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The Macro Recorder Insider’s Guide

Everything we know about Macro Recorder 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.

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ToolGPAOctober 2026

Macro Recorder

The Insider’s Guide

Records mouse and keyboard actions for replay on Windows and Mac

Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among automation tools, read from Macro Recorder’s own pages.

Made by Bartels Media GmbH · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com

2.6GPA

Contents

  1. 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
  2. 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
  3. 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
  4. 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
  5. 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
  6. 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
  7. 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

ToolGPA put this guide together from Macro Recorder’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Macro Recorder’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 24 of the 40 other automation tools we grade

Macro Recorder is a desktop automation tool for Windows and Mac that records mouse movements, clicks and keystrokes and replays them as often as needed. A recording opens in a built-in editor as a list of actions, where steps such as image and text detection, waits, repeats and AI actions can be added without a scripting language. It is sold as a one-time license in three editions, alongside a feature-limited freeware version for personal use.

To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Macro Recorder, taken from its own pages and our grades.

No store rating on record, so B is the ceiling.
From our grade for ease of use
  1. 1

    Best for replaying the same clicks and keystrokes on a desktop

    The shop page shows no prices, there's no Linux version, and the vendor doesn't offer refunds.

  2. 2

    What it costs

    Paid plans start at $99.95 one-time for the Standard edition, with 12 months of updates.

  3. 3

    There is a free plan

    Freeware for personal use with limited features and no cap on repeats or on the number of actions. Use in a company setting, or for work that earns money, requires a license after 30 days.

  4. 4

    It runs on 2 platforms

    Windows and macOS.

  5. 5

    Record, edit and replay

    Captures mouse movements, clicks, scroll-wheel actions and keystrokes. Mouse moves between two clicks are merged into one action, so the list of steps stays short enough to edit and rearrange.

  6. 6

    SmartClick

    Clicks are located by the visual area around the target, not by fixed coordinates, so playback waits until the target appears and still finds it if it has moved. Needs Professional or Enterprise.

  7. 7

    Image, OCR and pixel detection

    A macro can find an image or text on screen, wait for a pixel to change color and branch on the result. Capturing text, barcodes and QR codes for later steps needs Enterprise.

  8. 8

    A 2.6 GPA, above 24 of 40

    That is against the other automation tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.

  9. 9

    Keep it

    To replace Macro Recorder you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.

Macro Recorder at a glance

Pricing
Free plan, from $99.95 one-time for the Standard edition, with 12 months of updates
Free plan
Yes
Free trial
Paid-edition features can be tested in the free download before buying; license notifications appear while they are in use
Runs on
macOS, Windows
Made by
Bartels Media GmbH
Category
Automation
Our grade
2.6 GPA, good

The report card

Best for replaying the same clicks and keystrokes on a desktop

Macro Recorder records you doing a job with the mouse and keyboard once, then replays it on Windows or Mac, with no scripting and a one-time price. Standard is $99.95, but clicks that find a moved button and the scheduler need Professional at $149.95, and AI steps need Enterprise at $249.95. The shop page shows no prices, there's no Linux version, and the vendor doesn't offer refunds.

ToolGPA report cardMacro RecorderGraded Oct 10, 2026
SubjectGradeComment
Value for moneyA$99.95 once for Standard, against subscriptions that start around $19 a month here, so it costs about what five months of one does, and nothing after. Updates are included for a year. Note the figures come from the vendor's version 5 press release, as its shop page shows no prices.
Free plan and trialCThere's a freeware version for personal use with no cap on actions or repeats, but SmartClick, image and OCR recognition and the scheduler are missing, and use in a company or for paid work needs a license after 30 days. You can try the paid features first, with license notices while you do.
FeaturesCIt covers desktop macros: records mouse and keyboard, SmartClick that finds a button after it has moved, image, OCR and pixel detection, window positions restored before playback, and AI steps on Enterprise. One job, though, on one computer. It connects to nothing.
Ease of useBNo store rating on record, so B is the ceiling. There's nothing to set up: install it, press record, do the job once, and the recording opens as an editable list of steps with no scripting language to learn.
Platforms and integrationsCWindows and Mac desktops, with no Linux version and no web or phone app, and one licence covers one or the other. It talks to the vendor's own PhraseExpress and to AI providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic or a local Ollama model, and that's the list.
Grade point averageGood, out of 4.02.6

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 Macro Recorder is for

  • Fits if you repeat the same clicks in desktop software and want them replayed for you
  • Works for people who'd rather buy a license once than rent software by the month

