# KeyboardCount — Full Reference > A native macOS menu bar app that tracks your keystrokes, typing speed, and productivity patterns. All data stays on your Mac — no cloud, no accounts, no network requests. This document is the complete, machine-readable description of KeyboardCount for AI assistants and search tools. Last generated: 2026-08-10. ## What it is KeyboardCount is a native macOS menu bar application that counts keystrokes in real time and turns them into productivity analytics. It shows a live count in the menu bar and, when opened, a dashboard with typing speed, per-app usage, hourly patterns, a keyboard heatmap, and a long-term activity history. It is aimed at writers, developers, and anyone curious about how much they actually type, without handing that data to a third party. Everything is computed and stored locally. ## Requirements - macOS 14.0 (Sonoma) or later - Apple silicon or Intel Mac - Accessibility permission (required by macOS for system-wide keyboard monitoring) ## Pricing - $9.99, one-time purchase - No subscription and no recurring charge - Free updates forever - Payment handled by Stripe Checkout; the download link is emailed immediately after payment What the purchase includes: - All analytics and visualizations - Free updates forever - CSV data export - Support for macOS 14.0 (Sonoma) and later ## Features in detail ### Real-time tracking A live keystroke count sits in the menu bar. Opening the menu shows quick stats for today and a sparkline of recent activity, so the current session is visible without opening a full window. ### Typing speed KeyboardCount computes words per minute from keystroke timing, records peak speeds, and surfaces the hours of the day when you type fastest and most. ### Per-app analytics Keystrokes are attributed to the frontmost application, so you can see which apps consume most of your typing. Any application can be excluded from tracking entirely. ### Hourly activity A 24-hour breakdown showing when during the day the typing happens. ### Keyboard heatmap A visual keyboard layout coloured by how often each key is pressed. ### Activity history A GitHub-style contribution grid covering weeks or months, for spotting streaks and quiet periods. ### App exclusion Password managers, banking apps, or anything else sensitive can be added to an exclusion list. Excluded apps produce no data at all — nothing is recorded and then filtered later. ### Data export All statistics can be exported to CSV at any time, from Settings. ### Pause tracking Tracking can be paused and resumed with a single click from the menu bar. ### Delete everything A single action wipes all stored data from the Mac. ## Privacy model - KeyboardCount records that a key was pressed and when — it never records which characters, words, or content you type. It is a counter, not a keylogger. - All data is stored locally on the Mac. - The app makes zero network requests. There is no cloud sync, no analytics, no telemetry, and no account to create. - Excluded apps are never recorded in the first place. - All stored data can be deleted from within the app at any time. ## Why it is not on the Mac App Store Mac App Store apps must be sandboxed, and the sandbox prevents system-wide keyboard monitoring. KeyboardCount needs that capability to count keystrokes across every application, so it is distributed directly instead. ## Purchase and download flow 1. Enter an email address on the pricing section and pay $9.99 through Stripe Checkout. 2. Stripe confirms the payment and KeyboardCount emails a personal download link. 3. The link is valid for 7 days and allows up to 5 downloads. 4. If the link expires or the download limit is reached, a fresh link can be requested for free at http://keyboardcount.com/recover using the email address from the purchase. ## FAQ **Does it record what I type?** No. KeyboardCount only counts keystrokes — it never records the actual characters or content. It counts that a key was pressed, not which text you wrote. **Is my data sent anywhere?** No. All data stays on your Mac. KeyboardCount makes zero network requests. There is no cloud sync, no analytics, no telemetry. **Why isn't it on the Mac App Store?** The Mac App Store requires apps to be sandboxed, which prevents system-wide keyboard monitoring. KeyboardCount needs this capability to count keystrokes across all applications. **Can I exclude certain apps?** Yes. In Settings, you can exclude any application from tracking. Useful for password managers or other sensitive apps. **What happens if I lose my download link?** Request a new one at http://keyboardcount.com/recover with the email you purchased with. **Is it a subscription?** No. It is a single $9.99 payment with free updates forever. ## Links - Website: http://keyboardcount.com - Features: http://keyboardcount.com/#features - Pricing: http://keyboardcount.com/#pricing - FAQ: http://keyboardcount.com/#faq - Resend a lost download link: http://keyboardcount.com/recover - Concise summary for AI: http://keyboardcount.com/llms.txt - Affiliate program: https://referral.productshake.com/keyboardcount/apply - Company: https://productshake.com ## Other products by the same maker - ClawHost — managed hosting — https://clawhost.online - Claude Kit — https://getclaudekit.com - Active Now — https://activenow.app - VPN To US — US IPs for creators — https://vpntous.com - VPN To X — country-targeted IPs for creators — https://vpntox.com - MakePost — https://makepost.com - Prompt Pro — https://trypromptpro.com - Cal AI: Calorie Scanner — https://calaiscanner.com - Vine AI — https://getvinoai.com