Kudzu vs Espanso
Both are free and open source. Espanso is a cross-platform tool you configure in YAML files. Kudzu is a Mac app with a visual editor and clipboard history built in.
| Feature | Kudzu | Espanso |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Platforms | macOS 14 or later | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| How you edit snippets | A visual editor in the app | YAML files in your config folder |
| Scripts and shell commands | Not supported | Supported |
Choose Kudzu if
- You want a native-feeling Mac app instead of config files.
- You want clipboard history and text shortcuts in one place.
- You want iCloud sync between Macs without managing files yourself.
Choose Espanso if
- You also work on Windows or Linux.
- Your snippets run shell commands or scripts.
- You like keeping your configuration as text in version control.
Moving from Espanso
- Install Kudzu. Onboarding detects your Espanso library and offers to import it.
- Dates, clipboard variables, forms, and nested snippets carry over.
- Scripts and rich text are imported as plain text, with warnings so you can review them.
Espanso details were checked on November 6, 2026 and can change, so please confirm them with Espanso: Getting started and Espanso on GitHub. Espanso is a trademark of its owner. Kudzu isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by it.