AutoHotkey for Mac? Best AHK alternatives & macro apps (2026)

Key Takeaways

BetterTouchTool is the closest single replacement for AHK on Mac. It covers per-app hotkeys (equivalent to #IfWinActive), gesture triggers, AppleScript integration, and remote triggering.
For AHK hotstrings (text expansion), use Espanso. It uses the same colon-based trigger logic as AHK and is free, cross-platform, and script-extensible.
For code snippet expansion, TeaCode beats plain text replacement. It understands code structure and plugs directly into VS Code, JetBrains, Atom, and Sublime Text.
For recording-based macros without any scripting, use Keysmith. Just record what you're doing, stop, and assign a shortcut.
Shortcutie is the bridge between Apple Shortcuts and AHK-style context-aware automation. It adds 70+ actions and lets you trigger menu items, grab selected text, and fire automations based on Wi-Fi, time of day, or active app.
BetterTouchTool, Shortcutie, Keysmith, TeaCode, Almighty, and Lacona are all in Setapp. Start your 7-day free trial — cancel before Day 7, and you won't be charged anything.

Windows users have long had the ability to use AutoHotkey (AHK), a feature that allows users to set up a series of commands that trigger when a few keystrokes are made. It's an excellent feature for those who end up triggering the same set of commands routinely but don't want to jump through the same hoops.

Mac users have something similar. There are macros for macOS available in the Automator app that let you build and run your own AHK scripts. But Automator is difficult for many to use. Depending on your needs, third-party apps may allow you to create scripts on Mac devices with more ease, or create a macro on a Mac inside an app you use most often. AutoHotkey scripts on macOS may not be native, but they're attainable with a few great apps. We'll show you how.

Top AutoHotkey alternatives for Mac (Quick comparison)

Here’s the comparison table of the top AutoHotkey alternatives for Mac:

AHK alternative	Best for	Platform	Pricing	On Setapp
BetterTouchTool	System-wide hotkeys, gestures, per-app targeting	Mac	Included in Setapp from $9.99/mo	Membership + 250 apps
Shortcutie	Extending Apple Shortcuts with menu automation	Mac	Included in Setapp from $9.99/mo	Membership + 250 apps or Marketplace as a standalone app
Almighty	System-level controls and workflow customization	Mac	Included in Setapp from $9.99/mo	Membership + 250 apps
TeaCode	Code snippet expansion for developers	Mac	Included in Setapp from $9.99/mo	Membership + 250 apps
Keysmith	Recording-based macros without scripting	Mac	Included in Setapp from $9.99/mo	Membership + 250 apps
Lacona	Natural language commands and file search	Mac	Included in Setapp from $9.99/mo	Membership + 250 apps
Espanso	Text expansion and hotstrings (AHK-style)	Mac / Windows / Linux	Free	No
Apple Shortcuts	Built-in multi-step workflow automation	Mac / iOS	Free (built into macOS)	No

Not sure whether BetterTouchTool, Keysmith, or Shortcutie is the right starting point for your setup? This productivity tools GPT, cuts through the comparison quickly — describe your AHK use case and get a direct match. I used it when I couldn't decide where to start after switching from Windows.

Key features at a glance (macros, hotkeys, text expansion)

BetterTouchTool: Trackpad and mouse gestures, per-app hotkeys, remote triggering, AppleScript/Shortcuts integration.
Shortcutie: 70+ extra shortcut actions, menu item triggering, context-based automation (Wi-Fi, time, active app).
Almighty: Customizable system settings, Dock management, hidden Finder options, menu bar favourites.
TeaCode: Code snippet expansion with IDE integrations (VS Code, JetBrains, Sublime Text, Atom).
Keysmith: Record-based macros, no scripting required, universal and app-specific shortcut assignment.
Lacona: Natural language Mac commands, fast file search, routine task triggers without scripting.
Espanso: Colon-based hotstrings, downloadable packages, and shell/script command support.

Best AutoHotkey alternatives for Mac: detailed picks

I value your time, so I've organized all the solutions from this article into a list to help you find the best tools quickly and easily:

BetterTouchTool for creating macros, hotkeys, and gestures
Shortcutie for powering up Apple Shortcuts with AHK-style automation
Almighty for deep customization and control over system settings
TeaCode for programming shortcuts and snippets
Espanso for customizable text expansion and hotstrings
Keysmith for recording and assigning keyboard shortcuts
Lacona for natural language commands
Apple Shortcuts for a native Mac experience

BetterTouchTool — Best for system-wide hotkeys, gestures, and AHK-style automation

BetterTouchTool is the app that covers most of AHK's functionalities. While it follows different logic, it's actually more powerful as it goes beyond the keyboard to customize actions from the trackpad, Touch Bar, and mouse.

