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Alfred VS Keyboard Maestro

Compare Alfred VS Keyboard Maestro and see what are their differences

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Alfred logo Alfred

Alfred is an award-winning app for macOS which boosts your efficiency with hotkeys, keywords, text expansion and more. Search your Mac and the web, and be more productive with custom actions to control your Mac.

Keyboard Maestro logo Keyboard Maestro

Keyboard Maestro is the leading software for macOS automation. It will increase business productivity by using macros(or short cuts) with simple keystrokes. Keyboard Maestro WikiThis wiki aims to help new users get started, and then provide .
  • Alfred Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-19
  • Keyboard Maestro Landing page
    Landing page //
    2025-05-29

Alfred features and specs

  • Efficiency
    Alfred significantly speeds up searches and workflows with keyboard shortcuts, reducing the time spent navigating through files and applications.
  • Customizability
    Users can create custom workflows, scripts, and hotkeys tailored to their needs, enhancing productivity through personalization.
  • Clipboard History
    Alfred maintains a history of clipboard entries, allowing users to quickly retrieve recently copied items, which is highly useful for multi-tasking.
  • Integrations
    It integrates seamlessly with other macOS features and apps, like Contacts and Safari, providing a cohesive user experience.
  • File Management
    Alfred offers robust file management through quick commands, making it easier to move, copy, and open files without relying on Finder.
  • Snippets
    Users can create and manage text snippets for frequently used phrases, speeding up repetitive typing tasks.

Possible disadvantages of Alfred

  • Learning Curve
    Despite its benefits, Alfred can be complex for new users, requiring time and effort to learn and fully utilize its features.
  • Premium Features
    Many advanced features, such as custom workflows and clipboard history, are only available through the paid Powerpack version.
  • Resource Usage
    Alfred can consume a significant amount of system resources, particularly when using complex workflows, which may affect the performance of older Macs.
  • Inconsistent Results
    Search results and functionality might occasionally be inconsistent, requiring users to refine queries or adjust settings to achieve desired outcomes.
  • Dependency on Spotlight
    While Alfred extends Spotlight's capabilities, it remains dependent on Spotlight indexing. Any issues with Spotlight can affect Alfred's performance.

Keyboard Maestro features and specs

  • Versatile Automation
    Keyboard Maestro allows users to automate a wide range of tasks on macOS, from simple text expansion to complex workflows involving multiple applications.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The app provides a visually intuitive interface that makes it easier for users to create and manage their macros without needing extensive programming skills.
  • Robust Feature Set
    It includes a powerful set of features like clipboard history, named clipboards, customizable palettes, and more, which extend beyond typical automation tools.
  • Active Support and Community
    Keyboard Maestro has an active user community and responsive support team, providing users with resources for troubleshooting and advanced usage tips.
  • Regular Updates
    The developers regularly update the application, adding new features and ensuring compatibility with the latest versions of macOS.

Possible disadvantages of Keyboard Maestro

  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, Keyboard Maestro can still have a steep learning curve for new users unfamiliar with automation concepts.
  • Mac-Only
    Keyboard Maestro is only available for macOS, so users who work across multiple platforms cannot use it on Windows or Linux systems.
  • Price
    While the powerful features justify its cost for many users, Keyboard Maestro is a paid application, which may be a deterrent for some potential users who are looking for free alternatives.
  • Resource Intensive
    Some users report that Keyboard Maestro can be resource-intensive, potentially affecting system performance, especially if running complex or numerous macros.
  • Occasional Bugs
    As with any software, users might encounter occasional bugs or issues, although the support team usually addresses them promptly.

Analysis of Alfred

Overall verdict

  • Alfred is considered an excellent choice for anyone looking to boost their productivity on a Mac. Its feature-rich environment, combined with a user-friendly interface and robust customization options, makes it a favorite among many Mac enthusiasts.

Why this product is good

  • Alfred is widely regarded as a powerful productivity tool for macOS users. It enhances the user experience with features like a quick keyboard launcher, a comprehensive search functionality, clipboard history, and customizable workflows. Users often praise its ability to speed up daily tasks, integrate with various applications, and automate repetitive processes.

Recommended for

  • Mac users who want to improve their efficiency.
  • Individuals looking for advanced search and application-launch capabilities.
  • Users interested in automation and creating custom workflows.
  • Anyone who frequently works with text snippets and clipboard history.

Analysis of Keyboard Maestro

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Keyboard Maestro is generally regarded as a good tool for those who need robust automation solutions on macOS. It is well-supported and regularly updated to ensure compatibility with the latest operating systems and applications.

