Keyboard Maestro vs Hammerspoon
Both automate the Mac far beyond what Shortcuts can do. Keyboard Maestro builds macros visually from hundreds of ready-made actions, set off by hotkeys, typed text, apps, times and many other triggers, with no code required. Hammerspoon is free and open source and does it all in Lua: you write a config file that hooks into windows, keys, Wi-Fi, USB and other system events.
Facts checked · No paid placements
Keyboard Maestro
Automate anything you can do with a Mac.
Hammerspoon
Script your Mac with Lua.
Pick by what you need
Choose Keyboard Maestro if
- You want to automate without writing code.
- You want a huge library of actions and triggers ready to use.
- You'd like macros you can share and edit visually.
Choose Hammerspoon if
- You're comfortable writing scripts.
- You want it free and open source.
- You want your whole setup in a text file you can keep in Git.
The facts, side by side
| Fact | Keyboard Maestro | Hammerspoon |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Paid up front | Free and open source |
| Developer | Stairways Software | Hammerspoon |
| Mac App Store | No | No |
| Homebrew cask | keyboard-maestro | hammerspoon |
| Open source | No | MIT |
| Last commit | – | July 2026 |
| GitHub stars | – | 16k |
Facts checked . Prices can change; each developer's site is the final word.
Keyboard Maestro or Hammerspoon?
Is Keyboard Maestro better than Hammerspoon?
Neither is better for everyone. Both automate the Mac far beyond what Shortcuts can do. Keyboard Maestro builds macros visually from hundreds of ready-made actions, set off by hotkeys, typed text, apps, times and many other triggers, with no code required. Hammerspoon is free and open source and does it all in Lua: you write a config file that hooks into windows, keys, Wi-Fi, USB and other system events.
How much does Keyboard Maestro cost?
Keyboard Maestro is paid software, bought up front from keyboardmaestro.com.
Is Hammerspoon free?
Yes. Hammerspoon is free and open source under the MIT license. The source code is on GitHub at Hammerspoon/hammerspoon.
What else is like Keyboard Maestro and Hammerspoon?
Other ai & automation apps on MacWorthy worth a look are Enconvo (free + pro), BoltAI (one-time purchase) and Elephas (subscription).