Retext

The Best Keyboard Maestro Alternative for Mac

Looking for a Keyboard Maestro alternative? Retext offers AI-powered snippet generation with a simple, native Mac experience.

TL;DR

Retext is the best Keyboard Maestro alternative if you want AI-powered snippet generation, a native Mac app, and straightforward pricing without per-seat costs.

Why Switch from Keyboard Maestro to Retext?

What Keyboard Maestro Does Well

  • Incredibly powerful automation capabilities
  • One-time purchase, no subscription
  • Advanced variables and scripting
  • Can automate virtually anything on Mac

Why People Switch

  • Way too complicated for snippets alone
  • Takes forever to learn properly
  • Interface feels dated
  • Overkill for what I need

What Makes Retext Different

Only text expander with built-in AI generation

BYOK model - your API key, your costs, your control

No subscription lock-in for basic features

Built for individual power users, not enterprise teams

Native macOS performance without Electron bloat

Feature Comparison

FeatureRetextKeyboard Maestro
Snippet Expansion
AI Generation
Not available
Variables & Placeholders
Folder Organization
Team SharingNot availableNot available
Cross-Platform
Native Performance
Privacy & Local Storage
Customization
Ease of Use

Pricing Comparison

ProductPricing ModelPriceFree Tier
RetextFreemium$19/month or $99/year for Pro
3 snippets, 5 AI generations per day
Keyboard MaestroOne-Time$36 one-time purchase
Trial available, no ongoing free tier

Who Should Switch to Retext?

Retext is great for you if:

  • • You want AI to help generate snippet content
  • • You prefer native Mac apps over Electron
  • • You want simple, predictable pricing
  • • You value privacy and local-first storage
  • • You don't need team sharing features

Stick with Keyboard Maestro if:

  • Power users who need comprehensive automation
  • Users who want to automate complex workflows
  • Those who need conditional logic and scripting
  • Users with advanced technical requirements

Migrating from Keyboard Maestro

Migration difficulty: hard

Keyboard Maestro uses its own macro format, manual recreation may be needed

Ready to switch from Keyboard Maestro?

Get started with AI-powered text expansion. Free to try with 3 snippets and 5 AI generations per day.

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