Why this product is good

  • Keyboard Maestro is considered a powerful macro program for macOS that allows users to automate repetitive tasks and customize their workflows. It is favored for its extensive functionality, ease of use once set up, and integration capabilities with other applications. Users often highlight its ability to save time and improve productivity, especially for complex automation needs.

Recommended for

  • Users who frequently perform repetitive tasks and want to streamline their workflow.
  • Power users and professionals who work with multiple applications and need extensive automation solutions.
  • Individuals who enjoy customizing their workspace and improving efficiency through personalized hotkeys and macros.

Alfred videos

+ Add

Alfred for Mac [Tutorial] Basics

More videos:

  • Review - Alfred app review is Alfred worth your time?
  • Review - Alfred’s Basic Adult Piano Course [Method Guide + Review]

Keyboard Maestro videos

+ Add

Keyboard Maestro Review

More videos:

  • Review - Keyboard Maestro Review | Automation Software Worth for $36?
  • Review - 5 Types of Macros I Use in Keyboard Maestro

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Alfred and Keyboard Maestro)

Alfred

Keyboard Maestro

Productivity
92 92%
Productivity
8% 8
Automation
0 0%
Automation
100% 100
Mac
85 85%
Mac
15% 15
App Launcher
100 100%
App Launcher
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Alfred and Keyboard Maestro

Alfred Reviews

7 Best Alfred Alternatives To Maximize Your Productivity
While Alfred is a great app, it works solely for macOS. If you get a new computer that doesn’t run on macOS, you won’t be able to use Alfred. There are many other options available that work on other operating systems.
Source: blaze.today
4 Best Spotlight Alternatives to Increase Your Mac’s Functionality
Raycast is a free application launcher for Mac. If you’re overwhelmed with Alfred and don’t want to spend on its powerpack to unlock all its features, Raycast is the best alternative to Spotlight and Alfred—albeit with a limited feature set—you must check out.
Source: techpp.com
6 Best Alfred App Alternatives for Windows to Be More Productive
Alfred app is like the swiss army knife for the macOS ecosystem. But what about Windows? Well, there is Windows Search but it’s not good enough. There are, however, a few Windows apps that can help ease your day-to-day workflows. Let’s see if we can replace Alfred on Windows using a combination of apps. Presenting some Alfred alternatives for Windows users.
Source: techwiser.com
Best Text Expander apps for MacOS
Earlier on I had heard a lot about Alfred, an award-winning Text expander app for the Mac. I tried it for a couple of days and I must say it does deserve the attention it is getting. Before we begin let me clear this up, the Alfred offers a ton of nontext expander features and yet it manages to deliver on its promise. With the Alfred, Mac users can search and browse...
Source: techwiser.com
What's a good alternative to Textexpander for Mac?
14Alfred 3View ProductRogin FarrerDesign Systems Engineer @Wayfair · Written 3y agoI used to use aText and Dash, and Alfred replaced both for me. The snippets have gotten a lot smarter over time, with support for smart variables, like date, time and cursor.🙏 helpful 2CommentsShare
Source: www.producthunt.com

Keyboard Maestro Reviews

What's a good alternative to Textexpander for Mac?
2Keyboard MaestroView ProductJayDeveloper · Written 2yr agoI use this before I subscribe TextExpander🙏 helpful 0CommentsShareCarlo Zottmann 🇪🇺🙏 helpful 0Comments (1)a year agoPatrick LoonstraDesigner at patrickloonstra.nl🙏 helpful 0Comments (0)a year ago
Source: www.producthunt.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Alfred seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 6 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Alfred mentions (6)

View more

Keyboard Maestro mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Keyboard Maestro yet. Tracking of Keyboard Maestro recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Alfred and Keyboard Maestro, you can also consider the following products

Keypirinha - A lightning fast and flexible keystroke launcher for Windows. No installation required (portable).

Pulover’s Macro Creator - Pulover’s Macro Creator is a Free Automation Tool and Script Generator.

Listary - Listary is a revolutionary search utility for Windows

Microsoft Power Automate - Microsoft Power Automate is an automation platform that integrates DPA, RPA, and process mining. It lets you automate your organization at scale using low-code and AI.

Wox - An effective launcher for windows. A full-featured launcher, access programs and web contents as you type. Be more productive ever since. Wox is free for use and open-sourced at Github, Try it now! Download .

AutoHotkey - The ultimate automation scripting language for Windows.

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