The Hammerspoon Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Hammerspoon in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Hammerspoon
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open-source macOS automation scripted in Lua
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Hammerspoon’s own pages.
Made by Hammerspoon contributors · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Hammerspoon’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Hammerspoon’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 36 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
Hammerspoon is a free, open-source automation tool for macOS that connects system APIs to a Lua scripting engine. Users write a Lua configuration file that ties events, such as a hotkey, a Wi-Fi change or an app launching, to actions such as moving windows, showing alerts or running AppleScript. It does nothing until it is configured, and pre-made plugins called Spoons cover common jobs.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Hammerspoon, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No rating is on record, and the site says it plainly: out of the box it does nothing.
- 1
Best for scripting your Mac in Lua
Out of the box it does nothing, so every behavior is code you write in a config file or a Spoon you load.
- 2
It is free
Hammerspoon has no paid plan at all. The whole app is free and open source under the MIT license. The developers do not take donations and suggest giving to a charity instead.
- 3
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 4
Lua bridge to macOS
Extensions expose macOS APIs for applications, windows, screens, audio devices, batteries, clipboards, Wi-Fi, location and low-level keyboard and mouse events to Lua code.
- 5
Hotkeys
A keyboard shortcut can be bound to any Lua function, from showing a notification to running a series of window operations or an AppleScript.
- 6
Window movement and layouts
Scripts can move and resize the focused window, arrange several apps' windows into a saved layout across screens, and use window filters to act on groups of windows.
- 7
A 2.6 GPA, above 36 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Hammerspoon is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Hammerspoon at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- Hammerspoon contributors, since 2014
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for scripting your Mac in Lua
Hammerspoon is a free, open-source tool for scripting your Mac in Lua: bind a hotkey to a window layout, or mute the volume when you leave your home Wi-Fi. Out of the box it does nothing, so every behavior is code you write in a config file or a Spoon you load. It's Mac only, the current release needs macOS 13, it needs Accessibility permission, and it collects crash data unless you turn that off.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source under the MIT licence, a plain download, with every extension included. The developers don't even take donations, and suggest you give to a charity instead. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole app is free, as a direct download or a Homebrew cask. There's no paid version to compare it with. |
| Features | B | It hands Lua the Mac's own controls for apps, windows, screens, audio, batteries, Wi-Fi, the clipboard and keyboard and mouse events, so hotkeys, saved window layouts, event watchers and menu bar items are all in reach. Nothing in the listing shows a gap in what it can automate. |
| Ease of use | D | No rating is on record, and the site says it plainly: out of the box it does nothing. Every behaviour is Lua you write in ~/.hammerspoon/init.lua, or a Spoon you load from it, and you grant the Accessibility permission by hand. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only, one operating system, and release 1.1.1 needs macOS 13.0 or later. It can talk to AppleScript, Spotify, Messages, Stream Deck and Asana, and other apps can trigger it through hammerspoon:// URLs. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Hammerspoon is for
- Fits if you're comfortable writing Lua and want your Mac to behave your way
- Works for people who want several apps' windows put into a saved layout from one shortcut
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you don't want to write code, because nothing works until you've scripted it
- Not for you if you're on Windows or Linux, as it's macOS only
- Not for you if you'd rather nothing was collected by default, as crash information is until you turn it off
- Tight if your Mac is older, since release 1.1.1 needs macOS 13.0 and earlier systems need an earlier release
- Watch out: it depends on the Accessibility permission, which you grant by hand in the privacy settings
Good to know
Good for
- Mac users comfortable writing Lua who want to script their own automation
- Custom window management driven by keyboard shortcuts
- Triggering actions from system events such as joining a Wi-Fi network
Worth knowing
- macOS only. Release 1.1.1 lists a minimum of macOS 13.0; older Macs need an earlier release.
- Out of the box it does nothing: every behavior has to be written in Lua in ~/.hammerspoon/init.lua or added as a Spoon.
- It depends on the macOS Accessibility permission, which the user has to grant by hand in the system's privacy settings.
- Crash information is collected by default; the FAQ says this can be turned off in the preferences.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Hammerspoon is free to use.
Free and open source under the MIT licence, a plain download, with every extension included.
Hammerspoon
$0
The complete app with every extension, as a direct download or a Homebrew cask. Open source under the MIT license.
The free plan
The whole app is free and open source under the MIT license. The developers do not take donations and suggest giving to a charity instead.
Read from github.com on Oct 6, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: macOS
Free, open-source macOS automation scripted in Lua. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, workflow automation, window management.
