Karabiner Elements vs Keyboard Maestro

Struggling to choose between Karabiner Elements and Keyboard Maestro? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Karabiner Elements is a Os & Utilities solution with tags like keyboard, customization, remapping, macros, shortcuts.

It boasts features such as Remap keys and buttons, Create complex custom keyboard shortcuts, Change key behaviors like key repeat rate, Simple rules editor to create modifications, Supports common keyboards and pointing devices and pros including Powerful customization options, Intuitive interface, Active development and updates, Free and open source.

On the other hand, Keyboard Maestro is a Office & Productivity product tagged with macro, automation, keyboard, hotkeys, workflows.

Its standout features include Macro recording and playback, Macro triggers like hotkeys, keywords, time/date, Macro groups for organization, Macro editing with variables, conditions, loops, Integrates with other apps via AppleScript, shell scripts, Supports multi-action macros, Macro scheduler, Clipboard history manager, and it shines with pros like Very powerful and versatile macro capabilities, Wide range of trigger options, Macro editor makes complex workflows easy, Great for automating repetitive tasks, Integrates deeply into macOS.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Karabiner Elements

Karabiner Elements

Karabiner Elements is a powerful keyboard customization tool for macOS that allows you to customize and remap keys, modify key behaviors, and create complex macros and shortcuts.

Categories:
keyboard customization remapping macros shortcuts

Karabiner Elements Features

  1. Remap keys and buttons
  2. Create complex custom keyboard shortcuts
  3. Change key behaviors like key repeat rate
  4. Simple rules editor to create modifications
  5. Supports common keyboards and pointing devices

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Powerful customization options

Intuitive interface

Active development and updates

Free and open source

Cons

Steep learning curve

Manual editing of JSON files required for advanced features

Limited to macOS platform only


Keyboard Maestro

Keyboard Maestro

Keyboard Maestro is a macro program for macOS that automates tasks, workflows, and scripts through hotkeys, macros, launchers, and more. It speeds up and simplifies repetive work by giving you more control with powerful macros.

Categories:
macro automation keyboard hotkeys workflows

Keyboard Maestro Features

  1. Macro recording and playback
  2. Macro triggers like hotkeys, keywords, time/date
  3. Macro groups for organization
  4. Macro editing with variables, conditions, loops
  5. Integrates with other apps via AppleScript, shell scripts
  6. Supports multi-action macros
  7. Macro scheduler
  8. Clipboard history manager

Pricing

  • One-time Purchase
  • Subscription-Based

Pros

Very powerful and versatile macro capabilities

Wide range of trigger options

Macro editor makes complex workflows easy

Great for automating repetitive tasks

Integrates deeply into macOS

Cons

Fairly steep learning curve

Can be overkill for basic automation needs

Pricier than some alternative apps