Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Microsoft keyboard layout creator VS AutoHotkey

Compare Microsoft keyboard layout creator VS AutoHotkey and see what are their differences

Microsoft keyboard layout creator logo Microsoft keyboard layout creator

Edit the windows keyboard layout.

AutoHotkey logo AutoHotkey

The ultimate automation scripting language for Windows.
  • Microsoft keyboard layout creator Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-23
  • AutoHotkey Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-13

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

Microsoft keyboard layout creator features and specs

  • Customizability
    Allows users to create custom keyboard layouts according to their specific needs, enabling a personalized typing experience.
  • User-friendly Interface
    Offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface that simplifies the process of creating and editing keyboard layouts.
  • Support for Multiple Languages
    Provides the ability to create layouts for various languages, accommodating users who type in different scripts or languages.
  • Integration with Windows
    Seamlessly integrates with Windows operating systems, making it easy to switch and use custom layouts without additional software.

Possible disadvantages of Microsoft keyboard layout creator

  • Limited Platform Support
    Primarily designed for Windows, which means users on other platforms do not benefit from its features.
  • Lack of Advanced Features
    May not offer the advanced features or flexibility that some power users require for complex keyboard configurations.
  • Outdated
    The software has not been updated recently, which may result in compatibility issues with the latest Windows versions or lack of support for newer technologies.
  • Learning Curve
    Although user-friendly, initially understanding how to use the software and create effective layouts can take some time for new users.

AutoHotkey features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    AutoHotkey scripts are relatively easy to write, making it accessible for beginners. The syntax is straightforward and the community offers extensive documentation and scripts for reference.
  • Scripting Flexibility
    AutoHotkey allows users to perform a wide range of tasks, from simple key remappings and text expansion to more complex automation like GUI automation and web scraping.
  • Active Community
    An active and supportive community exists around AutoHotkey. This means you can find community-created libraries, examples, and forums that offer help and troubleshooting.
  • Integrations
    AutoHotkey can integrate with other programs and APIs, allowing for the extension of its capabilities beyond basic scripting.
  • Performance
    Scripts written in AutoHotkey are often very lightweight and run efficiently, making it suitable for tasks requiring quick execution and minimal lag.
  • Cost
    AutoHotkey is free to use, which makes it an attractive option for individuals and businesses looking to implement automation without a financial investment.

Possible disadvantages of AutoHotkey

  • Security Risks
    AutoHotkey scripts can be potentially harmful if used maliciously. Unsigned scripts could be seen as a security risk by antiviruses and system administrators.
  • Limited Cross-Platform Support
    AutoHotkey primarily supports Windows, and there is limited support for other operating systems like MacOS and Linux, which can be a disadvantage for cross-platform environments.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic features are easy to learn, more advanced functionalities such as using COM objects, creating complex GUIs, or interacting with APIs can have a steep learning curve.
  • Readability of Code
    As scripts become complex, the readability of AutoHotkey code may decrease, especially for those unfamiliar with the syntax. This can make maintaining large scripts challenging.
  • Lack of Formal Support
    There is no official customer support for AutoHotkey. Users must rely on community-based support, which can vary in response time and quality.
  • Debugging Tools
    AutoHotkeyโ€™s debugging tools are not as robust as those in full-fledged development environments, making it harder to troubleshoot and debug complex scripts.

Analysis of AutoHotkey

Overall verdict

  • Yes, AutoHotkey is considered a good tool for many users.

Why this product is good

  • AutoHotkey is highly appreciated for its simplicity and flexibility in automating repetitive tasks on Windows. It's a powerful scripting language that enables users to create custom keyboard shortcuts, automate software processes, and remap keys, among other functionalities. Its ease of use and active community support make it accessible for both beginners and experienced users.

Recommended for

  • People who frequently perform repetitive tasks on their computers.
  • Users who want to increase productivity by automating workflows.
  • Individuals looking to create custom keyboard shortcuts and remap keys.
  • Programmers and IT professionals seeking to automate software testing and deployment.
  • Anyone who wants to customize their Windows environment.

Microsoft keyboard layout creator videos

[Windows] Change Keyboard Layout Keys on Windows 10 | Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator

AutoHotkey videos

Autohotkey Quick Overview

More videos:

  • Review - AutoHotkey Review - Open2Free.com

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Microsoft keyboard layout creator and AutoHotkey)
Note Taking
100 100%
0% 0
Automation
7 7%
93% 93
Windows Tools
9 9%
91% 91
Scripts
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Microsoft keyboard layout creator and AutoHotkey

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AutoHotkey Reviews

Microsoft Power Automate
AutoHotkey is one of the most popular Windows alternatives that can effectively replace Microsoft Power Automate. It is a popular open source and free choice that exists to the users. As a script-generating tool, it allows its users to effortlessly build small and easy-to-complex scripts for any task. Some of the special features that AutoHotkey offers are listed below:
Top 15 Best TinyTask Alternatives in 2022
This is another tinytask alternative. With C++ programming, AutoHotkey is a versatile and open-source platform for bespoke scripting languages intended for Microsoft Windows. The software offers quick macro building as well as simple hotkeys and shortcuts for you. Windows apps that allow repetitive operations to be automated are being made more efficient via AutoHotkey. You...
15 Best AutoHotkey Alternatives 2022
While AutoHotkey is a decent tool, there are dozens of other similar and even better tools that include different features that can be a lot more versatile and easier to use. So some of the reasons why you might need an AutoHotkey alternative include lack of features, better versatility, easier use, lighter tool, or missing features.
9 Best AutoHotkey Alternative Apps
So there are a few efficient alternative apps for AutoHotkey. In this post, you will see the nine best alternatives to AutoHotkey.
Autohotkey Alternatives and Similar Free Software
You will get much similar software and alternative to AutoHotkey, and all of them have the same features, even better ones than the original. If you are not satisfied with AutoHotkey, you can always go for the alternatives, have a look!

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, AutoHotkey seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 39 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.

Microsoft keyboard layout creator mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Microsoft keyboard layout creator yet. Tracking of Microsoft keyboard layout creator recommendations started around Mar 2021.

AutoHotkey mentions (39)

  • I tried every todo app and ended up with a .txt file
    One useful addition for text file users: on Windows, create hotkey\macro timestamps using something like Autohotkey (https://autohotkey.com/) 3 letter hotkeys seem to work well - long enough to be unique without overlapping real words. For instance, when I type ddd it automatically stamps this: 20250811 10:57 AM then I type my note and can look back at what time\date it was. Sometimes I just need the date so that... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • I made an alternative to convar helper so you can easily activate your favorite cheats and other vconsole commands, and it's versatile enough to use for other purposes too!
    All you have to do (other than have autohotkey installed) is. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Multiple dictionaries or alternatives.
    But, if you just install AutoHotKey, you can run these two scripts to select a first and a second dictionary: Select Dictionaries Zipfile. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Add prompt to text?
    You could try (and I have no affiliation with) http://autohotkey.com - then allocate the key to something like ctrl-F13 (often unused - but reachable via sending system keystroke). Source: over 2 years ago
  • Ctrl CapsLock Menu: The Best CapsLock Menu Script (Completely nonbiased statement)
    Autohotkey.com Go to the ahk website, click download, then choose 'Download v1.1 (deprecated)'. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Microsoft keyboard layout creator and AutoHotkey, you can also consider the following products

KbdEdit - Keyboard layout editor, mapper/remapper.

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

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

xmodmap - The xmodmap program is used to edit and display the keyboard modifier map and keymap table that are...

Puloverโ€™s Macro Creator - Puloverโ€™s Macro Creator is a Free Automation Tool and Script Generator.