The Keyboard Maestro alternative for text that’s free forever and works on every device.
TextExpander is dedicated text expansion on Mac, Windows, Chrome, iPhone, and iPad, synced automatically with no sync file to manage. Share Snippets with up to 5 teammates on the free plan, and use them for work from day one.
Free forever · No credit card required · 30-day preview of advanced features
Four reasons to move your text from Keyboard Maestro.
Keyboard Maestro is a Mac-only macro tool. TextExpander is built for the words you type every day, on every device, shared with everyone who needs them.
A free plan that actually follows you everywhere.
TextExpander’s free plan is built for how people really work: on every device, with a small team, for work, from day one. No trial clock, no license to buy, and no credit card.
- Unlimited saved Snippets, 5 active at a time
- Works on Mac, Windows, Chrome, iPhone, and iPad
- Share Snippets with up to 5 team members
- AI Recommended Snippets and MCP access for AI agents
- Fill-ins, dates, date picker, and Snippet Groups
- Use it for work, no credit card required
- No free plan; a short trial period, then a paid license
- Mac only, with no Windows, Chrome, iPhone, or iPad app
- Sync between Macs relies on a sync file you manage in Dropbox or on a file server
- Only macros sync, and every Mac must run the same version
- No built-in team library, admin controls, or AI features advertised
Keyboard Maestro details from keyboardmaestro.com and the official Keyboard Maestro wiki, September 2026.
TextExpander vs Keyboard Maestro, feature by feature.
Checked against Keyboard Maestro’s own site and documentation and TextExpander’s latest releases, September 2026.
| Feature | TextExpander | Keyboard Maestro |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ||
| Free forever plan | Short trial, then paid license | |
| Unlimited saved Snippets on the free plan | ||
| Share with a team on the free plan | ||
| Free for work and commercial use | Paid license after the trial | |
| Works where you work | ||
| macOS app | ||
| Windows app | ||
| Chrome extension | ||
| iPhone and iPad app | Remote-control app, not updated in a long time | |
| Automatic sync across devices | Built in | DIY sync file, macros only |
| Built for teams | ||
| Shared Snippet libraries with permissions | Every plan | Export and share macro files |
| Snippet Requests with admin review and approval | Business | Not advertised |
| Limited role to control who adds to the shared library | Enterprise | Not advertised |
| Snippet version history, revert, and restore | Unlimited on Enterprise | Not advertised |
| Guest sharing outside your organization | Business | Not advertised |
| Organization usage statistics | Export on Business | Not advertised |
| Single sign-on | Google SSO on Business | Not advertised |
| SCIM user provisioning | Enterprise | Not advertised |
| Smart Snippets and AI | ||
| Fill-in fields and forms | Prompts inside macros | |
| Conditional Sections with nested branches | Macro conditions | |
| Delay macro for slow-loading forms and CRMs | Macro actions | |
| Publish a Snippet as a shareable link | Not advertised | |
| JavaScript, AppleScript, and shell script Snippets | Pro | Inside macros |
| AI Snippet suggestions | AI Recommended Snippets | Not advertised |
| MCP access for AI agents | Not advertised | |
| Security and compliance | ||
| SOC 2 | SOC 2 and SOC 3 | Not advertised |
| HIPAA compliance with a BAA | BAA available on request | Not advertised |
A dedicated text expander, built for how teams actually work.
Every device, with no sync file to babysit.
Create a Snippet on your Mac and it’s ready on your Windows PC at work and your iPhone a moment later. Keyboard Maestro runs only on macOS, and keeping Macs in step means placing a sync file in Dropbox or on a file server, with only macros syncing and every Mac on the same version.
- Native apps for Mac, Windows, iPhone, and iPad
- Chrome extension for web apps
- Snippets sync across devices automatically, no setup
- The same Snippets work in every app you type in
A shared library from day one, free.
Up to 5 people can share Snippets on the free plan, so a small team can standardize replies without paying anything. Keyboard Maestro is licensed per user and has no built-in team library; sharing means exporting macro files and passing them around.
- Shared Snippet Groups with view and edit permissions
- Update a Snippet once and it reaches every teammate instantly
- Snippet Requests and guest sharing on Business
- Organization statistics to see what’s actually used
Ready for security reviews and AI agents.
TextExpander is SOC 2 and SOC 3 certified and HIPAA compliant, with a BAA available on request. Google SSO comes with Business, and your Snippet library can plug straight into AI agents over MCP. Keyboard Maestro advertises no SOC 2 or HIPAA program, no admin or SSO controls, and no built-in AI features.
- AI Recommended Snippets in Chrome
- MCP access so AI agents can use your Snippets
- Google SSO on Business; all providers and SCIM on Enterprise
- JavaScript, AppleScript, and shell scripts for power users
What teams tell us they need.
“You guys are kind of the only one that works both in Chrome and Outlook and then has an admin capability where we can… control the main messages.”
“We need a central platform. If more of the doctors get on board, we have to be able to manage all of them from one system.”
“This tool has been a game changer… [It] has saved us a lot of time and also has a lot of newer features… that just allows us to be more efficient.”
Admin controls built for a whole organization, not one Mac.
Personal macros live on one person’s computer. A team’s approved language needs governance: who can publish, what changed, and who has access. TextExpander ships the tools large teams ask for.
Approval workflows with Snippet Requests
Team members submit complete, formatted Snippets or edits. Assigned admins and editors review, approve, and publish from a dedicated Requests queue with filters and notification badges.
Limited role for a trusted library
On Enterprise, decide who can add to your shared library. Assign the Limited role to people or whole Teams, so new members can use approved content and submit ideas without publishing directly.
Official and shared content, clearly separated
Organization and Shared tabs show which Snippet Groups are admin-curated and which were shared between teammates. Admins can promote, move, or return any Group.
Version history, revert, and restore
Snippet Activity tracks every change to your Snippets. Revert to a previous version or restore a deleted Snippet in seconds, with unlimited history on Enterprise.
SSO, SCIM, and domain controls
Google SSO on Business. All SSO providers, SCIM provisioning, and enforced email domains on Enterprise, plus sign-up by email domain and configurable session timeouts.
Visibility and reporting
See every Snippet members share with each other, audit team membership, and track time saved and top Snippets with organization statistics, export, and customized reporting.
Move your text from Keyboard Maestro in an afternoon.
Pick out the macros that use a typed string trigger to insert text, list each trigger and its text in a spreadsheet with “abbreviation” and “snippet” columns, then upload it on the Import/Export page at textexpander.com. Rebuild prompts with TextExpander fill-ins, and turn off the matching Keyboard Maestro macros so triggers don’t collide.
Moving a whole team? Send us your export and our team will help convert it into a TextExpander import. Talk to us
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know before switching to TextExpander.