Alternatives to Carnac
Show pressed keys during Windows demonstrations and recordings. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Carnac
Show pressed keys during Windows demonstrations and recordings.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Carnac.
Keyviz
Show keyboard shortcuts and mouse actions during demonstrations.
Keyviz shows mouse actions as well as keystrokes and runs on macOS and Linux too, though Linux needs X11 and a source build, and it uses the GPL-3.0 license.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Carnac as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
KeyCastr
An open-source macOS keystroke visualizer that shows your key presses on screen during screencasts.
Carnac is a free, open-source keystroke display for Windows under MS-PL, so switching means moving from macOS to Windows.
Screenkey
A Linux screencast tool that shows the keys you press on screen while recording.
Carnac is a free, open-source keystroke display under MS-PL for Windows only, so switching means moving off Linux.
Show Me The Key
Shows the keys you type on screen, a screenkey alternative that works under Wayland.
Carnac is a free, open-source keystroke display for Windows under MS-PL, so switching means moving from Linux to Windows.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
OBS Studio
The standard free tool for recording a screen and for live streaming, built around scenes and sources.
Camtasia
Professional screen recorder and video editor for tutorials and demos.
ScreenFlow
Mac-only screen recording and editing tool for tutorials and courses.
VHS
Generate repeatable terminal demonstrations from text scripts.
ActivePresenter
A desktop authoring tool for screen recordings, software simulations, interactive slides and eLearning courses.
Movavi Screen Recorder
A desktop screen recorder for Windows and Mac that captures screen, webcam, system audio and voice.
