EchoKeys vs KeyCastr, Mouseposé, and Cursor Pro: Choosing a Mac Keystroke & Mouse Visualizer
If you only need a basic click circle in a quick screen recording, check whether macOS's built-in Screenshot recorder ('Show Mouse Clicks') is enough. If you want an open-source keyboard-only overlay without mouse highlights or audio, start with KeyCastr. If you focus on stage spotlighting or cursor magnification, look at Mouseposé or Cursor Pro. Choose EchoKeys when you want a unified Mac App Store utility that combines real-time keystroke & shortcut bubbles, mouse click ripple/pulse/spotlight highlights, local mechanical keyboard & mouse sound effects, macOS Secure Input password hiding, and an app exclusion list.
EchoKeys vs KeyCastr, Mouseposé, and Cursor Pro: Choosing a Mac Keystroke & Mouse Visualizer
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| Dimension | EchoKeys | KeyCastr | Mouseposé | Cursor Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Unified keystroke overlay, mouse click highlight, and local keyboard/mouse sound feedback for Mac tutorials and recordings | Open-source keystroke visualizer for macOS screen recordings and streams | Presentation spotlight, mouse click visualization, and keystroke display for demos | Cursor halo, click animation, and screen magnifier for presentations and tutorials |
| Keystroke & shortcut overlay | Displays single keys, modifiers, and shortcuts; Free Graphite theme + 6 Pro themes, adjustable position, and shortcut-only mode (Pro) | Displays typed keys or command combinations with configurable bezel appearance | Displays typed shortcuts and keys on screen during presentations | Focused on cursor highlighting and magnification rather than a multi-theme keystroke overlay |
| Mouse click & cursor effects | Default click ripple in Free; Pro adds pulse, spotlight, and customizable color, radius, and opacity | Keyboard-only visualizer; does not render mouse click ripples or cursor spotlights | Dims surrounding screen with a spotlight around the cursor and highlights mouse clicks | Renders a customizable ring around the cursor, click animations, and a zoom magnifier |
| Built-in keyboard & mouse sound effects | Pro includes low-latency local mechanical keyboard and mouse click sound profiles played on-device | Visual overlay only; no built-in keyboard or mouse sound effects | Optional click sound cue; no multi-profile mechanical keyboard sound synthesizer | Visual cursor utility; no built-in mechanical keyboard sound profiles |
| Password protection & app exclusion | Automatically hides keystrokes during macOS Secure Input password fields and supports per-app keyboard overlay exclusion | Respects macOS input monitoring boundaries and supports command-only filtering | Manual toggle via hotkey or menu bar during sensitive steps | Does not log or display typed text on screen |
| Distribution & pricing model | Mac App Store download (macOS 14+); Free core keystroke & ripple display + optional Pro monthly, yearly, or lifetime unlock | Free open-source release on GitHub | Available via Boinx and the Mac App Store (check official page for current pricing) | Paid app on the Mac App Store (check official listing for current pricing) |
Choose by recording and demo workflow
You record shortcut-heavy tutorials in VS Code, Figma, Blender, or Final Cut Pro
Viewers need to see both your Command/Option combinations and where you click. EchoKeys combines a clean shortcut overlay with click ripples and optional mechanical key sounds in a single menu bar app.
You want an open-source keyboard-only overlay and do not need mouse effects or key sounds
KeyCastr is a well-known open-source choice when you only want keystrokes displayed on screen and already handle cursor visibility in your screen recorder.
You switch between terminal/login windows and live demos
EchoKeys automatically pauses keystroke display when macOS enters Secure Input (such as standard password fields) and lets you exclude sensitive apps from the keyboard overlay—though we still recommend pausing from the menu bar before typing secrets on a live stream.
Questions and troubleshooting
Why are my EchoKeys overlays missing from a single-window recording in OBS or Zoom?
EchoKeys renders an independent floating overlay window on your Mac screen. When a screen recorder or meeting app captures only a single application window, independent overlays are excluded by macOS. Record the full display or a screen region that includes the overlay, and verify with a 10-second test clip.
Does EchoKeys send any keystrokes over the network?
No. EchoKeys processes keyboard and mouse events strictly in memory on your Mac to render real-time visuals and local audio. It never stores a keystroke history file or uploads input data.
What does EchoKeys include for free vs Pro?
EchoKeys is free to download on the Mac App Store with the Graphite keystroke overlay theme, default click ripple, Secure Input auto-hide, and app exclusion rules. Pro unlocks all 6 overlay themes, Shortcuts-Only filtering, pulse and spotlight cursor effects, and built-in mechanical keyboard & mouse sound packs via Monthly, Yearly, or Lifetime plans.
Official sources & documentation
EchoKeys
