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Best Productivity ResourcesBy Shushant LakhyaniVerified creator

Automation Tool

AutoKey

Text expansion and desktop automation for Linux.

Visit AutoKey4.4

  • Rating

    4.4 / 5

  • Pricing

    Free

  • Difficulty

    Intermediate

  • Works on

    Linux

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What is AutoKey?

AutoKey is a desktop automation utility for Linux and X11, updated to run on Python 3. Its README warns that it will not work correctly under Wayland, and points to the project wiki for features and example scripts.

Third-party open-source projects. We are not affiliated with their authors; repositories are provided as-is by their maintainers. Review each project's license, code and security before installing. See our Disclaimer.

Pros: what AutoKey does well

  • Save typing with reusable phrases and scripts
  • Automate repetitive desktop actions
  • Scripts are written in Python

Cons: where it falls short

  • Works on X11 only, not Wayland
  • Setup details live in the wiki

Who AutoKey is for

Linux users who type the same text or actions again and again.

Who can skip it

People using Wayland or other operating systems.

AutoKey alternatives

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

All Automation resources

Watchexec

Focus: file watcher, command line and developer tools. Shares automation and open source with AutoKey. Rated 4.5 (AutoKey: 4.4).

Automation ToolFreeCross-Platform
4.5Visit

entr

Focus: file watcher, command line and developer tools. Shares automation and open source with AutoKey. Same 4.4 rating.

Automation ToolFreeCross-Platform
4.4Visit

Karabiner-Elements

Focus: keyboard remapping, hyper key and macos. Shares shortcuts and open source with AutoKey. A Mac app, not an automation tool. Adds macOS. Rated 4.7 (AutoKey: 4.4).

Mac AppFreemacOS
4.7Visit

Kando

Focus: pie menu and launcher. Shares shortcuts and open source with AutoKey. A desktop app, not an automation tool. Adds Windows, macOS and Offline. Rated 4.6 (AutoKey: 4.4).

Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.6Visit

Task

Focus: task runner, build tool and command line. Shares automation and open source with AutoKey. A desktop app, not an automation tool. Adds macOS and Windows. Rated 4.6 (AutoKey: 4.4).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.6Visit

Free alternatives to AutoKey

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

topgrade

Focus: updates, package manager and terminal. Shares automation and open source with AutoKey. A desktop app, not an automation tool. Adds macOS and Windows. Rated 4.6 (AutoKey: 4.4).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.6Visit

Kanata

Focus: keyboard remapping and ergonomics. Shares shortcuts and open source with AutoKey. A desktop app, not an automation tool. Adds macOS, Windows and Offline. Rated 4.5 (AutoKey: 4.4).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.5Visit

MoneyPrinterTurbo

Focus: ai video, short video and content creation. Shares automation and open source with AutoKey. An AI tool, not an automation tool. Adds Windows and macOS. Rated 4.5 (AutoKey: 4.4).

AI ToolFreeCross-Platform, Windows
4.5Visit

WeasyPrint

Focus: pdf, html to pdf and invoices. Shares open source and github with AutoKey. Rated 4.5 (AutoKey: 4.4).

Automation ToolFreeCross-Platform
4.5Visit

Coolify

Focus: self-hosting, deployment and hosting. Shares open source and github with AutoKey. A web app, not an automation tool. Adds Web. Rated 4.7 (AutoKey: 4.4).

Web AppFreeWeb
4.7Visit

Handy

Focus: speech to text, dictation and whisper. Shares open source and github with AutoKey. A desktop app, not an automation tool. Adds Windows and macOS. Rated 4.7 (AutoKey: 4.4).

Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.7Visit
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