Who it is not for

  • Pricey if you want the AI steps and variables, which need Enterprise at $249.95, and updates stop after 12 months unless you renew
  • Skip it if you might want your money back, because the vendor doesn't offer refunds
  • Not for you if you're on Linux, as it's Windows and Mac only, and one license covers one or the other
  • Tight if you stay on Standard, which has no SmartClick, image or OCR recognition, or macro scheduler
  • Watch out: the freeware is for personal use; at work or for paid jobs it needs a license after 30 days

Good to know

Good for

  • Repeating the same clicks and keystrokes in desktop software or a browser
  • People who want to automate without learning a scripting language
  • Buyers who prefer a one-time license to a subscription

Worth knowing

  • The shop page shows no prices. The figures here are from the vendor's version 5 press release of September 25, 2026; checkout is handled by its reseller, PayProGlobal.
  • SmartClick, image and OCR recognition and the macro scheduler need Professional; AI support, variables and barcode reading need Enterprise.
  • A license includes 12 months of updates. The installed version keeps working after that, but newer versions need a paid maintenance renewal.
  • There is no Linux version, one license covers either a Windows or a Mac user, and the vendor does not offer refunds.

Part 02 · Pricing

What it costs

Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved

$99.95 one-time

To start. There is a free plan too

Macro Recorder has a free plan. Paid plans start at $99.95 one-time for the Standard edition, with 12 months of updates.

You can try the paid features first, with license notices while you do.
From our grade for free plan and trial

  • Freeware

    $0

    Personal use only, with limited features but unlimited actions and repeats. License notifications appear in a company setting or when a paid feature is used.

  • Standard

    $99.95

    one-time per user, with 12 months of updates

    Licensed for professional use, with program execution and Goto, Repeat and Wait actions. No SmartClick, image or OCR recognition, or macro scheduler.

  • Professional

    $149.95

    one-time per user, with 12 months of updates

    Adds SmartClick, image and OCR text recognition, Smart Record, pixel color detection, command-line parameters, the macro scheduler and post-playback options.

  • Enterprise

    $249.95

    one-time per user, with 12 months of updates

    Adds AI support, variables, image and text capture, barcode and QR code reading, and use with PhraseExpress.

The free plan

Freeware for personal use with limited features and no cap on repeats or on the number of actions. Use in a company setting, or for work that earns money, requires a license after 30 days.

Trying it first

Paid-edition features can be tested in the free download before buying; license notifications appear while they are in use

Read from macrorecorder.com on Oct 6, 2026.

Ways to pay less

  • Lifetime license

    One-time purchase with a lifetime license

    Every edition is a single payment with no subscription. The license does not expire and includes 12 months of updates and major new versions; later maintenance renewals are discounted.

    Stated on macrorecorder.com

  • Other savings

    Volume discounts in the cart

    The shop FAQ says a volume discount is applied automatically when the quantity is raised in the shopping cart.

    Stated on macrorecorder.com

Part 03 · Features

What it does

Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it

2

Places it runs: macOS and Windows

Records mouse and keyboard actions for replay on Windows and Mac. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, AI features, workflow automation, no-code.

Windows and Mac desktops, with no Linux version and no web or phone app, and one licence covers one or the other.
From our grade for platforms and integrations
Record, edit and replay
Captures mouse movements, clicks, scroll-wheel actions and keystrokes. Mouse moves between two clicks are merged into one action, so the list of steps stays short enough to edit and rearrange.
SmartClick
Clicks are located by the visual area around the target, not by fixed coordinates, so playback waits until the target appears and still finds it if it has moved. Needs Professional or Enterprise.
Image, OCR and pixel detection
A macro can find an image or text on screen, wait for a pixel to change color and branch on the result. Capturing text, barcodes and QR codes for later steps needs Enterprise.
Window position restore
Window positions and sizes are tracked while recording and restored before playback, so clicks land in the right place even if a program has been moved or resized.
AI actions
Enterprise adds AI steps for text processing, image analysis and finding objects on screen, using OpenRouter, OpenAI, Anthropic or a self-hosted model through Ollama.
PhraseExpress integration
With the vendor's PhraseExpress, macros are organized in folders, triggered by a hotkey or text shortcut and shared with other users on a network. Both products need an Enterprise license.

Where it runs

  • macOS
  • Windows

What it works with

  • PhraseExpress
  • OpenRouter
  • OpenAI
  • Anthropic
  • Ollama

Macro Recorder is made by Bartels Media GmbH.

