Keyboard Maestro vs Karabiner Elements

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

Keyboard Maestro is a Office & Productivity solution with tags like macro, automation, keyboard, hotkeys, workflows.

It boasts features such as 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 pros including 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.

On the other hand, Karabiner Elements is a Os & Utilities product tagged with keyboard, customization, remapping, macros, shortcuts.

Its standout features include 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 it shines with pros like Powerful customization options, Intuitive interface, Active development and updates, Free and open source.

Feature	Keyboard Maestro	Karabiner Elements
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Office & Productivity	Os & Utilities

Product Overview

Keyboard Maestro

Description: 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.

Karabiner Elements

Description: 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.

Key Features Comparison

Keyboard Maestro Features

• 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

Karabiner Elements Features

• 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

Pros & Cons Analysis

Keyboard Maestro

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

Karabiner Elements

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

Pricing Comparison

Keyboard Maestro

• One-time Purchase
• Subscription-Based

Karabiner Elements

• Open Source