The Homerow Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Homerow 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.
Homerow
The Insider’s Guide
Keyboard labels for clicking any button or link on macOS
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Homerow’s own pages.
Made by Homerow · checked Oct 9, 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 Homerow’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Homerow’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.0
GPA, above 1 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
Homerow is a macOS app for clicking and scrolling without a mouse. A shortcut puts short letter labels on the buttons, links and other controls on screen, and typing a label clicks that element; a separate scroll mode moves the active area with the H, J, K and L keys. It can be tried free with no time limit, with a reminder every 50 activations, and a one-time $49.99 license covers all of the buyer's personal Macs.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Homerow, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for clicking around a Mac without the mouse
Homerow is a Mac app that puts letter labels on buttons and links, so you type a label instead of reaching for the mouse.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $49.99 one-time purchase.
- 3
You can try it first
Free trial with full functionality and no time limit; a reminder appears every 50 activations
- 4
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 5
Labels on clickable elements
An activation shortcut, Command-Shift-Space by default, shows a label beside each button, link and control. Typing the label moves focus to it and Return clicks it.
- 6
Search by element name
Typing part of an element's text narrows the labels to matches. A labels-only mode turns search off so labels can be typed without holding Shift.
- 7
Right, double and Command clicks
Shift-Return right-clicks, Return pressed twice double-clicks, and Command-Return performs a Command-click, which opens a link in a new tab.
- 8
A 2.0 GPA, above 1 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Your call
It depends on the utility: a converter or a calculator is an afternoon.
Homerow at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $49.99 one-time purchase
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Free trial with full functionality and no time limit; a reminder appears every 50 activations
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- Homerow
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for clicking around a Mac without the mouse
Homerow is a Mac app that puts letter labels on buttons and links, so you type a label instead of reaching for the mouse. It does that one job, for $49.99 once. The license is personal and capped at a set number of device activations, the free trial nags every 50 activations, and apps with weak accessibility support may not work fully. It's Mac only, on macOS 13 or later, so teams and anyone off the Mac should look elsewhere.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | $49.99 once covers all your own Macs, updates included. Utilities here sit around $2.99 a month in the middle, so that's inside two years of a subscription, which puts it in the cheaper half for a buy-once app. Students get 30% off. |
| Free plan and trial | C | No free plan. The trial is the full app with no time limit and the listing shows no card being asked for, which is the ordinary deal: you get a proper look, then a purchase reminder every 50 activations. |
| Features | C | It does one job, clicking without a mouse, and does it fully: labels on buttons, links and controls, search by an element text, right, double and Command clicks, and a scroll mode on H, J, K and L. That is a smaller job than most utilities here take on. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and this one isn't install-and-go: you grant the Accessibility permission, then learn the labels, the search mode and the scroll keys. If you've used Vimium you'll be quick. If you haven't, it's a new habit. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only, on macOS 13 or later. Inside the Mac it works across Chrome, Firefox, Arc, VS Code, Slack, Notion and Figma, and pairs with Karabiner-Elements. Nothing for Windows or Linux. |
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 Homerow is for
- Fits if you already use Vimium-style link hints and want them across your Mac
- Works for one person with a few Macs of their own, within the license's activation limit
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on Windows or Linux, or a Mac older than macOS 13
- Pricey if you'd only use it now and then: $49.99 for an app with one purpose
- Not for you if it's for a work team: the license is personal and has a maximum number of device activations
- Watch out: it relies on the Accessibility permission, and the terms say apps with limited accessibility support may not work fully
- Watch out: the unlicensed app nags every 50 activations, and the 30% student discount needs a verified student email
Good to know
Good for
- Keyboard-focused Mac users who want to stop reaching for the mouse
- People used to Vimium-style link hints in the browser
- Buyers who prefer a one-time license covering several personal Macs
Worth knowing
- macOS only; the download button on the website says macOS 13 or later is required.
- The license is for personal use on your own Macs, and each license has a maximum number of device activations.
- It depends on the macOS Accessibility permission, and the terms say apps with limited accessibility support may not work fully.
- The unlicensed app shows a purchase reminder every 50 activations; the student discount of 30% needs a verified student email.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$49.99 one-time
To start
Homerow is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $49.99 one-time purchase.
Homerow
$49.99
one-time purchase
A personal license for all of your own Macs, with all future updates included and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Trying it first
Free trial with full functionality and no time limit; a reminder appears every 50 activations
Read from homerow.app on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Education
30% off for students
Homerow's FAQ says students get 30% off: entering a valid student email address on the pricing section sends a discount code.
