Karabiner-Elements

What it is for

Karabiner-Elements is a macOS keyboard-remap desk: you map right_command → button3 under Simple Modifications, and the app is Free (Unlicense). Use it when the job is a remap you start at a public $, not when you need Raycast’s Free $0 launcher only.

Soft-note: Free / Unlicense at pqrs-org/Karabiner-Elements. Distinct from Raycast, Magnet, and Bartender.

What makes it unique: the cover is Karabiner-Elements’ official Simple Modifications (For all devices, Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad selected, right_command → button3, Add item) from the product site — not a wordmark. Soft-note: docs still uses red callout boxes. The right_command row itself is ops of Simple Modifications.

Key features

• Simple Modifications — one key → another (cover still; product). One desk. Cover right_command sits here.
• Per-device maps — Apple Internal Keyboard / Corne / Logi / foot pedal in the list (cover). A device, not a Pro tile.
• Complex Modifications — imported community rules (Emacs / vi / mouse keys) (product). A rule, not a $0 meter.
• Function Keys tab — F1–F12 vs hardware extras (cover). Function keys, not Get started.
• Event Viewer — see key-down / key-up as you type (product). A log, not Enterprise.
• Profiles — switch a whole remap set (product). A profile, not SSO.

Download is a CTA (not a desk). Free / Unlicense stay in Pricing. There is no AI extra to drop.

Who it's for

Best fit: Mac users who will stay on Free / Unlicense while they remap a first right_command → button3 — then keep it at $0, not Raycast Pro $10 first unless they want a launcher, and not if they refuse Input Monitoring / DriverKit.

Pricing

Verified 2026-10-23 (Asia/Shanghai) from karabiner-elements.pqrs.org plus github.com/pqrs-org/Karabiner-Elements (LICENSE.md Unlicense; SPDX Unlicense).

• Karabiner-Elements — Free (Unlicense). Intel and Apple Silicon. Current site lists macOS 13–27 support rows.
• No paid SKU. Do not invent a Karabiner $.

Limitations / costs

• macOS only. There is no Windows / Linux build.
• Needs Input Monitoring and a DriverKit system extension. First launch is a permissions desk, not a one-click remap.
• Complex Modifications have a steep curve. JSON rules are powerful and easy to get wrong.
• OSS Unlicense. We link the verified repo.

Alternatives

• Raycast — a launcher + hotkeys when you want Free $0 / Pro $10, not a DriverKit remapper.
• Magnet — an App Store snap when you want $4.99 window tiles, not right_command → button3.
• Bartender — a menu-bar manager when you want Bartender 7 $24.99, not a keyboard customizer.

Official tutorial

We searched @KarabinerElements (200, title Karabiner Elements — product description matches, but we did not resolve a first-party intro ID to oEmbed), @karabiner (200, title Nachhaltigkeit — not this product), @tekezo (200, title tekezo, empty description / no product how-to we could oEmbed), @pqrs (200, title pq rs — not pqrs.org), and @pqrsorg (404). karabiner-elements.pqrs.org has no YouTube link on the HTML we fetched. No official product how-to to embed. Channel we would start with if a first-party video appears: @KarabinerElements. Written path: karabiner-elements.pqrs.org plus github.com/pqrs-org/Karabiner-Elements.

Website

https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/

Source

Catalog row curated for AI Tools Nav. Cover is Karabiner-Elements’ official Simple Modifications still (right_command → button3 / Apple Internal Keyboard). Dollars checked on pqrs.org + LICENSE.md (Free / Unlicense; no paid SKU). GitHub: pqrs-org/Karabiner-Elements (Unlicense). No official how-to oEmbed.

Last verified

2026-10-23 (Asia/Shanghai) editorial check.