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Utilities · head to head

Karabiner-Elements vs Shottr

Karabiner-Elements logo

Karabiner-Elements

Utilities

Free open source keyboard remapper for macOS, working at driver level before the OS sees a keystroke

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shottr logo

Shottr

Utilities

Free Mac screenshot tool with annotation and OCR, with an optional paid tier for extra features

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Karabiner-Elements it requires granting significant system-level permissions, including input monitoring, which some security-conscious users are reluctant to allow.; Shottr it lacks CleanShot X cloud link hosting and self-cleaning desktop features, so teams that share links constantly may find it thinner.
  • They diverge on capability: Karabiner-Elements covers Low-level key remapping, Shottr covers Pixel-precise annotation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Karabiner-Elements and Shottr actually diverge.

Attributes where Karabiner-Elements and Shottr differ
AttributeKarabiner-ElementsShottr
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeOne-time purchase

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Mac), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Utilities).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Karabiner-Elements

  • Low-level key remapping
  • Complex modifications
  • Per-app and per-device rules
  • Complex modification rule library
  • Simple modifications GUI
  • Apple Silicon native

Only in Shottr

  • Pixel-precise annotation
  • Built in OCR
  • Scrolling capture
  • Colour picker
  • Quick resize and export
  • Free core functionality

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Karabiner-Elements

  • A developer who wants to remap Caps Lock to Escape or Control and needs tap versus hold behaviournot Shottr
  • Someone switching from a Windows or Linux keyboard layout who wants familiar modifier positions on a Macnot Shottr
  • A user with an accessibility need around key repeat rate or modifier key behaviour that macOS settings cannot covernot Shottr
  • Anyone who wants serious keyboard customisation without paying for BetterTouchTool or a similar all-in-one toolnot Shottr

Shottr

  • A user who wants OCR and precise annotation without paying anything up frontnot Karabiner-Elements
  • Someone evaluating whether a screenshot tool is worth paying for before committing money, unlike CleanShot X which requires payment firstnot Karabiner-Elements
  • A user who occasionally needs a colour picker and is fine with the free tier for everything elsenot Karabiner-Elements
  • Anyone who wants a lighter alternative to CleanShot X without giving up scrolling capture or annotationnot Karabiner-Elements

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Karabiner-Elements

  • It requires granting significant system-level permissions, including input monitoring, which some security-conscious users are reluctant to allow.
  • Writing custom complex modification rules by hand means editing JSON, which is a real barrier for a non-technical user without the community rule library.
  • It only remaps keyboard input, so a user who also wants gesture or window management customisation needs a second tool such as BetterTouchTool or Rectangle.
  • Being an unpaid open source project, support depends on GitHub issues and community forums rather than a vendor support desk with guaranteed response times.
  • It is Mac only, so it does nothing for remapping needs on a Windows or Linux machine in the same household.

Shottr

  • It lacks CleanShot X cloud link hosting and self-cleaning desktop features, so teams that share links constantly may find it thinner.
  • Pricing tiers and their exact contents have shifted and are inconsistently reported across sources, making it harder to know exactly what a given tier unlocks before buying.
  • The free tier periodically prompts to purchase, which some users find naggy over long term daily use.
  • It is Mac only, offering nothing for a Windows machine in a mixed environment.
  • Video and GIF recording is more limited than a tool built specifically for that, such as Kap or CleanShot X.

Pricing, plan by plan

Karabiner-Elements

Free
  • Karabiner-ElementsFree
    • Free and open source under the MIT licence
    • Full functionality with no paid tier
    • Optional donation via GitHub Sponsors or PayPal

Shottr

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full capture and annotation for everyday use
    • Built in OCR included
    • Occasional prompt to consider purchasing
  • Basic$8/one-time
    • One-time unlock of extra features
    • Removes purchase prompts
  • Friends Club$25/one-time
    • Higher one-time tier
    • Access to experimental features and priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose Karabiner-Elements if

  • You need low-level key remapping.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want complex modifications.
Karabiner-Elements review

Choose Shottr if

  • You need pixel-precise annotation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want built in ocr.
Shottr review

Questions people ask

Is Karabiner-Elements or Shottr better?
Neither clearly leads. Karabiner-Elements starts at Free and Shottr at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Karabiner-Elements or Shottr?
Karabiner-Elements starts at Free and Shottr at Free.
Does Karabiner-Elements or Shottr run on more platforms?
Both run on Mac, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Karabiner-Elements for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Karabiner-Elements best used for?
Karabiner-Elements is most often used for a developer who wants to remap caps lock to escape or control and needs tap versus hold behaviour, someone switching from a windows or linux keyboard layout who wants familiar modifier positions on a mac, a user with an accessibility need around key repeat rate or modifier key behaviour that macos settings cannot cover, anyone who wants serious keyboard customisation without paying for bettertouchtool or a similar all-in-one tool. Of those, a developer who wants to remap caps lock to escape or control and needs tap versus hold behaviour and someone switching from a windows or linux keyboard layout who wants familiar modifier positions on a mac are not what Shottr is typically brought in for.
What can Karabiner-Elements do that Shottr cannot?
Karabiner-Elements covers Low-level key remapping, Complex modifications, Per-app and per-device rules, Complex modification rule library. Shottr covers Pixel-precise annotation, Built in OCR, Scrolling capture, Colour picker.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Karabiner-Elements: Is Karabiner-Elements really free?

Yes, entirely. It is open source under the MIT licence with no paid tier, though the project accepts voluntary donations.

Shottr: Is Shottr free?

Yes, the core app can be used free indefinitely, with an optional one-time paid tier for extra features and no more purchase prompts.

Karabiner-Elements: Does it work on Apple Silicon Macs?

Yes, versions from 14 onward run natively on M1 through M4 chips.

Shottr: Does Shottr do OCR?

Yes, built in OCR extracts text from a captured screenshot without needing a separate app.

Karabiner-Elements: Do I need to write JSON to use it?

Not necessarily. Simple key swaps use a GUI, and complex modifications can be imported from a public community rule library instead of writing rules by hand.

Shottr: Is there a subscription?

No. Any paid tier is a one-time purchase, not a recurring subscription.

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