses macOS Accessibility permissions, which are local to your machine. No website data access required.
3. The context wall
Gesturefy gestures do the same thing everywhere in the browser. “Swipe left” always means “go back.”
Curflow’s Context Engine adapts gestures per app:
- Chrome: ← back, → forward
- VS Code: ← previous file, → next file
- Finder: ← parent folder, → enter folder
Same gesture. Different actions. No configuration needed.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | Gesturefy | Curflow |
|---|---|---|
| Mouse gestures | ✅ | ✅ |
| Rocker gestures | ✅ | ❌ |
| Wheel gestures | ✅ (macOS bug) | ❌ |
| Works in Firefox | ✅ | ✅ |
| Works in Chrome | ❌ | ✅ |
| Works in native apps | ❌ | ✅ |
| Per-app context | ❌ | ✅ Native |
| Setup time | 10-15 min | < 2 min |
| Price | Free | 14-day trial / $12-24 |
When to use Gesturefy
Stick with Gesturefy if:
- ✅ You primarily work in Firefox
- ✅ You want free browser gestures
- ✅ You need specific browser-only actions (tab management, scroll-to-top)
- ✅ You’re on Linux or Windows (Curflow is Mac-only)
Gesturefy is genuinely excellent for its use case. If Firefox is 80%+ of your workflow, there’s no reason to switch.
When to use Curflow
Switch to Curflow if:
- ✅ You want gestures across ALL apps, not just browser
- ✅ You use multiple apps throughout the day (Finder, Mail, Figma, etc.)
- ✅ You want per-app gestures without manual configuration
- ✅ You prefer native Mac software over browser extensions
Curflow was built for Mac professionals who spend their day across multiple apps — not just in a browser.
The honest truth: use both
This isn’t a zero-sum choice. Many Curflow users keep Gesturefy installed for browser-specific actions:
- Gesturefy for tab management, scroll gestures, browser navigation
- Curflow for app actions, context-aware gestures, system-wide control
They don’t conflict. They complement each other.
Pricing comparison
| Gesturefy | Curflow | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | ✅ Full features | ❌ Trial only |
| Paid tier | N/A (donations) | $12/year or $19-24 lifetime |
| Trial | N/A | 14 days |
Gesturefy is free (with donation option). Curflow offers a 14-day trial with paid licenses for continued use.
Our recommendation
If you live in Firefox: Keep Gesturefy. It’s free, it works, and it’s maintained.
If you want gestures that work everywhere: Try Curflow. The 14-day trial lets you experience system-wide gestures without commitment.
If you’re a power user: Use both. Gesturefy for browser-specific actions. Curflow for everything else.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Gesturefy and Curflow at the same time?
Yes. They don’t conflict. Gesturefy only activates in Firefox. Curflow works system-wide. Use both without issues.
Does Curflow work in Firefox?
Yes. Curflow works in Firefox and every other Mac app. The same gestures that work in Finder also work in Firefox.
Why would I pay for Curflow when Gesturefy is free?
Gesturefy is free because it’s limited to Firefox. Curflow charges for system-wide coverage. If you only use Firefox, Gesturefy is the better choice. If you use multiple apps, Curflow’s value is in universal access.
Does Curflow have rocker gestures like Gesturefy?
Not currently. Curflow focuses on directional cursor gestures (up, down, left, right, combinations). Rocker gestures may be added in future updates.
Is Gesturefy available for Chrome?
No. Gesturefy is Firefox-only. For Chrome gestures, you’d need CrxMouse or similar extensions — or Curflow, which works in Chrome and everywhere else.