Stated on homerow.app
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
Keyboard labels for clicking any button or link on macOS. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, keyboard-first.
That is a smaller job than most utilities here take on.
- Labels on clickable elements
- An activation shortcut, Command-Shift-Space by default, shows a label beside each button, link and control. Typing the label moves focus to it and Return clicks it.
- Search by element name
- Typing part of an element's text narrows the labels to matches. A labels-only mode turns search off so labels can be typed without holding Shift.
- Right, double and Command clicks
- Shift-Return right-clicks, Return pressed twice double-clicks, and Command-Return performs a Command-click, which opens a link in a new tab.
- Scroll mode
- A second shortcut starts scrolling the active area with H, J, K and L, with faster dashes on Shift, half-screen jumps on D and U, and keys for top and bottom.
- Mission Control navigation
- Version 1.5.0, released in March 2026, added keyboard navigation of Mission Control, along with sound effects for clicks and a redesigned settings window.
- Custom shortcuts and Hyper key
- Every shortcut can be changed in preferences, modifier-only shortcuts are allowed, and Caps Lock can be remapped to a Hyper key for activation.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- Chrome
- Firefox
- Arc
- VS Code
- Slack
- Notion
- Figma
- Karabiner-Elements
Homerow is made by Homerow.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
1/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
Homerow's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 1 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on value for money (B, above 12 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Homerow’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 12 of 94
- CFree plan and trialAbove 4 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- CEase of useAbove 6 of 94
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 94
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.
Your call
It depends on the utility: a converter or a calculator is an afternoon.
Homerow sits between: not beyond making, and not a weekend's work either. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. At $49.99, paid once, it costs less than the weekend it would take to replace, which is the argument for keeping it.
What you could not
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, Chrome, Firefox and Arc among them.
What this rests on. Homerow’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
Raycast, Alfred, Karabiner-Elements and BetterTouchTool
The 4 tools Homerow is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Raycast
Free plan · from $96/yr
Keyboard launcher with extensions, clipboard history and AI.
- Raycast has a free plan. Homerow does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Raycast lists Windows and iOS apps.
- Only Raycast lists a browser extension.
- 2.4GPA
Alfred
Free plan · from £34 one-time
Mac launcher with hotkeys, snippets and custom workflows.
- Alfred has a free plan. Homerow does not, though it has a free trial.
- Alfred also covers workflow automation, launcher, clipboard manager and text expansion.
- 2.6GPA
Karabiner-Elements
Free
Free, open-source keyboard customizer for macOS.
- Karabiner-Elements has a free plan. Homerow does not, though it has a free trial.
- Homerow can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Karabiner-Elements is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
BetterTouchTool
Free trial · from $15 one-time
Mac input customization: gestures, shortcuts and automation.
- BetterTouchTool also covers workflow automation, launcher, clipboard manager, window management and keyboard and mouse remapping.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
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 Homerow free?
No, Homerow is a paid product, but you can try it first. Free trial with full functionality and no time limit; a reminder appears every 50 activations.
How much does Homerow cost?
Homerow lists one plan. Homerow: $49.99 one-time purchase.
What platforms does Homerow work on?
Homerow is available on macOS.
Does Homerow offer any discounts?
Homerow publicly lists the following: 30% off for students.
Does Homerow have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Homerow is listed for macOS.
Does Homerow have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Homerow is listed for macOS.
Is Homerow open source?
Homerow is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
What does Homerow integrate with?
Homerow's listing names Chrome, Firefox, Arc, VS Code, Slack, Notion, Figma and Karabiner-Elements.
Does Homerow have a student discount?
30% off for students. Homerow's FAQ says students get 30% off: entering a valid student email address on the pricing section sends a discount code.
Who makes Homerow?
Homerow is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Homerow?
The closest alternatives to Homerow in our directory are Raycast, Alfred, Karabiner-Elements and BetterTouchTool.
How does Homerow compare with other desktop utilities?
Homerow's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 1 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 5.
Could I make my own version of Homerow?
It depends on the utility: a converter or a calculator is an afternoon.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Homerow’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Homerow's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-09-21.
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 Homerow. Prices change, so check homerow.app 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
- Homerow, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/homerow
- 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, "Homerow: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/homerow
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/homerow/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after Homerow, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 95 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- 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 Homerow’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. Homerow is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Homerow. Prices and plans change: check homerow.app before you buy.