Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Keyboard Maestro VS Apple Automator

Compare Keyboard Maestro VS Apple Automator and see what are their differences

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 .

Apple Automator logo Apple Automator

Let your Mac do repetitive tasks for you.
  • Keyboard Maestro Landing page
    Landing page //
    2025-05-29
  • Apple Automator Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-29

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.

Apple Automator features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Apple Automator's drag-and-drop interface makes it accessible even for users without programming experience. It's designed to simplify workflow automation with a straightforward user experience.
  • Integration with macOS
    Automator is built into macOS, allowing it to seamlessly integrate with other native applications and system processes. This helps in creating comprehensive automated workflows without needing third-party software.
  • Pre-Built Actions
    Automator offers a wide range of pre-built actions that can be combined to create complex workflows. These actions cover a variety of tasks, from file manipulation to email automation.
  • Customizability
    Users can create custom actions using AppleScript, JavaScript, or shell scripts, offering flexibility and extending the capabilities of Automator far beyond its built-in functions.

Possible disadvantages of Apple Automator

  • Limited Cross-Platform Usability
    Automator is only available on macOS, meaning workflows created with it cannot be used or transferred directly to Windows, Linux, or other non-macOS systems.
  • Performance
    For more complex or resource-intensive tasks, Automator may lag or become sluggish. It is not as efficient as purpose-built automation tools for high-performance needs.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic workflows are easy to set up, taking full advantage of Automator's capabilities for more complex tasks often requires understanding of scripting languages, which might be a barrier for some users.
  • Limited Updates
    Compared to other automation tools, Automator receives fewer updates and new features. This can limit its functionality over time, especially with rapidly evolving technology and user needs.

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.

Analysis of Apple Automator

Overall verdict

  • Apple Automator is generally considered a good tool for those looking to automate tasks on macOS. It is especially beneficial for users who are not advanced programmers but still wish to harness the power of automation. While it may not be as robust as some third-party automation tools, its integration with macOS and ease of use make it a solid choice.

Why this product is good

  • Apple Automator is a powerful tool for automating repetitive tasks on macOS. It offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of pre-built actions, allowing users to create workflows without needing deep programming knowledge. Automator can help increase productivity by streamlining complex or repetitive tasks, such as file renaming, image manipulation, and data extraction from web pages.

Recommended for

    Apple Automator is recommended for macOS users who want to implement automation in their daily tasks without diving into scripting or programming. It is suitable for both beginners looking to simplify their workflow and more advanced users who need to automate multi-step processes. It's ideal for individuals handling repetitive tasks, small business owners, educators, and anyone interested in increasing efficiency on their Mac.

Keyboard Maestro videos

Keyboard Maestro Review

More videos:

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

Apple Automator videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Keyboard Maestro and Apple Automator)
Automation
54 54%
46% 46
Mac
100 100%
0% 0
Tool
0 0%
100% 100
Scripts
100 100%
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 Keyboard Maestro and Apple Automator

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

Apple Automator Reviews

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Apple Automator seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time 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.

Keyboard Maestro mentions (0)

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

Apple Automator mentions (1)

  • How do you configure your mac?
    Start from no customization at all, organise a good folder structure to stick with, and learn a few hotkeys. Then just whenever you think of something that you think might make your life easier, google it and see what app helps. 'Automator' or 'Shortcuts' (app), both which are inbuilt, can probably do it for you. Source: almost 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

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

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.

AutoKey - A Python 3 port of AutoKey, the desktop automation utility for Linux and X11.

AutoHotkey - The ultimate automation scripting language for Windows.

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

Albert - Omnilauncher for Linux to help you quickly find and run apps and do other useful things.