AppBreakup

Hammerspoon alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Hammerspoon: requires writing Lua, and no graphical editor for automations. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Hammerspoon, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Keyboard Maestro currently ranks first.

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Show all 5 alternatives

The best Hammerspoon alternative for…

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

Ke

Best Hammerspoon alternative for most people

Keyboard Maestro

Visual macro editor for similar automation without writing code.

Karabiner-Elements logo

Best Hammerspoon alternative for a free option

Karabiner-Elements

Dedicated, free keyboard remapping for low-level key changes.

Raycast logo

Best Hammerspoon alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Raycast

Script commands and extensions in a friendlier launcher interface.

SwiftBar logo

Best Hammerspoon alternative for open source

SwiftBar

Simpler if all you need is script output in the menu bar, and it runs BitBar/xbar plugins.

BetterTouchTool logo

Best Hammerspoon alternative for Mac

BetterTouchTool

Gesture, shortcut and window automation through a settings UI.

Raycast logo

Best Hammerspoon alternative for Windows

Raycast

Script commands and extensions in a friendlier launcher interface.

Hammerspoon alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Hammerspoon?

Keyboard Maestro ranks first right now. Visual macro editor for similar automation without writing code. BetterTouchTool and Karabiner-Elements follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Hammerspoon?

Yes. Karabiner-Elements (open source), Raycast (free plan + paid) and SwiftBar (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Hammerspoon?

Yes: Karabiner-Elements and SwiftBar.

Why do people switch from Hammerspoon?

The complaints we hear most: requires writing Lua; no graphical editor for automations; debugging configs can be fiddly.

How is this list ranked?

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