KeyslamComparison · checked November 2, 2026
The best keyboard sound app for Mac, compared by what you need
18 Mac keyboard sound apps side by side: price, trial, which Macs they run on, whether the sound follows your typing force, and what each one sends online. Facts about other apps come from their makers' own pages, with quotes and sources at the end.
Updated
Short answer: it depends on your Mac. If you want the sound to follow how hard you type, three of the 18 apps here read the MacBook motion sensor: Haptyk ($8, MacBooks with the sensor only), Keyslam ($3.99; macOS 13 or later, and it also runs on Macs without the sensor) and the free Clank Keys (Apple silicon, not notarized). If you'd rather buy on the Mac App Store, Klack, Thock (App Store) and Keeby are $4.99 and TypeLouder is $2.99. Free and open source: Mechvibes, Thock (open source) and Keyboard Sounds Pro, plus KeyEcho, which is free with paid packs. The two Thocks are unrelated apps; see which Thock app for Mac is which.
We make Keyslam. Every fact about another app on this page comes from the maker's own site, its App Store or Setapp listing, its GitHub page or Homebrew, checked , and the numbered notes quote it word for word. Where another app suits you better, we say so. Spot a mistake? Tell us and we'll fix it and log it below.
Pick by what matters to you
| If you want | Look at | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Force sensing | Keyslam ($3.99), Haptyk ($8), Clank Keys (free) | Haptyk runs only on MacBooks with the sensor. Clank Keys needs Apple silicon and a Terminal command at first launch. Keyslam plays a strength you pick where there's no sensor. Keyslam vs Haptyk, in detail. |
| Mac App Store | Klack, Thock (App Store), Keeby and FunKey ($4.99), TypeLouder ($2.99) | Klack needs macOS 15 and TypeLouder 15.5. Klack's App Store and website versions are separate purchases. How Keyslam compares with Klack. |
| An Intel Mac | Keyslam, TapNoise, Klakk, KeyEcho, Keyboard Sounds Pro | Haptyk, Clank Keys and Mechvibes 3 don't run on Intel. Keyboard sounds on Intel Macs, iMac and Mac mini. |
| macOS 13 Ventura | Keyslam, Haptyk, Clank Keys, Thock (App Store), Keeby, FunKey, CupertinoClicks and Kachunk | The table under “Will it run on my Mac?” lists the oldest macOS each app supports. |
| Typewriters | Keyslam (IBM Selectric II, Olivetti Lettera 22), Kachunk (Underwood, Olivetti), KeyClicker | Kachunk's Underwood 1938 is in its free tier. Typewriter sounds for Mac. |
| Most packs | Mechvibes: 985 community pack pages; KeyEcho: 71; Kachunk: 26; FunKey: 25+; Thock (App Store): 22 | Mechvibes' Mac build is experimental. Keyslam has 15, each named and credited. |
| Free or open source | Mechvibes, KeyEcho, Thock (open source), Keyboard Sounds Pro; Clank Keys is free but closed source | What free gets you with each one. |
| Windows or Linux too | KeyEcho, Mechvibes, Keyboard Sounds Pro; Klakk and Keeby on Windows | Klakk and Keeby sell each platform's edition separately. |
| Extras | TapNoise (Tappy desktop companion, sounds for Claude Code, Codex and Cursor), Keeby (notch visualizer), KeyClicker (shows shortcuts on screen) | TapNoise has no trial. Keyslam vs TapNoise. |
| Goes quiet by itself | Keyslam pauses while any app uses the microphone (on by default); Klack has sleep triggers for screen sharing, Focus, media and calendar; Tacque pauses during calls and media, per Setapp; Thock (open source) mutes while music plays; Kachunk has a per-app silence list | Keyslam, Klack, Thock (App Store) and Kachunk also have a shortcut to switch sounds off; Keyslam's default is ⌃⌥⌘K. |
Which Mac keyboard sound apps react to how hard you type?
Several Mac apps react to typing force: Haptyk ($8, MacBooks with the sensor only), Keyslam ($3.99) and Clank Keys (free) read the MacBook accelerometer, and TapNoise varies volume from an estimate of typing movement. Thock (App Store) calls its packs “velocity aware” without saying how. The other 13 apps in this comparison don't advertise anything like it.
