Keyboard Maestro

A veteran Mac automation app for building macros that control apps, text, windows and websites.

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Verified facts: 4 of 4
Alternatives ranked: 5
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Keyboard Maestro

Keyboard Maestro, made by Australian developer Stairways Software, is one of the most capable automation tools on the Mac. You build macros from hundreds of actions, including typing text, clicking menus, controlling windows, launching apps, manipulating the clipboard, running scripts, filling web forms, OCR and image matching, with conditions, loops and variables. Macros can be triggered by hotkeys, typed strings, schedules, app launches, USB devices, Wi-Fi changes and many other events, and organised into groups that are active only in certain apps. It also includes multi-entry clipboard history and text snippets. Version 11 added a macro wizard, a command-line tool and a security settings pane that shows required permissions. It is a one-time purchase per major version with no subscription and a free trial, and upgrades are paid every couple of years. It runs only on macOS. The editor is dense and older-looking, but its forum is active and the range of what can be automated is very wide.

Best for: Mac users who want to automate repetitive work across many apps without coding.

What works

Hundreds of actions and many trigger types
No subscription; one-time purchase
Active community forum with shared macros

Why people leave

Interface feels dated and dense
Major upgrades cost extra
Accessibility permission issues can need manual fixing after macOS updates

Top Keyboard Maestro alternatives

See all 5

1
Hammerspoon
Free, code-based automation for people happy to write Lua.
62.6
2
Hazel
Rule-based file automation, if your macros were mostly about filing documents.
55.3
3
BetterTouchTool
Combines automation with gestures and window snapping for a lower price.
54.5
4
Alfred
Powerpack workflows handle many hotkey-and-keyword automations.
50.3
5
Raycast
Script commands and extensions for quick automations from a launcher.
48.9

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