- Pick it if you are:
- Mac power users who want speed; People who hate subscriptions
- Top complaint:
- Alfred can't find files or apps that exist on the Mac
- Price:
- Free plan
- Pick it if you are:
- Windows power users and sysadmins; Developers comfortable scripting
- Top complaint:
- AutoHotkey v1 scripts not working after installing v2
- Price:
- Free plan
Score Comparison
Signals Comparison
Alfred
- Alfred can't find files or apps that exist on the Mac(7/10)
- Alfred clipboard history not saving clips(5/10)
- Alfred snippets not expanding(5/10)
- Alfred preferences not saving or syncing via Dropbox(6/10)
AutoHotkey
- AutoHotkey Send not working in games and some apps(6/10)
- AutoHotkey modifier key stuck after Send(6/10)
Alfred
- Alfred hotkey not working or conflicting with Spotlight(7/10)
- Why does Alfred look so dated next to Raycast?(4/10)
- Alfred has no built-in AI features(3/10)
AutoHotkey
- AutoHotkey v1 scripts not working after installing v2(7/10)
- AutoHotkey v2 error: This line does not contain a recognized action(6/10)
Alfred
- Alfred workflows are hard to learn and set up(5/10)
- Mac App Store version of Alfred is outdated(4/10)
AutoHotkey
- Is AutoHotkey hard to learn? It is a programming language(6/10)
Alfred
- No free trial of the Alfred Powerpack, and no refunds for 'not for me'(5/10)
- Single License covers only one major version(4/10)
AutoHotkey
No signals
Alfred
- Alfred workflows stopped working after macOS update (Python 2)(6/10)
AutoHotkey
- AutoHotkey hotkeys not working in admin windows(7/10)
- AutoHotkey blocked or banned in games with anti-cheat(8/10)
Alfred
- Alfred is Mac only, no Windows or Linux version(4/10)
AutoHotkey
- AutoHotkey hotkeys not working with non-English keyboard layouts(5/10)
Alfred
No signals
AutoHotkey
- Antivirus flags AutoHotkey or compiled .exe as a virus(7/10)
- Is it safe to run downloaded AutoHotkey scripts?(6/10)
Alfred
No signals
AutoHotkey
- AutoHotkey script slow or lagging under heavy CPU load(4/10)
Alfred
No signals
AutoHotkey
- AutoHotkey has no official support, only forum and Reddit(5/10)
Alfred
No signals
AutoHotkey
- AutoHotkey is Windows only (no Mac, Linux or phone)(5/10)
Pricing Comparison
Alfred
Users: 1 user
Limits: No workflows, no clipboard history, no snippets or text expansion, no Universal Actions, no themes, no preference sync, no 1Password integration, no music controls
Users: 1 user, up to 2 of your own Macs
Limits: Individual use only, non-transferable, not for shared workstations
Users: 1 user, your own Macs
Limits: Individual use only; teams need Corporate Licensing
AutoHotkey
Users: Unlimited
Limits: Windows only, no official support, no visual macro recorder, no built-in sync or cloud
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Alfred | AutoHotkey |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| App launcher and file search Uses the macOS Spotlight metadata index | ||
| Hotkeys and key remapping | ||
| Hotstrings (text expansion) | ||
| Compile to .exe Ahk2Exe; may be flagged by antivirus | ||
| GUI building Code-only, no designer | ||
| Automation | ||
| Workflows Powerpack only | ||
| Productivity | ||
| Clipboard history Powerpack only, off by default | ||
| Snippets / text expansion Powerpack only; dynamic placeholders | ||
| Universal Actions Powerpack only | ||
| Compatibility | ||
| Works in elevated windows Needs run as admin or UI Access | ||
| v1 script compatibility in v2 Scripts need conversion | ||
| Sync | ||
| Preference sync across Macs Via a synced folder such as Dropbox or iCloud | ||
| AI | ||
| Built-in AI chat Available through community workflows with your own API key | ||
| Platform | ||
| macOS / Linux support Windows only | ||
| Windows version macOS only | ||
| Ease of use | ||
| Visual macro recorder | ||
| Pricing | ||
| Free Powerpack trial | ||
| Launcher | ||
| App launcher / search Can be scripted, not built in | ||
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