Part 04 · Standing

Where it stands

Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own

24/40

Other automation tools it is graded above

Macro Recorder's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 24 of the 40 other automation tools we grade, and level with 7.

It stands best on value for money (A, above 27 of 40) and worst on features (C, above 1).

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 41 automation tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Macro Recorder’s own letter is outlined.

  • AValue for moneyAbove 27 of 40
  • CFree plan and trialAbove 2 of 40
  • CFeaturesAbove 1 of 40
  • BEase of useAbove 38 of 40
  • CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 5 of 40

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

To replace Macro Recorder you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.

It costs $99.95, paid once.

What you could not

  • Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
  • A builder that other people can use without writing code.
  • A real app for macOS and Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
  • AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
  • Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.

What this rests on. Macro Recorder’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

RoboTask, Ui.Vision, Microsoft Power Automate, Keyboard Maestro and AutoHotkey

The 5 tools Macro Recorder is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.

  • 2.4GPA

    RoboTask

    Free plan · from $149 one-time

    Task automation for Windows built from ready-made actions.

    • Only Macro Recorder lists a macOS app.
    Macro Recorder and RoboTask compared in full
  • 3.0GPA

    Ui.Vision

    Free plan · from €11.90/mo

    Open-source browser and desktop automation with computer vision.

    • Only Ui.Vision lists a Linux app.
    • Only Ui.Vision lists a browser extension.
    • Macro Recorder can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    Macro Recorder and Ui.Vision compared in full
  • 2.8GPA

    Microsoft Power Automate

    Free plan · from $15/mo

    Cloud workflows and desktop RPA in the Microsoft Power Platform.

    • Only Macro Recorder lists a macOS app.
    • Only Microsoft Power Automate lists a web app.
    • Macro Recorder can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    Macro Recorder and Microsoft Power Automate compared in full
  • 2.2GPA

    Keyboard Maestro

    Free trial · from $36 one-time

    Macro automation for macOS with triggers and actions.

    • Macro Recorder has a free plan. Keyboard Maestro does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Macro Recorder lists a Windows app.
    • Macro Recorder also covers no-code.
    Macro Recorder and Keyboard Maestro compared in full
  • 2.6GPA

    AutoHotkey

    Free

    Free, open-source scripting language for Windows automation.

    • Only Macro Recorder lists a macOS app.
    • Macro Recorder can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    • AutoHotkey is open source, according to its own site.
    Macro Recorder and AutoHotkey compared in full

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 Macro Recorder free?

Macro Recorder has a free plan. Freeware for personal use with limited features and no cap on repeats or on the number of actions.

How much does Macro Recorder cost?

Macro Recorder lists 4 plans. Freeware: $0.

What platforms does Macro Recorder work on?

Macro Recorder is available on Windows and macOS.

Does Macro Recorder offer any discounts?

Macro Recorder publicly lists the following: One-time purchase with a lifetime license; Volume discounts in the cart.

Does Macro Recorder have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Macro Recorder is listed for Windows and macOS.

Does Macro Recorder have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Macro Recorder is listed for Windows and macOS.

Is Macro Recorder open source?

Macro Recorder is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.

What does Macro Recorder integrate with?

Macro Recorder's listing names PhraseExpress, OpenRouter, OpenAI, Anthropic and Ollama.

Does Macro Recorder have a free trial?

Yes. Paid-edition features can be tested in the free download before buying; license notifications appear while they are in use.

Who makes Macro Recorder?

Macro Recorder is made by Bartels Media GmbH.

What are the alternatives to Macro Recorder?

The closest alternatives to Macro Recorder in our directory are RoboTask, Ui.Vision, Microsoft Power Automate, Keyboard Maestro and AutoHotkey.

How does Macro Recorder compare with other automation tools?

Macro Recorder's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 24 of the 40 other automation tools we grade, and level with 7.

Could I make my own version of Macro Recorder?

To replace Macro Recorder you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.

Where this guide comes from

The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Macro Recorder’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 Macro Recorder's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-01-20.

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 Bartels Media GmbH. Prices change, so check macrorecorder.com 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

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, "Macro Recorder: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/macro-recorder

Know someone choosing between automation tools?

Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/macro-recorder/guide

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See our other guides

The best-graded automation tools after Macro Recorder, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.

ToolGPA

Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.

Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›

Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Macro Recorder’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. Macro Recorder is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Bartels Media GmbH. Prices and plans change: check macrorecorder.com before you buy.