Not only can you create macros for use on Mac, but BetterTouchTool supports trackpad and mouse gestures, and allows for remote triggering of macros via iPad, iPhone, Apple TV remote, or Siri. One feature that AHK users particularly love is its ability to create hotkeys for specific apps, similar to the #IfWinActive directive in AHK. This makes it possible to set shortcuts without causing conflicts elsewhere. BTT also integrates with AppleScript and the Shortcuts app for more complex automations.

Shortcutie — Best for powering up Apple Shortcuts into AHK-like workflows

Shortcutie helps bridge the gap between Apple Shortcuts and the context-aware automation AHK users are used to. It adds 70+ actions that expand the use case of Shortcuts and make it more efficient.

You can trigger any menu bar item or even select any text on your screen and send it straight to ChatGPT or translate it. You can also trigger various actions or adjust settings based on the Wi-Fi network, time of day, or active app. This makes it crucial if you use AHK to "run this action when X condition is true."

Pricing: Available on Setapp from $9.99/month + tax, along with 250+ other apps or as a standalone app via Setapp Marketplace.

Apple Shortcuts is good. With Shortcutie, it becomes the AHK context-aware automation you've been missing. 70+ extra actions, menu item triggering, and automations that fire based on Wi-Fi, time, or active app. Try Shortcutie Free. Or get Shortcutie standalone via Marketplace — no membership needed.

Almighty — Best for system-level controls and workflow customization

Almighty may not take a direct approach to scripting macros, but it does allow for a deep level of customization to improve your workflow. You can manage your Mac's Dock to only show active apps, and control system settings like keyboard input, screen savers, dark mode, and scheduled shutdowns with more granularity. Almighty also lets you find hidden files in Finder and access your most-used tools in the menu bar.

Pricing: Available on Setapp from $9.99/month + tax, along with 250+ other apps.

TeaCode — Best for code snippet expansion (Developers)

TeaCode is a minimal, straightforward IDE for creating code snippets for use anywhere. If you're adept at writing code and want to create a few shortcuts, TeaCode may be the app you're looking for. There's even an auto-completion feature for code snippets, so you can create faster and worry about errors less often. It plugs into Atom, Visual Studio Code, JetBrains, and Sublime Text.

Pricing: Available on Setapp from $9.99/month + tax, along with 250+ other apps.

Espanso — Best for text expansion and hotstrings (AHK-style)

If you think like a developer while typing, there's a free app named Espanso that might be exactly what you're looking for. It relies on colon-based shortcuts that are customizable — similar to AHK hotstrings. Instead of typing the date, you can use a shortcut like :date, and Espanso will add the correct date for you. There are downloadable packages of shortcuts for Espanso, and you can use shell or scripting commands if you need more power behind your shortcuts.

Pricing: Free

Keysmith — Best for recording-based macros without scripting

You can do just about anything with AHK scripts — simplify and speed up a workflow, add blocks of text with a few keystrokes, or open/close apps with a command. Keysmith lets you do the same without any scripting. You can just open Keysmith and have it record what you're doing, then assign a shortcut. The example below is very simple, but you can also use Keysmith to open multiple apps and run different multi-step actions.

Pricing: Available on Setapp from $9.99/month + tax, along with 250+ other apps.

Want AHK-style macros on Mac — without writing a single line of script? Keysmith records what you do and turns it into a reusable shortcut. Global or per-app, no coding required. Available in Setapp. Try Keysmith Free.

Lacona — Best for natural language commands and file search

Lacona is another replacement for AutoHotkey that doesn't require any scripting. It allows for a more natural way to search your Mac and perform routine functions. If you find yourself wanting to start a call, send a text, or find a file on your Mac, Lacona's search uses natural language to make the entire process simple. Just type your request using natural language, and Lacona will get you started on the right path. It's kind of like Siri, just without voice.

Pricing: Available on Setapp from $9.99/month + tax, along with 250+ other apps.

Is there AutoHotkey for Mac? (And what to use instead)

In short, no, there is no AHK for Mac. That doesn't mean you can't replicate the experience, though. The apps above cover every major AHK use case — hotkeys, text expansion, gestures, recording-based macros, and natural language commands — often going further than AHK itself because they support multiple input devices beyond the keyboard.

