Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Karabiner VS Splitview

Compare Karabiner VS Splitview and see what are their differences

Karabiner logo Karabiner

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

Splitview logo Splitview

SplitView enables dual monitor usage with Remote Desktop and widescreen monitors.
  • Karabiner Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-06
  • Splitview Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-14

Karabiner features and specs

  • Customizability
    Karabiner-Elements allows users to remap keys and create complex keyboard configurations that can greatly enhance productivity and convenience.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source tool, Karabiner-Elements is free to use and comes with the potential for community contributions and transparency in development.
  • Flexibility
    The tool supports a wide range of devices and configurations, making it adaptable to various user needs and setups.
  • Ease of Use
    The user interface is designed to be intuitive, allowing both novice and experienced users to easily configure and remap their keyboards.
  • Regular Updates
    The tool is actively maintained with regular updates, ensuring compatibility with the latest macOS versions and adding new features.

Possible disadvantages of Karabiner

  • Compatibility Issues
    Some users may experience compatibility issues with certain applications or hardware, potentially causing unexpected behavior.
  • Learning Curve
    Although the interface is intuitive, mastering its full range of features, especially for complex configurations, can require a steep learning curve.
  • System Performance
    On occasion, Karabiner-Elements may consume significant system resources, which could impact overall system performance.
  • Limited Platform Support
    As of now, Karabiner-Elements only supports macOS, limiting its utility for users on other operating systems such as Windows or Linux.
  • Potential for Errors
    Incorrect configuration or updates may lead to errors in key mappings, which can disrupt the user experience until resolved.

Splitview features and specs

  • Enhanced Productivity
    SplitView allows users to easily manage multiple applications and documents simultaneously by splitting the screen, which can greatly enhance productivity by reducing the time spent switching between windows.
  • User Flexibility
    The application provides users with the flexibility to configure and customize how their screen is split, catering to individual needs and preferences.
  • Improved Multitasking
    By enabling users to view multiple applications at once, SplitView improves multitasking capabilities, which can be beneficial for those who need to compare data or work on several tasks concurrently.
  • Ease of Use
    SplitView is designed to be user-friendly, allowing even those with limited technical skills to manage their screen space effectively without a steep learning curve.

Possible disadvantages of Splitview

  • System Performance
    Running multiple applications on split screens can be demanding on system resources, potentially leading to slower performance on less powerful computers.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Some users may experience compatibility issues with specific applications or systems, which could limit the effectiveness of the software in certain environments.
  • Limited Screen Space
    On smaller screens, splitting the view could lead to cramped workspaces and may not be as effective as on larger monitors.
  • Cost
    Unlike some built-in operating system features, SplitView may require a purchase, which could be a consideration for budget-conscious users or organizations.

Analysis of Karabiner

Overall verdict

  • Karabiner-Elements is considered a good tool for macOS users seeking to customize their keyboard. Its reliability, versatility, and active community support make it a valuable addition to any power user's toolkit.

Why this product is good

  • Karabiner-Elements is highly regarded for its ability to customize and remap keyboard keys on macOS. It offers a powerful and flexible suite of features that allow users to tailor their keyboard setup to their specific needs, enhancing productivity and ergonomics. With an intuitive interface and extensive documentation, both novice and advanced users can benefit from its functionality.

Recommended for

  • Developers who need custom keyboard shortcuts.
  • Mac users experiencing discomfort with standard keyboard layouts.
  • Professionals requiring specific keybindings for software applications.
  • Users transitioning from Windows or Linux who want to emulate key behaviors from those systems.

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

Splitview videos

No Splitview videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Karabiner and Splitview)
Automation
100 100%
0% 0
Window Manager
78 78%
22% 22
OSX Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Note Taking
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Karabiner seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 277 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 (277)

  • Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Released
    As a both old Linux and now decade user of MacOS, after I got used to no middle-click paste and no focus-follows-mouse: 1. Keyboard shortcuts are Emacs, Ctrl-A: start of line, E: end of line, K: kill selected or to end of line, Y to paste, etc. https://support.apple.com/en-au/102650#text 2. Karabiner elements (FOSS) fixes keyboard mappings outside of the Settings: https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/ 3. I have the... - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Show HN: BoringBar โ€“ a taskbar-style dock replacement for macOS
    I've always setup my macbooks with a custom json config using https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/ to avoid the dock, but couldnt convince any friends to give it a try since its high effort, I guess so I hacked together https://dockshortcut.com really quick and that kinda made the difference in how some people use their macbooks these days, but tough market, nobody likes paying for something that should come out... - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Claude Code Voice Mode
    I've had success in the past in customizing macOS key bindings using Karabiner: https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Ask HN: What Are You Working On? (July 2025)
    Hey! These kinds of keyboard related things are well solved by Karabiner elements: https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/ There you can map (whatever key) to (whatever other key). E.g. I have right command mapped to F20, available to all other apps . - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • Ergonomic Mac Keyboard Setup
    I use Karabiner as the driver for keyboard customizations. Karabiner intercepts hardware keystrokes and sends keystrokes to the computer allowing me to configure Karabiner to have a flexible setup and map key(s) presses to other keys(s) or commands. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
View more

Splitview mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

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

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

GridMove - GridMove - A window management tool that can quickly arrange your windows into desktop grids.

Rectangle - Window management app based on Spectacle, written in Swift.

Preme for Windows - Speeds up your window switching.

SteerMouse - Advanced driver for USB and Bluetooth mouses.

WinDock - WinDock is a window manager ideal for large, or multi-monitor setups. Features: