# Keyboard Maestro

> Macro automation for macOS with triggers and actions

Keyboard Maestro is a macOS automation app from Stairways Software. Users build macros from triggers and actions to launch and control applications, fill in web forms, transform text and images, and run scripts, either on command or on a schedule. It also includes a clipboard history switcher, named clipboards, and application and window switchers. Each major version is sold as a one-time purchase rather than a subscription.

- **Category:** Desktop Utilities
- **Made by:** Stairways Software Pty Ltd (since 1995)
- **Website:** https://www.keyboardmaestro.com
- **Runs on:** macOS
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 5, 2026

## Pricing

Keyboard Maestro is a paid product with a free trial, starting at US$36 one-time purchase for version 11, plus applicable tax.

- **Pricing model:** Free trial
- **Free plan:** None.
- **Free trial:** Fully functional trial download; the pages read do not state how long it lasts.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Keyboard Maestro 11 | US$36 one-time purchase, plus applicable tax | A per-user license for version 11.x that an individual may use on up to five Macs. Not a subscription; version 11 can be used indefinitely. |
| Upgrade to version 11 | US$25 one-time upgrade, plus applicable tax | For owners of any previous version. Purchases made since 1 March 2023 were issued a free upgrade to version 11. |

Read from https://www.keyboardmaestro.com/main/ on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Keyboard Maestro before buying.

## Ways to pay less

- **US$25 upgrade from any previous version** (Other savings): Owners of an earlier version can buy an upgrade to version 11 for US$25 plus tax instead of the US$36 new-license price. Source: https://www.keyboardmaestro.com/main/
- **Volume discount for ten or more users** (Other savings): The user manual asks customers with ten or more users to contact Stairways Software for a volume discount quote. Source: https://wiki.keyboardmaestro.com/manual/Purchase

## Key features

- **Macros built from triggers and actions:** A macro pairs one or more triggers with a list of actions, created by hand or by recording. Built-in actions include control flow, conditions and loops, and third-party plug-in actions can be added.
- **Many trigger types:** Macros can fire from a hot key, a typed string, a time of day or cron schedule, an application launching, a folder change, a USB or MIDI device, a Wi-Fi network change or a remote web link.
- **Clipboard history and named clipboards:** The Clipboard History Switcher browses and pastes past clipboard entries, and an unlimited number of Named Clipboards are saved permanently.
- **Text, image and web actions:** Type or paste strings, expand typed snippets, run calculations, OCR and capture images, and work with the front page in Safari or Chrome, including filling in forms.
- **Application and window control:** Launch, quit, show or hide applications, move and resize windows, and switch between running apps and open windows with the Application and Window Switchers.
- **Scripting and syncing:** Macros can run AppleScript, shell scripts and JavaScript, and can be triggered from scripts, a URL or the keyboardmaestro command-line tool. Macros sync across Macs through Dropbox or other file sharing.

## Good for

- Mac users who repeat the same multi-step tasks and want to automate them
- People who prefer paying once per major version to a subscription
- Users who want clipboard history, text expansion and app switching in one tool

## Worth knowing

- macOS only; version 11 requires macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later.
- The license covers version 11.x. Later major versions are paid upgrades, which the vendor says it releases roughly every 12 to 36 months.
- There is no free plan: the programs are free to download and try, but continued use requires a license.
- Licensed per user for up to five Macs; customers with ten or more users are asked to contact the vendor for a volume quote.

## Works with

Safari, Google Chrome, Stream Deck, Dropbox, 1Password, AppleScript

**Tags:** Workflow automation, Text expansion, Clipboard manager, Window management, One-time purchase

## Alternatives

- [BetterTouchTool](https://toolgpa.com/tools/bettertouchtool): Mac input customization: gestures, shortcuts and automation. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/bettertouchtool-vs-keyboard-maestro)
- [Hammerspoon](https://toolgpa.com/tools/hammerspoon): Free, open-source macOS automation scripted in Lua. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/hammerspoon-vs-keyboard-maestro)
- [Karabiner-Elements](https://toolgpa.com/tools/karabiner-elements): Free, open-source keyboard customizer for macOS. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/karabiner-elements-vs-keyboard-maestro)
- [Raycast](https://toolgpa.com/tools/raycast): Keyboard launcher with extensions, clipboard history and AI. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/keyboard-maestro-vs-raycast)
- [Alfred](https://toolgpa.com/tools/alfred): Mac launcher with hotkeys, snippets and custom workflows. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/alfred-vs-keyboard-maestro)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026:

- https://www.keyboardmaestro.com/main/
- https://www.keyboardmaestro.com/main/store
- https://wiki.keyboardmaestro.com/manual/Purchase
- https://wiki.keyboardmaestro.com/manual/Features
- https://www.stairways.com/main/download
- https://www.stairways.com/main/history

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/keyboard-maestro
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).