# Shortcat review (2026): is it worth it? > Click and switch windows on a Mac using only the keyboard Checked Nov 13, 2026 ยท graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA. Shortcat is a macOS app that reads the interface of the active app through the Accessibility API and lists buttons, menus and windows in a searchable palette. You type a few letters to click an element, search a menu or jump to a window. It also works in Safari, Chrome and Firefox. - **Category:** Window Managers & Launchers - **Made by:** Sproutcube - **Website:** https://shortcat.app/ - **Runs on:** macOS - **Who should skip it:** Skip it if you use Windows or Linux, as it is Mac only. - **Facts last checked:** Nov 13, 2026 ## Pricing Shortcat's current pricing could not be confirmed from its own site. ## Key features - **Click with the keyboard:** Type what you want to click, such as ok for an OK button; supports right, double and modified clicks. - **Window search:** Searches window titles to bring a window forward without cycling through the app switcher. - **Menu search:** Exposes the front app's menu items to fuzzy search. - **Browser support:** Works in Safari, Chrome, Firefox and some Chromium browsers such as Vivaldi. - **Emoji mode:** Fuzzy search for emojis by several labels. ## Good for - Mac users who want to cut mouse use - People who like Vimium-style link clicking across all apps ## Worth knowing - Needs macOS 13 or later and Accessibility permission. - Results depend on how well each app implements Accessibility, including some Electron apps. - The site shows no price or license terms, so the cost could not be confirmed. ## ToolGPA grades **GPA: 1.6 out of 4**, graded Nov 13, 2026. Shortcat reads the front app's interface and lets you click buttons, search menus and jump between windows by typing. Its site shows no price or license terms, and how well it works depends on how each app handles Accessibility. - **Value for money: C.** No price is published on the site, so there is nothing to set against the category's $8.00 middle or $19 one-time figure. - **Free plan and trial: F.** The listing records no free plan and no trial, and the site shows no price or terms to say otherwise. - **Features: C.** Clicking, menu search, window search and emoji search, but results depend on each app's Accessibility support, including some Electron apps. It does that one job fully, and it is a smaller job. - **Ease of use: C.** No store rating on record, and it needs macOS 13 or later plus an Accessibility permission before it does anything. - **Platforms and integrations: C.** Mac only, with Safari, Chrome and Firefox support but no other devices and no integrations listed. These are ToolGPA's own grades. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Sproutcube's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. ## Where it stands among window managers and launchers - Shortcat's GPA of 1.6 is higher than 0 of the 48 other window managers and launchers we grade. - It stands best on platforms and integrations (C, above 35 of 48) and worst on free plan and trial (F, above 0). The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/window-managers ## Keep it, or make your own? **Keep it.** To replace Shortcat you would be making a launcher wired into the operating system. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one. That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 48 of the 48 other window managers and launchers grade higher. - You could not: A launcher wired into the operating system. - You could not: Control over other apps' windows. - You could not: A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page. A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it. **Tags:** Keyboard-first, Launcher, Window management ## Alternatives - [Superkey](https://toolgpa.com/tools/superkey): Mac hyper key, key remapping and keyboard screen clicking. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/shortcat-vs-superkey) - [Mouseless](https://toolgpa.com/tools/mouseless): Control the mouse from the keyboard on Mac, Windows and Linux. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/mouseless-vs-shortcat) - [Hyperkey](https://toolgpa.com/tools/hyperkey): Free Mac utility that turns a key into the Hyper modifier. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/hyperkey-vs-shortcat) - [Contexts](https://toolgpa.com/tools/contexts): Mac window switcher with search, a sidebar and a better Command-Tab. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/contexts-vs-shortcat) - [Sol](https://toolgpa.com/tools/sol): Open-source macOS launcher and command palette. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/shortcat-vs-sol) ## Sources The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026: - https://shortcat.app/ - https://shortcat.app/docs/ - https://shortcat.app/changelog Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/shortcat Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).