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Desktop App

AutoHotkey

A free scripting tool for creating hotkeys and automating tasks on Windows.

Visit AutoHotkey4.7
  • Rating

    4.7 / 5

  • Pricing

    Free

  • Difficulty

    Advanced

  • Works on

    Windows, Offline

Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com

What is AutoHotkey?

AutoHotkey is a free, open-source scripting language for Windows that lets you create keyboard shortcuts, text expansions and small automations. You can remap keys, fill in forms, launch apps and control windows with short scripts, and a large community shares ready-made examples.

Pros: what AutoHotkey does well

  • Automates almost any Windows task
  • Huge library of community scripts
  • Lightweight and fast

Cons: where it falls short

  • Windows only
  • Writing scripts takes some learning

Who AutoHotkey is for

Windows users who repeat the same clicks and keystrokes every day.

Who can skip it

People on macOS or Linux, or anyone happy with built-in shortcuts.

AutoHotkey alternatives

Not sold on AutoHotkey? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.

fish shell

Focus: terminal, shell and command line. Shares open source with AutoHotkey. Adds macOS and Linux. Rated 4.6 (AutoHotkey: 4.7).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux

Kando

Focus: pie menu, launcher and shortcuts. Shares open source with AutoHotkey. Adds macOS and Linux. Rated 4.6 (AutoHotkey: 4.7).

Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS

Nushell

Focus: shell, command line and data pipelines. Shares open source with AutoHotkey. Adds macOS and Linux. Rated 4.6 (AutoHotkey: 4.7).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows

Oh My Zsh

Focus: terminal, zsh and shell. Shares open source with AutoHotkey. Adds macOS and Linux. Rated 4.6 (AutoHotkey: 4.7).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux

Task

Focus: task runner, automation and build tool. Shares open source with AutoHotkey. Adds macOS and Linux. Rated 4.6 (AutoHotkey: 4.7).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows

topgrade

Focus: updates, package manager and automation. Shares open source with AutoHotkey. Adds macOS and Linux. Rated 4.6 (AutoHotkey: 4.7).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows

Free alternatives to AutoHotkey

Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.

Dasel

Focus: json, yaml and data conversion. Shares open source with AutoHotkey. Adds macOS and Linux. Rated 4.5 (AutoHotkey: 4.7).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows

Kanata

Focus: keyboard remapping, shortcuts and ergonomics. Shares open source with AutoHotkey. Adds macOS and Linux. Rated 4.5 (AutoHotkey: 4.7).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows

Wox

Focus: app launcher, keyboard shortcuts and plugins. Shares open source with AutoHotkey. Adds macOS and Linux. Rated 4.5 (AutoHotkey: 4.7).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows

Coolify

Focus: self-hosting, deployment and hosting. Shares open source with AutoHotkey. A web app, not a desktop app. Adds Web. Same 4.7 rating.

Web AppFreeWeb

iTerm2

Focus: terminal, mac and command line. Shares open source with AutoHotkey. A Mac app, not a desktop app. Adds macOS. Same 4.7 rating.

Mac AppFreemacOS
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