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Keyboard Maestro alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Keyboard Maestro: interface feels dated and dense, and major upgrades cost extra. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Keyboard Maestro, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Hammerspoon currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Hammerspoon logoHammerspoonOpen sourceYesmacOS4 of 462.6
  1. Hammerspoon logo

    1. HammerspoonTop pick

    Best for: Developers who want to script their own Mac utilities instead of buying several

    Open sourcemacOS

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Keyboard Maestro

    Free, code-based automation for people happy to write Lua.

    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 ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Hammerspoon a good Keyboard Maestro 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 25, 2026hammerspoon.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Default behaviour
    Does nothing until configured
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hammerspoon.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Plugins
    Spoons
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hammerspoon.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best Keyboard Maestro alternative for…

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

Hammerspoon logo

Best Keyboard Maestro alternative for most people

Hammerspoon

Free, code-based automation for people happy to write Lua.

Hammerspoon logo

Best Keyboard Maestro alternative for a free option

Hammerspoon

Free, code-based automation for people happy to write Lua.

Alfred logo

Best Keyboard Maestro alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Alfred

Powerpack workflows handle many hotkey-and-keyword automations.

Hammerspoon logo

Best Keyboard Maestro alternative for open source

Hammerspoon

Free, code-based automation for people happy to write Lua.

Hazel logo

Best Keyboard Maestro alternative for Mac

Hazel

Rule-based file automation, if your macros were mostly about filing documents.

Raycast logo

Best Keyboard Maestro alternative for Windows

Raycast

Script commands and extensions for quick automations from a launcher.

Keyboard Maestro alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Keyboard Maestro?

Hammerspoon ranks first right now. Free, code-based automation for people happy to write Lua. Hazel and BetterTouchTool follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Keyboard Maestro?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Keyboard Maestro?

Yes: Hammerspoon.

Why do people switch from Keyboard Maestro?

The complaints we hear most: interface feels dated and dense; major upgrades cost extra; accessibility permission issues can need manual fixing after macOS updates.

How is this list ranked?

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