Software Alternatives & Reviews

Karabiner VS Contexts

Compare Karabiner VS Contexts and see what are their differences

Karabiner logo Karabiner

Karabiner, previously called KeyRemap4MacBook, is a very powerful keyboard remapper for Mac OS X.

Contexts logo Contexts

Switch between application windows effortlessly — with Fast Search, a better Command-Tab, a Sidebar or even a quick gesture. Free trial available.
  • Karabiner Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-06
  • Contexts Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-21

Karabiner videos

REVIEW: Should you play the Vetterli 71 Karabiner? [Hunt Gun Review #1]

More videos:

  • Review - Vim screencast #59: Karabiner Elements
  • Review - Evolution of the Karabiner 98k, From Prewar to Kriegsmodell

Contexts videos

The Art of Discovering Bounded Contexts by Nick Tune

More videos:

  • Review - A Fresh Take on Contexts
  • Review - Contexts and Methods: Literature Review - Intro and Assessment Criteria

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Karabiner and Contexts)
Automation
100 100%
0% 0
Mac
0 0%
100% 100
Note Taking
59 59%
41% 41
Window Manager
41 41%
59% 59

User comments

Share your experience with using Karabiner and Contexts. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Karabiner should be more popular than Contexts. It has been mentiond 269 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.

Karabiner mentions (269)

  • Ask HN: What if we wrote HTML with [brackets][/brackets]?
    I have been using Karabiner elements (https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org), they allow keyboard customization, I have switched the colon and semicolon key, by default without pressing shift, the key will output colon (:) , I find this useful as I type lot of colon daily. Maybe you can use this software to set "<" and ">" to be the default text output without using Shift. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Remote desktop from Windows to Mac, native keys and function
    In the settings of chrome remote desktop there is an option to not send modifier keys etc to the host system. I've also heard of https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/. Source: 6 months ago
  • DOS_deck: Play DOS games in the browser with full controller support
    Possible karbiner but I've never looked into doing specifically that, so I may be wrong https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • Always paste without formatting on macOS
    Remap with Karabiner (https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/). I personally mapped right_command + v to it, but it's capable of a straight out remap. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • A collection of useful Mac Apps
    Karabiner-Elements - Price: Free Powerful and stable keyboard customizer for macOS. Source: 10 months ago
View more

Contexts mentions (59)

  • Show HN: I3wm Alt+Tab Workspace Switcher
    I like using Contexts on the Mac as replacement: https://contexts.co. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • My MacBook setup (the 2024 version)
    I use the Contexts [1] app, couldn't live without it (not affiliated...) It shows me all open Windows and in which Desktop, in its Sidebar (I've disabled the macOS dock.) Also the Cmd-Tab functionalities are nice, and I can use "Fn + [a single key] " shortcut to focus an app. Would recommend. [1] https://contexts.co/. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Arc 1.0 – a freeware web browser developed by The Browser Company
    Thanks for your feedback, I'll have to give TST in the Firefox sidebar another try... > "I make use of ctrl-uparrow to switch between browser and VSCode" I use the Contexts app (Fast Search) for that - https://contexts.co/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Is there a program that can show my open apps as tabs across a bar like open tabs in a web browser?
    Https://contexts.co has a sidebar option. In their landing page its there under the sidebar heading. Source: 11 months ago
  • Witch – macOS window switcher replacement
    You should try contexts! It also has a bunch of other features and is highly configurable. I'm not one to normally pay for software, but this is probably up there with some of the best $10 I ever spent. https://contexts.co/. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Karabiner and Contexts, you can also consider the following products

SharpKeys - SharpKeys is a utility that manages a Registry key that allows Windows to remap one key to any...

Witch - Welcome to the world of W. i. t. c. h.

SteerMouse - Advanced driver for USB and Bluetooth mouses.

Compiz - Project information. Maintainer: PS Project Management Team. Driver: Compiz Maintainers. Licence: GNU GPL v2, GNU LGPL v2. 1, MIT / X / Expat Licence.

BTT Remote - A remote control for you Mac, using your iPhone or iPad

Hyperswitch - HyperSwitch provides a compelling alternative to HyperDock for keyboard junkies. What's New