And don't forget Automator! Your Mac has a powerful scripting engine built right into macOS. Just be aware that Automator may be a bit confusing for new users, so don't be shy about searching the web for tutorials.

Best macro app for Mac (If you want the closest AHK feel)

If you want a single recommendation that will give you an experience similar to AHK, BetterTouchTool is the best AutoHotkey alternative on Mac.

It allows you to create global and per-app hotkeys, and it also integrates with Shortcuts and AppleScript to give you complex workflows that aren't even possible in AHK.

Hotkeys and app-specific shortcut layers

One of the AHK features most users value is the ability to set shortcuts that work only in a specific window or app — what's referred to as the #IfWinActive directive.

On Mac, this is also possible through BetterTouchTool. In fact, that's the first condition before you create any action in the tool. You can either set a global hotkey or assign it to a specific app. If you set it on a per-app basis, it will only work when that particular app is active, which allows you to reuse the same shortcut in other apps without conflicts.

Text expansion (AHK hotstrings) on Mac

AHK hotstrings come in handy when you have text or snippets you use often.

On Mac, the direct equivalent is Espanso, as it uses a similar format. For example, you can use :addr to paste your full address whenever you type it and hit Space, Return, or Tab.

TeaCode does a similar job for code snippets, but it's smarter because it's specialized — it understands things like classes and variables, not just plain text replacement.

Menu bar and UI automation vs true scripting

One part you need to adjust to is that while AHK writes scripts and also interacts with menu bar items, macOS handles the two tasks separately.

Shortcuts is the app to use when you want to do UI interactions — but it's limited on its own, so you may need to enhance it with Shortcutie to create more powerful workflows using menu items.

For actual scripting, you need AppleScript. It's powerful, but combining it with BetterTouchTool gives you an AHK-like experience with easier triggering.

Automator vs Shortcuts vs third-party apps (when to use each)

macOS already provides two automation tools before you install anything else.

Automator is the older one, and it uses a drag-and-drop action library. It works well for file-based tasks like renaming files and moving folders, but it can feel dated and confusing.
Apple Shortcuts is a more modern automation tool and is more approachable. It lets you interact with other apps and create multi-step workflows, and it works on both Mac and iPhone.

Third-party apps like BetterTouchTool, Shortcutie, and Keysmith work better when you need to map hotkeys or create gesture-based triggers. To create a complete setup, combine them with the Shortcuts app — Shortcutie acts as the bridge that adds the actions Shortcuts is missing on its own.

How to recreate AutoHotkey scripts on Mac (macros, hotkeys, hotstrings)

Here's how to bring your AHK workflows to Mac using the apps in this list.

If you are still adjusting to macOS shortcuts, KeyCue (available on Setapp) makes the process much smoother. When you hold down the Command key, it overlays a table of all available shortcuts for the app you are using. You can also use it to modify existing shortcuts or create new ones — ideal for discovering what's already mapped before you start remapping.
If you're building automations that involve capturing text from other apps — like OCR from a screenshot to feed into a macro — ScreenFloat (available on Setapp) is a useful workflow companion. It lets you take a screenshot and keep it floating on screen for reference while you execute your macro sequence, and it can extract text directly from the floating image.

Common AHK-to-Mac recipes (copy/paste examples)

If you want to quickly get used to the switch from AHK, here are a few automations you can try right away.

Open an app with a hotkey — Open Keysmith, hit Record, launch your app, stop recording, and assign a keyboard shortcut. No scripting required.
Insert today's date — In Espanso, create a trigger: :date → {{date}}. Every time you type :date anywhere on your Mac, Espanso inserts the current date.
Window snapping and resizing — Open BetterTouchTool > Settings > Window Snapping & Moving and set the shortcuts you'd like.
Paste a text template — In Espanso or Keysmith, create a trigger that pastes a pre-written block, then assign it a trigger or hotkey.
Run a shell script — In BetterTouchTool or Apple Shortcuts, add a Run Shell Script action and assign it to a hotkey.

From there, you can create more advanced workflows by combining multiple tools.

Limitations: Can you run AHK scripts on Mac?

No, you can't run AHK scripts on Mac as AutoHotkey is a Windows-only program.

That said, you can recreate the AHK functionalities through various macOS tools. There's the built-in Automator and Shortcuts app, but the most similar tool is BetterTouchTool. It doesn't really look alike, but it offers most AHK functionalities plus many more. If you have existing scripts, map them to the tasks, then replicate them using Mac tools.