Haptyk's home page still presents it as the one app where “the sound follows how hard you press”1. Clank Keys does the same for free, and has since September 13, 2026, when its first public build came out2.
| App | What it reads | What changes with force | Runs without the sensor? | Price (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keyslam | The accelerometer, about 800 readings a second | Picks and blends real strikes from four bands, sorted by natural loudness from one recording | Yes, at a strength you pick | $3.99 |
| Haptyk | The MacBook accelerometer | “4 levels, soft to slam”3 | No: Macs without the sensor get an “Incompatible Mac” notice4 | $8 |
| Clank Keys | The MacBook accelerometer | “plays a real switch recording that matches how hard you hit the key”5 | Yes, “varied by typing rhythm”6; Apple silicon only | Free |
| TapNoise | A movement estimate | Volume. Its blog: “an estimate from body movement, not a force sensor”7 | Yes; the pressure features need a sensor MacBook8 | $14.99 ($5.99 launch price) |
| Thock (App Store) | Not described | Its site calls the packs “velocity aware”9 without saying how | Yes | $4.99 |
Two caveats apply to the three apps that read the sensor. Force sensing needs a MacBook with Apple's motion sensor: MacBook Pro with M1 Pro or M1 Max and later, and MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with M2 and later. See which MacBooks have an accelerometer for the full model list. And Haptyk's refund page says the sensor interface “is not officially supported by Apple and may change or become unavailable in future macOS updates”10. Keyslam reads the same sensor through IOKit, so that caution applies to it too. How Keyslam turns a jolt into a band is on the force sensing page.
Will it run on my Mac?
Two things decide it: whether your Mac has the motion sensor, and which macOS it runs. “Apple silicon, no sensor” means the M1 MacBook Air, the 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro, and every iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio and Mac Pro with Apple silicon. Where a maker lists only a macOS version, we show the app as running on any Mac with that version.
| Your Mac | Follows typing force | Plays sounds | Won't run | Maker doesn't say |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook with the sensor | Keyslam, Haptyk, Clank Keys; TapNoise varies volume from a movement estimate | All the others | None | None |
| Apple silicon, no sensor | None | Keyslam (strength you pick), Clank Keys (varied by rhythm), Mechvibes (experimental build) and all the other apps here | Haptyk | None |
| Intel Mac | None | Keyslam, TapNoise, Klakk, KeyEcho and Keyboard Sounds Pro | Haptyk, Clank Keys and Mechvibes (GitHub issue 128 says an Intel build of Mechvibes is merged for the next release) | Klack, Thock (App Store), Keeby, TypeLouder, FunKey, CupertinoClicks, Kachunk, Tacque, KeyClicker and Thock (open source) |
Haptyk: “The M1 MacBook Air, the 13″ M1 MacBook Pro, Intel Macs and desktop Macs do not have it”11. Mechvibes: “Intel Macs are not supported yet”12. Clank Keys: “macOS 13 or later, Apple Silicon (M1 or newer)”13.
Oldest macOS each app supports
| Oldest macOS | Apps |
|---|---|
| macOS 13 Ventura | Keyslam, Haptyk, Clank Keys, Thock (App Store), Keeby, FunKey, CupertinoClicks and Kachunk |
| macOS 13.5 | Thock (open source) |
| macOS 14 Sonoma | TapNoise, Klakk and KeyClicker |
| macOS 15 Sequoia | Klack and Tacque |
| macOS 15.5 | TypeLouder |
| Not stated by the maker | KeyEcho, Mechvibes and Keyboard Sounds Pro |
Klack's figure is for its App Store version14; TypeLouder's is from its App Store listing15.
