CrossMacro alternatives: 2 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 29, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave CrossMacro: macOS builds are unsigned and not notarized, and some features vary by platform and desktop session. We ranked 2 alternatives by how directly each one replaces CrossMacro, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Keyboard Maestro currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	KeKeyboard Maestro	Paid	No	macOS	4 of 4	64.8
2	Hammerspoon	Open source	Yes	macOS	4 of 4	61.8

Ke
1. Keyboard MaestroTop pick
Best for: Mac users who want to automate repetitive work across many apps without coding
PaidmacOS
64.8
score / 100
Why switch from CrossMacro
Polished Mac macro app with a huge library of actions and triggers.
Pros
Hundreds of actions and many trigger types
No subscription; one-time purchase
Active community forum with shared macros
Cons
Interface feels dated and dense
Major upgrades cost extra
Accessibility permission issues can need manual fixing after macOS updates
Visit Keyboard Maestro Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Keyboard Maestro a good CrossMacro alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Price
US$36 one-time
Checked Oct 29, 2026keyboardmaestro.com(opens source in a new tab)
Upgrade price
US$25
Checked Oct 29, 2026keyboardmaestro.com(opens source in a new tab)
Actions
Hundreds built in
Checked Oct 29, 2026keyboardmaestro.com(opens source in a new tab)
Current version
11
Checked Oct 29, 2026keyboardmaestro.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. Hammerspoon
Best for: Developers who want to script their own Mac utilities instead of buying several
Open sourcemacOS
61.8
score / 100
Why switch from CrossMacro
Free Mac automation driven by Lua scripts, for people happy to code their macros.
Pros
Can replace many small utilities with code
Broad APIs across windows, input, network and devices
Spoons provide ready-made modules
Free and open source
Cons
Requires writing Lua
No graphical editor for automations
Debugging configs can be fiddly
Visit Hammerspoon Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Hammerspoon a good CrossMacro alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
License
MIT
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Scripting language
Lua
Checked Oct 29, 2026hammerspoon.org(opens source in a new tab)
Default behaviour
Does nothing until configured
Checked Oct 29, 2026hammerspoon.org(opens source in a new tab)
Plugins
Spoons
Checked Oct 29, 2026hammerspoon.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best CrossMacro alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best CrossMacro alternative for most people

Keyboard Maestro

Polished Mac macro app with a huge library of actions and triggers.

Best CrossMacro alternative for a free option

Hammerspoon

Free Mac automation driven by Lua scripts, for people happy to code their macros.

Best CrossMacro alternative for open source

Hammerspoon

Free Mac automation driven by Lua scripts, for people happy to code their macros.

Best CrossMacro alternative for Mac

Keyboard Maestro

Polished Mac macro app with a huge library of actions and triggers.

CrossMacro alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to CrossMacro?

Keyboard Maestro ranks first right now. Polished Mac macro app with a huge library of actions and triggers.

Is there a free alternative to CrossMacro?

Yes. Hammerspoon (open source) has a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to CrossMacro?

Yes: Hammerspoon.

Why do people switch from CrossMacro?

The complaints we hear most: macOS builds are unsigned and not notarized; some features vary by platform and desktop session; needs an active desktop session to run macros.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces CrossMacro, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.