Nothing in the listing shows a gap in what it can automate.
- Lua bridge to macOS
- Extensions expose macOS APIs for applications, windows, screens, audio devices, batteries, clipboards, Wi-Fi, location and low-level keyboard and mouse events to Lua code.
- Hotkeys
- A keyboard shortcut can be bound to any Lua function, from showing a notification to running a series of window operations or an AppleScript.
- Window movement and layouts
- Scripts can move and resize the focused window, arrange several apps' windows into a saved layout across screens, and use window filters to act on groups of windows.
- Event watchers
- A configuration can react to application events, Wi-Fi network changes and USB devices, for example muting the volume when the Mac leaves the home network.
- Spoons
- Spoons are pre-made plugins, installed by double-clicking a .spoon file and loaded from the config. The official list includes an app launcher and a window switcher.
- Menu bar items and URL triggers
- Scripts can create menu bar items, draw on the screen and send iMessage or SMS messages, and other apps can trigger them through hammerspoon:// URLs.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- AppleScript
- Spotify
- Music.app
- Messages
- Stream Deck
- Asana
Hammerspoon is made by Hammerspoon contributors, and has been around since 2014.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
36/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
Hammerspoon's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 36 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 20.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 49 of 94) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Hammerspoon has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Hammerspoon’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- AFree plan and trialAbove 49 of 94
- BFeaturesAbove 72 of 94
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 94
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 94
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 55 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Hammerspoon is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Hammerspoon is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could not
- Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
- Control over other apps' windows.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Hammerspoon’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Keyboard Maestro, BetterTouchTool, Karabiner-Elements, AutoHotkey and Apple Shortcuts
The 5 tools Hammerspoon is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Keyboard Maestro
Free trial · from $36 one-time
Macro automation for macOS with triggers and actions.
- Hammerspoon has a free plan. Keyboard Maestro does not, though it has a free trial.
- Hammerspoon is open source, according to its own site.
- Keyboard Maestro can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
BetterTouchTool
Free trial · from $15 one-time
Mac input customization: gestures, shortcuts and automation.
- Hammerspoon has a free plan. BetterTouchTool does not, though it has a free trial.
- Hammerspoon is open source, according to its own site.
- BetterTouchTool can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
Karabiner-Elements
Free
Free, open-source keyboard customizer for macOS.
- Hammerspoon also covers workflow automation and window management.
- Karabiner-Elements also covers menu bar app and keyboard and mouse remapping.
- 2.6GPA
AutoHotkey
Free
Free, open-source scripting language for Windows automation.
- Only Hammerspoon lists a macOS app.
- Only AutoHotkey lists a Windows app.
- Hammerspoon also covers window management.
- 2.8GPA
Apple Shortcuts
Free
Free automation app for iPhone, iPad and Mac, built by Apple.
- Only Apple Shortcuts lists an iOS app.
- Hammerspoon is open source, according to its own site.
- Hammerspoon also covers window management.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Hammerspoon free?
Yes. Hammerspoon is free to use.
How much does Hammerspoon cost?
Hammerspoon lists one plan. Hammerspoon: $0.
What platforms does Hammerspoon work on?
Hammerspoon is available on macOS.
Does Hammerspoon have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Hammerspoon is listed for macOS.
Does Hammerspoon have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Hammerspoon is listed for macOS.
Is Hammerspoon open source?
Yes. Hammerspoon is open source, according to its own site.
What does Hammerspoon integrate with?
Hammerspoon's listing names AppleScript, Spotify, Music.app, Messages, Stream Deck and Asana.
Who makes Hammerspoon?
Hammerspoon is made by Hammerspoon contributors. It dates from 2014.
What are the alternatives to Hammerspoon?
The closest alternatives to Hammerspoon in our directory are Keyboard Maestro, BetterTouchTool, Karabiner-Elements, AutoHotkey and Apple Shortcuts.
How does Hammerspoon compare with other desktop utilities?
Hammerspoon's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 36 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 20.
Is Hammerspoon good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Hammerspoon A for value for money. Hammerspoon has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Hammerspoon?
Hammerspoon is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Hammerspoon’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Hammerspoon's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-27.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Hammerspoon contributors. Prices change, so check hammerspoon.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Hammerspoon, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/hammerspoon
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Hammerspoon: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/hammerspoon
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/hammerspoon/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
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- 7-Zip Insider's GuideFree, open-source file archiver with the 7z format3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Hammerspoon’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Hammerspoon is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Hammerspoon contributors. Prices and plans change: check hammerspoon.org before you buy.