Which AutoHotkey features do you need?

What everybody likes about AutoHotkey is that it has lots of different functionalities that make life easier. However, that also means that people install it to get different things out of it.

Before you pick a Mac alternative, it helps to know the actual part(s) of AHK you are trying to replace.

Hotkeys — If you want to trigger actions using a key combination, BetterTouchTool and Keysmith both handle that well. You can use them to configure universal or per-app actions with shortcuts.
Text expansion (hotstrings) — Espanso is the most direct equivalent if you want to type a short trigger and have it expand into a longer string, date, template, or snippet. If your expansion is specific to code snippets, go for TeaCode.
App and window automation — When it comes to opening apps, switching windows, resizing, and snapping, BetterTouchTool is even more powerful than AutoHotkey. Besides the keyboard, you can configure your trackpad, mouse, or any other input.
Menu bar and UI automation — This part is a bit more distributed in macOS. You can use Shortcutie + Apple Shortcuts to trigger menu items directly, or combine AppleScript and Shortcuts to perform complex UI tasks.
Full scripting — If you like to create multi-flow scripts, combine Apple Shortcuts with Shortcutie, then integrate them with BetterTouchTool for easier triggers.

These will let you achieve anything possible with AutoHotkey, and much more.

What's better than AutoHotkey? Choosing the right Mac automation tool

There may not be an "official" AutoHotkey app for Mac, but that doesn't mean you can't utilize shortcuts and macros. With a few great apps, you'll be able to perform tons of functions you may not have recognized were possible. In fact, these apps expand on the capabilities of AutoHotkey and do an even better job.

Rocket Typist, Lacona, Keysmith, BetterTouchTool, and Almighty will help you set up and run quick actions so you can do your work faster — without using any complicated scripts. Espanso and TeaCode are terrific time boosters for developers. Each has specific ways to improve your workflow with macros and shortcuts. If you need a bit more power and you're acquainted with scripting, Automator might be a great option too.

AutoHotkey for Mac: FAQ

Is there anything like AutoHotkey for Mac?

Yes — BetterTouchTool covers most of the functionalities that AutoHotkey offers Windows users. You can also enhance the built-in Shortcuts app with Shortcutie and use it to automate various UI processes.

AutoHotkey equivalent for OS X?

There's no official AHK for OS X/macOS. Most users use automation apps like BetterTouchTool or Apple's Shortcuts/Automator to achieve similar results.

What is the best macro for Mac?

For AHK-like, system-wide automation, BetterTouchTool is the strongest single option — global hotkeys, per-app targeting, gestures, and Shortcuts/AppleScript integration all in one tool.

What's better than AutoHotkey?

"Better" depends on your goal — BetterTouchTool for gestures and hotkeys, Espanso for text expansion, Shortcutie for menu automation, and Keysmith for recording-based macros without scripting.

Are AHK scripts bannable?

In many online games, yes — automation tools can trigger anti-cheat rules even for simple macros. Always check the game's policy and avoid running automation tools while playing.

Can you run AutoHotkey on Mac?

You can't natively run AutoHotkey on Mac, but you can replicate its functionalities. BetterTouchTool covers most of its features, like hotkeys and per-app targeting. You can then use Espanso or Keysmith for quick text expansions and recorded macros.

What's the best AutoHotkey alternative for Mac for hotstrings (text expansion)?

Espanso is the best AutoHotkey alternative for hotstrings as it uses similar logic — colon-based triggers that expand into text, dates, templates, or scripts.

How do I make app-specific hotkeys on Mac (like AHK #IfWinActive)?

You can make app-specific hotkeys on Mac using BetterTouchTool. It allows you to create global or per-app actions and hotkeys — if you assign a shortcut to a specific app, it only fires when that app is active.

Is there an AutoHotkey equivalent for Mac?

The closest equivalent is BetterTouchTool, which offers extensive automation for keyboard shortcuts and gestures. Automator is the built-in option, though it has a steeper learning curve.

What apps can help automate tasks on a Mac?

Several third-party apps help automate tasks on Mac: BetterTouchTool for custom gestures and shortcuts, Keysmith for recording-based macros, TeaCode and Espanso for text/code snippets, and Lacona for natural language commands.

How can I create macros on my Mac without using AutoHotkey?

Use BetterTouchTool for custom gestures and hotkeys, or Keysmith for recording and assigning shortcuts without any scripting knowledge required.