The Karabiner-Elements Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Karabiner-Elements 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.
Karabiner-Elements
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open-source keyboard customizer for macOS
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Karabiner-Elements’s own pages.
Made by pqrs.org (Takayama Fumihiko) · checked Oct 5, 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 Karabiner-Elements’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Karabiner-Elements’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 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
Karabiner-Elements is a free, open-source keyboard customizer for macOS. Simple key-to-key changes are set in its settings window, while more involved rules, such as turning Caps Lock into a modifier combination or sending a different key when a key is tapped alone, are written or imported as JSON. Changes can be limited to specific keyboards and grouped into profiles.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Karabiner-Elements, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Only simple swaps happen in the settings window; anything more is a JSON rule you import or write by hand.
- 1
Best for remapping a Mac keyboard for free
Karabiner-Elements is a free, open-source keyboard remapper for the Mac, from one-key swaps to Caps Lock as a set of modifiers.
- 2
It is free
Karabiner-Elements has no paid plan at all. Free to use without any purchase. Funding is optional, through GitHub Sponsors or a $10 PayPal payment that the author describes as effectively a donation.
- 3
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 4
Simple modifications
Change one key to another key from the settings window, with no rules to write.
- 5
Complex modifications
Rule-based changes: turn a key into a combination of modifiers, map a modifier plus key to another key, send a different event when a key is pressed alone, or act on keys pressed simultaneously.
- 6
Community rule gallery
Predefined rules such as Vi and Emacs key bindings, diamond cursor and mouse keys can be imported from the project's rule site, then edited or replaced with your own.
- 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
Karabiner-Elements is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Karabiner-Elements at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- pqrs.org (Takayama Fumihiko)
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for remapping a Mac keyboard for free
Karabiner-Elements is a free, open-source keyboard remapper for the Mac, from one-key swaps to Caps Lock as a set of modifiers. Only simple swaps happen in the settings window; anything more is a JSON rule you import or write by hand. It can't change the fn key on non-Apple keyboards, the current release needs macOS 13, and it does nothing outside the Mac.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source, downloaded and run with nothing to buy. If you want to give back there's GitHub Sponsors or a $10 PayPal payment, which the author calls effectively a donation. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The complete app is free on Intel and Apple silicon Macs. No paid tier, no trial clock, no licence key. |
| Features | C | It does keyboard remapping and nothing else: key-to-key swaps, keys that send something different when tapped alone, per-keyboard rules and profiles from the menu bar. Its own notes say it can't change the fn key on non-Apple keyboards. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and there's a learning curve: one-to-one swaps are a couple of clicks in settings, but anything cleverer is a JSON rule you write or import from the community gallery. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only. The current release supports macOS 13 Ventura and later, and earlier systems need older versions. It handles PC and JIS keyboards plugged into a Mac, but no integrations are listed. |
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 Karabiner-Elements is for
- Fits if you want Caps Lock or other keys remapped on a Mac without paying
- Works for PC and JIS keyboards plugged into a Mac whose keys aren't recognized
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on Windows or Linux, as it's macOS only
- Not for you if JSON puts you off, since anything past a simple key swap is a JSON rule
- Not for you if you need to remap the fn key on a non-Apple keyboard, or the eject key on some, like the Apple Wired Keyboard
- Tight if your Mac is older than macOS 13 Ventura, which leaves you on an older version from the download menu
Good to know
Good for
- Mac users who want to remap keys or modifiers at no cost
- People using PC, JIS or other non-Apple keyboards on a Mac
- Vi and Emacs users who want their key bindings everywhere on macOS
Worth knowing
- macOS only. The current release supports macOS 13 Ventura and later; earlier systems need older versions from the download menu.
- Rules beyond simple key swaps are defined as JSON, either imported from the community gallery or written by hand.
- It cannot modify the fn key on non-Apple keyboards, or the eject key on some keyboards such as the Apple Wired Keyboard.
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
Karabiner-Elements is free to use.
Free and open source, downloaded and run with nothing to buy.
Karabiner-Elements
$0
The complete app, open source and usable without any purchase. Supports Intel-based and Apple silicon Macs.
The free plan
Free to use without any purchase. Funding is optional, through GitHub Sponsors or a $10 PayPal payment that the author describes as effectively a donation.
Read from karabiner-elements.pqrs.org on Oct 5, 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 keyboard customizer for macOS. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, keyboard-first, menu bar app, keyboard and mouse remapping.
