Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

AutoIt VS AutoKey

Compare AutoIt VS AutoKey and see what are their differences

AutoIt logo AutoIt

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AutoKey logo AutoKey

A Python 3 port of AutoKey, the desktop automation utility for Linux and X11.
  • AutoIt Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-24

We recommend LibHunt AutoIt for discovery and comparisons of trending AutoIt projects.

  • AutoKey Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-27

AutoIt features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    AutoIt has a simple syntax and is relatively easy to learn, which makes it accessible for beginners and allows for quick scripting.
  • Automation Capabilities
    AutoIt excels in automating GUI tasks and user actions, making it useful for repetitive tasks such as software installation, UI testing, and form filling.
  • Free and Lightweight
    AutoIt is free to use and has a small footprint, which means it can be easily included in various projects without significant overhead.
  • Comprehensive Library Support
    AutoIt provides a wide range of built-in functions and libraries, including support for file operations, network communications, and registry manipulation.
  • Community Support
    There is an active community around AutoIt, providing forums, tutorials, and user-contributed scripts which can be very helpful for troubleshooting and learning.

Possible disadvantages of AutoIt

  • Windows Only
    AutoIt is designed specifically for Windows, which limits its use across different operating systems and restricts multi-platform support.
  • Limited Debugging Tools
    The debugging tools available in AutoIt are more limited compared to more robust programming languages and IDEs, which can make error tracking and fixing more difficult.
  • Performance Limitations
    For more resource-intensive operations, AutoIt may not be as fast as compiled languages like C++ or C#, which can be a constraint for certain types of projects.
  • Steeper Learning Curve for Complex Scripts
    While basic scripts are fairly easy to write, more advanced scripting and automation tasks require a deeper understanding of the language, which can be challenging.
  • Security Concerns
    Since AutoIt can easily manipulate system processes and files, there’s a potential for misuse if scripts are not used or distributed with caution.

AutoKey features and specs

  • Open Source
    AutoKey is a free and open-source software, which means that the source code is available for modification and improvement. This provides a high level of transparency and flexibility for users who want to customize the software.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    AutoKey runs on multiple Linux distributions and also works on Windows via AutoHotKey compatibility, making it versatile across different operating systems.
  • Customization and Scripting
    The software supports Python scripting, which allows for highly customizable automation tasks. Users can create complex macros and automate repetitive tasks efficiently.
  • Community Support
    Being an open-source project, AutoKey has a community of users and developers who contribute to the project and provide support through forums and other channels.
  • Text Expansion
    AutoKey offers robust text expansion features, enabling users to insert predefined text snippets using abbreviations. This can significantly speed up typing and reduce errors.

Possible disadvantages of AutoKey

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Users who are not familiar with Python scripting or programming in general may find AutoKey difficult to use and set up initially.
  • Linux-Centric
    While AutoKey offers some compatibility with Windows through AutoHotKey, it is primarily designed for Linux, which may limit its appeal or functionality for Windows users.
  • Stability Issues
    As with many open-source projects, there may be occasional bugs and stability issues, depending on the specific Linux distribution or system configuration.
  • Limited Documentation
    Although there is community support, users may find the official documentation lacking, making it harder to find detailed guidance on advanced features.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running multiple scripts and macros can consume significant system resources, which may impact performance on older or less powerful machines.

AutoIt videos

Hak5 - Hak5 How To Use AutoIt to Make a Keylogger 1020.1

More videos:

  • Review - [AutoIT] Review and Release Q-Tool v1.0 #CoderDuc
  • Review - [AutoIT] Review Thread Options v1.0 by CoderDuc

AutoKey videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to AutoIt and AutoKey)
Automation
56 56%
44% 44
Windows Tools
67 67%
33% 33
Scripts
100 100%
0% 0
Tool
33 33%
67% 67

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare AutoIt and AutoKey

AutoIt Reviews

Microsoft Power Automate
AutoIt is a solution for automating Windows GUI and general scripting. It is a freeware software that uses scripting language for automation. The software is a dynamic combination of keystrokes, mouse navigation, and window manipulation for automation purposes. Important AutoIt features include:
9 Best AutoHotkey Alternative Apps
The setup of AutoIt is very compact and accessible. It runs effortlessly on all the versions of Windows OS and takes no time to get ready for running.
Autohotkey Alternatives and Similar Free Software
This is one of the best automation alternatives to AutoHotkey. AutoIT reads the particular script and allows that to do some functions, like, automating keystrokes, executing programs, mouse clicks, manipulating functions of Windows, and much more. This software is also capable of more advanced options, as it automates clipboard functions and simple texts. The best thing...
6 Autohotkey Alternatives
The AutoHotkey alternatives jotted down below are actually automation software that let you create shortcuts for a keyboard, a mouse or a joystick. The program in question comes in extremely handy for creating macros or apps and helps you type faster as it can be customized to expand abbreviations. This utility makes it possible to remap keys and convert scripts in to EXE...

AutoKey Reviews

9 Best AutoHotkey Alternative Apps
AutoKey is also capable of serving the perfect text/ command insertion, depending on the type of application/ program you are using.
Autohotkey Alternatives and Similar Free Software
This software was previously named AutoKey Py3, and this one works fine with Linux and Windows 11. This software allows you to collect the scripts, and execute the programs as you need them.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, AutoKey seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 37 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.

AutoIt mentions (0)

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

AutoKey mentions (37)

  • Learn AutoHotKey by stealing my scripts
    I use AutoKey on Linux. It's less powerful than AHK but uses native Python which is nice: https://github.com/autokey/autokey. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D: Windows 11 vs. Ubuntu 23.04 Linux Performance
    On Linux, the more direct equivalent to AHK is the similarly named AutoKey. AHK itself is never going to be cross-platform, due to the low-level it interacts specifically with Windows, but AutoKey is the Linux equivalent, designed to interact low-level with Linux in a similar way to AHK on Windows. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Text expansion app for Linux
    I've seen people mention AutoKey but I've never used it myself: https://github.com/autokey/autokey. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Ergonomic lefty for Chromebook, with a good middle-click?
    You can also try remapping mouse buttons. I use autohotkey to remap the middle clock to the right click. Autohotkey is windows only, but there is autokey which might help if you are a heavy middle click user like me. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Macros for Linux? Like autoit, or automated mouse/keyboard presses.
    There's also Autokey, not Wayland compatible though. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing AutoIt and AutoKey, you can also consider the following products

AutoHotkey - The ultimate automation scripting language for Windows.

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

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.

Hammerspoon - This is a tool for powerful automation of OS X.

Sikuli - Sikuli Script

Mini Mouse Macro - A free light weight mouse macro that records mouse movements, clicks and keyboard entries.