Unlocking Productivity: The Best CheatKeys Alternatives
CheatKeys is a handy tool that helps you discover keyboard shortcuts in your active application by simply holding the CTRL key longer. It intelligently displays available shortcuts, even stacking them for optimal screen space. While CheatKeys offers a great solution for improving workflow, users might be looking for alternatives due to platform preference, specific features, or simply to explore different options. This guide will help you find the perfect CheatKeys alternative to supercharge your productivity.
Top CheatKeys Alternatives
Whether you're seeking a free option, cross-platform compatibility, or a specific set of features like command-line integration or hotkey management, there's a CheatKeys alternative for you. Let's dive into some of the best tools available.
CheatSheet
CheatSheet is an excellent free alternative for Mac users. Similar to CheatKeys, it reveals the available shortcuts of the active application after holding the command-key for two seconds. This tool focuses on providing quick access to global hotkeys and is a direct, intuitive replacement for CheatKeys on the macOS platform.
cheat
For those who prefer the command line, 'cheat' is a powerful, free, and open-source alternative available on Mac and Linux. It allows you to create and view interactive cheatsheets directly from your terminal. While not displaying live application shortcuts like CheatKeys, 'cheat' excels at providing quick access to documentation and command-line syntax, making it ideal for developers and system administrators.
cheat.sh
cheat.sh is a free and open-source web and terminal-based solution that offers unified access to a vast collection of community-driven documentation. It functions as a comprehensive cheat sheet for various programming languages, commands, and tools, accessible directly from your terminal emulator. While it doesn't dynamically show app shortcuts, its focus on comprehensive documentation makes it a valuable resource for learning and quick lookups, complementing or replacing the need for dynamic shortcut discovery in some workflows.
Ethervane ActiveHotkeys
Ethervane ActiveHotkeys is a free and portable Windows application that helps you discover what global keyboard shortcuts are currently registered by various applications on your system. This is crucial for identifying conflicts and understanding your system's hotkey landscape, offering a different but complementary functionality to CheatKeys' shortcut discovery within specific applications.
KeyCue
KeyCue is a commercial Mac application designed to help users learn and utilize menu shortcuts. It displays all active menu shortcuts, making it easier to discover and memorize them without having to dig through menus. While commercial, KeyCue offers a dedicated solution for mastering shortcuts, a core benefit also provided by CheatKeys.
Hotkey EVE
Hotkey EVE is a free Mac application focused on helping users learn shortcuts to increase productivity with macOS. It subtly displays the matching shortcut every time you perform an action using the mouse, reinforcing learning over time. While not an on-demand shortcut display like CheatKeys, its educational approach makes it a valuable tool for long-term shortcut mastery.
Hotkey Commander
Hotkey Commander is a commercial Windows application that helps you find out and even override what hotkey combination is registered by which application. This tool is particularly useful for managing global hotkeys and resolving conflicts, offering a more robust hotkey management solution compared to CheatKeys' focus on application-specific shortcut discovery.
Ultimately, the best CheatKeys alternative depends on your operating system, whether you prioritize free or open-source solutions, and the specific features you need to optimize your workflow. Explore these options to find the perfect fit for your productivity journey.