Its own notes say it can't change the fn key on non-Apple keyboards.
- Simple modifications
- Change one key to another key from the settings window, with no rules to write.
- Complex modifications
- Rule-based changes: turn a key into a combination of modifiers, map a modifier plus key to another key, send a different event when a key is pressed alone, or act on keys pressed simultaneously.
- Community rule gallery
- Predefined rules such as Vi and Emacs key bindings, diamond cursor and mouse keys can be imported from the project's rule site, then edited or replaced with your own.
- Per-device settings and profiles
- Apply modifications only to chosen keyboards, keep multiple profiles, and switch between profiles from the menu bar icon.
- Function and extra keys
- Map f1 to f12 to media controls, and enable extra keys on PC keyboards that macOS does not recognize by default, such as international and language keys.
- Works at secure prompts
- Modifications keep working in Secure Keyboard Entry environments, such as password prompts and terminals with that option turned on.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Karabiner-Elements is made by pqrs.org (Takayama Fumihiko).
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
Karabiner-Elements'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 platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Karabiner-Elements 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. Karabiner-Elements’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- AFree plan and trialAbove 49 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- CEase of useAbove 6 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. Karabiner-Elements 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
Karabiner-Elements 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
- Keys and buttons remapped below the level of apps.
- A native app living in the menu bar.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Karabiner-Elements’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
BetterTouchTool, Keyboard Maestro, Hammerspoon and Mac Mouse Fix
The 4 tools Karabiner-Elements is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
BetterTouchTool
Free trial · from $15 one-time
Mac input customization: gestures, shortcuts and automation.
- Karabiner-Elements has a free plan. BetterTouchTool does not, though it has a free trial.
- Karabiner-Elements is open source, according to its own site.
- BetterTouchTool can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.2GPA
Keyboard Maestro
Free trial · from $36 one-time
Macro automation for macOS with triggers and actions.
- Karabiner-Elements has a free plan. Keyboard Maestro does not, though it has a free trial.
- Karabiner-Elements is open source, according to its own site.
- Keyboard Maestro can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
Hammerspoon
Free
Free, open-source macOS automation scripted in Lua.
- Karabiner-Elements also covers menu bar app and keyboard and mouse remapping.
- Hammerspoon also covers workflow automation and window management.
- 2.4GPA
Mac Mouse Fix
Free trial · from $2.99 one-time
Trackpad-style gestures and smooth scrolling for third-party mice.
- Karabiner-Elements has a free plan. Mac Mouse Fix does not, though it has a free trial.
- Mac Mouse Fix can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Karabiner-Elements also covers menu bar app.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
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 Karabiner-Elements free?
Yes. Karabiner-Elements is free to use.
How much does Karabiner-Elements cost?
Karabiner-Elements lists one plan. Karabiner-Elements: $0.
What platforms does Karabiner-Elements work on?
Karabiner-Elements is available on macOS.
Does Karabiner-Elements have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Karabiner-Elements is listed for macOS.
Does Karabiner-Elements have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Karabiner-Elements is listed for macOS.
Is Karabiner-Elements open source?
Yes. Karabiner-Elements is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes Karabiner-Elements?
Karabiner-Elements is made by pqrs.org (Takayama Fumihiko).
What are the alternatives to Karabiner-Elements?
The closest alternatives to Karabiner-Elements in our directory are BetterTouchTool, Keyboard Maestro, Hammerspoon and Mac Mouse Fix.
How does Karabiner-Elements compare with other desktop utilities?
Karabiner-Elements's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 36 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 20.
Is Karabiner-Elements good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Karabiner-Elements A for value for money. Karabiner-Elements has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Karabiner-Elements?
Karabiner-Elements is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Karabiner-Elements’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Karabiner-Elements' own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-02.
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 pqrs.org (Takayama Fumihiko). Prices change, so check karabiner-elements.pqrs.org before you buy.
- karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/
- karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/docs/pricing/
- karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/docs/getting-started/features/
- karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/docs/manual/configuration/configure-menu-bar-icon/
- karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/docs/manual/operation/profiles/
- karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/docs/privacy/
- github.com/pqrs-org/Karabiner-Elements
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
- Karabiner-Elements, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/karabiner-elements
- 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, "Karabiner-Elements: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/karabiner-elements
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/karabiner-elements/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 Karabiner-Elements’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. Karabiner-Elements is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by pqrs.org (Takayama Fumihiko). Prices and plans change: check karabiner-elements.pqrs.org before you buy.