Karabiner-Elements
A free, open-source keyboard customiser for macOS, from simple key swaps to complex modifier rules.
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- Alternatives ranked
- 5
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About Karabiner-Elements
Karabiner-Elements remaps keyboards on macOS at a low level. Simple changes, such as swapping Caps Lock and Escape or changing a key on one specific external keyboard, can be set up in its settings window. More complex modifications are written as JSON rules, and a large community library of predefined rules can be imported from the web, covering things like Vi or Emacs-style arrow keys anywhere, a 'hyper' key that combines several modifiers, mouse keys, and protection against an accidental Command-Q. Rules can apply per device or per app. It also includes an event viewer for checking what each key sends. It is free and open source, released into the public domain under the Unlicense, supports both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, and keeps older versions available for earlier macOS releases. It needs a system extension and several permissions during setup, and writing your own complex rules takes some reading of the documentation.
Best for: Mac users who want to remap keys, build a hyper key or customise external keyboards.
Pros and cons
What works
- Free and open source
- Simple remaps in a GUI, complex ones as rules
- Large library of community rules
- Per-device and per-app rules
Why people leave
- Complex rules require editing JSON
- Setup needs a system extension and permissions
- Keyboard-only; no gestures or window tools
Top Karabiner-Elements alternatives
See all 5- 1
BetterTouchTool66.5Remaps keys plus gestures and mouse buttons through one settings window.
- 2KeKeyboard Maestro52.2
Triggers macros from keys for automation beyond remapping.
- 3
Hammerspoon50.3Script key handling in Lua alongside other automation.
- 4
Microsoft PowerToys48.9On Windows, Keyboard Manager covers similar key remapping for free.
- 5
LinearMouse40.0Simpler free tool if you mainly need mouse scroll direction, speed and button tweaks.
Why people left Karabiner-Elements
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Karabiner-Elements: common questions
Is Karabiner-Elements free?
Yes. Karabiner-Elements is free, open-source software.
Is Karabiner-Elements open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at pqrs-org/Karabiner-Elements.
What platforms does Karabiner-Elements run on?
Karabiner-Elements is available for macOS.
What are the best alternatives to Karabiner-Elements?
The highest-ranked Karabiner-Elements alternatives right now are BetterTouchTool, Keyboard Maestro and Hammerspoon. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.