Price, trial and license
| App | Price (US) | Free trial | Macs per license | Refund |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keyslam | $3.99 once, lifetime | 7 days, everything unlocked, no account or card | All the Macs you own | 14 days |
| Haptyk | $8 one-time | 3 days; an email and a 6-digit code; “One trial per Mac”16, 17 | Up to 3 devices you own | 14 days for a technical fault on its side, a missing sensor the trial didn't flag, or a duplicate purchase18; its home page says “no questions asked”19 |
| Clank Keys | Free | Not needed | No license | Not applicable |
| TapNoise | $14.99 for 1 Mac, $20.99 for 2; $5.99 and $7.99 launch prices when we checked20, ending by November 15, 2026 | None since version 0.2.521 | 1 Mac (Solo) or 2 (Duo) | 7 days, no reason needed |
| Klack | $4.99 on the App Store; a separate standalone on tryklack.com | None; preview each switch on its site22 | Up to 5 devices | 14 days; App Store refunds go through Apple |
| Thock (App Store) | $4.99 | None mentioned | Family Sharing (App Store) | Not stated |
| Keeby | $4.99 on the App Store; also sold direct | None mentioned | Direct Mac license: 2 Macs | Not stated |
| TypeLouder | $2.99 | None in the app; a free sound test on its site | Family Sharing (App Store) | Not stated |
| FunKey | $4.99, one listing for iPhone and Mac | None mentioned | App Store purchase | Not stated |
| CupertinoClicks | $4.99 one-time | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Kachunk | Free download; $4.99 once unlocks all 26 packs | Free tier: Underwood 1938 and Cream | Every Mac you own | 30 days |
| Klakk | $4.49 per platform direct; free on the App Store with $4.99 or $2.99 Full Version | 3 days (website editions) | Per edition; a Mac license doesn't cover Windows | Not stated |
| Tacque | Free; optional $1.99 tip (Setapp: from $4.99) | Not needed | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| KeyClicker | Free; $1.99 All Access Lifetime | Free tier | App Store purchase | Not stated |
| KeyEcho | Free app; packs $3.99 each or $9.99 for all | None for paid packs23; the app and 18 packs are free | One key for Windows, macOS and Linux | 14 days, no reason required |
| Mechvibes | Free (MIT), every pack included | Not needed | No license | Not applicable |
| Thock (open source) | Free (MIT) | Not needed | No license | Not applicable |
| Keyboard Sounds Pro | Free (MIT) | Not needed | No license | Not applicable |
Prices in US dollars before tax, from each app's own pricing page or US App Store listing on November 2, 2026. TapNoise's launch prices end by November 15, 2026; we'll recheck it then. Keyslam's checkout runs on Stripe (seller: Venture Deals, Co.); how the 7-day trial and license work.
Where the sounds come from
Keyslam didn't record its own sounds: its packs are cut from CC0 recordings by Freesound users _stubb, EricsSoundschmiede, Fractal_, grcekh, handygaber, IRF1010N, keithpeter, khenshom, knufds, majod, SamsterBirdies, secretmojo, stu556, Techrul, ujonathan and zrrion, each credited by name. Haptyk's and Clank Keys' sounds come from open-source libraries. This table uses each maker's own words about where its sounds come from.
| App | Where the sounds come from | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Keyslam | Named boards, each cut from one credited CC0 Freesound typing recording (the typewriters add a recorded bell) | 13 keyboards and 2 typewriters, key-up sounds on the keyboards, custom packs |
| Haptyk | Open-source libraries: “The recordings come from the Mechvibes and ClickClack open-source sound libraries (MIT licence)”24 | 16 packs, key-up sounds |
| Clank Keys | “Switch recordings from the Mechvibes project, MIT licence”25 | Mechvibes switch sets |
| TapNoise | Its notices page: for five themes, “The source files were generated with ElevenLabs”26; “8-bit and Laser are synthesised”27 | 20 sounds (10 keyboards, 10 fun); no custom packs28 |
| Klack | Recorded: “Each switch set consist of over 100 audio files that need to be recorded and mastered individually”29 | 7 switch sets, key-up sounds, randomized pitch |
| Thock (App Store) | “multi-sampled” Cherry MX and Gateron packs9 | 22 packs, key-down and key-up |
| Keeby | “Recorded from real mechanical switches”30 | 12 switch profiles, notch visualizer |
| TypeLouder | “Real keyboard recordings”31; four packs have recorded key-ups, the rest derive one from the press32 | 8 packs |
| FunKey | “premium sound profiles inspired by real mechanical keyboards”33 | 25+ profiles |
| CupertinoClicks | Not stated | 30 keyboard and mouse presets |
| Kachunk | Not stated | Underwood and Olivetti typewriters, 24 switch packs |
| Klakk | Not stated | 14 packs |
| Tacque | “Six synthesized sound packs”34 | 6 packs, per-key pitch variation |
| KeyClicker | Not stated | Keyboard and typewriter sounds |
| KeyEcho | Sampled per key: “each key has its own press and release”35 | 71 packs (18 free) |
| Mechvibes | Made by its community | 985 pack pages on mechvibes.com, a pack editor |
| Thock (open source) | Not stated | Built-in, custom (JSON) and community packs |
| Keyboard Sounds Pro | Not stated | 20 profiles (13 keyboard, 7 mouse), custom profiles |
Keyslam's packs, recordists and Freesound links: all 15 sound packs.
What goes online, and how it installs
| App | What the app sends, in the maker's words | How it installs |
|---|---|---|
| Keyslam | Nothing: the app makes no network connections. The license key is Ed25519-signed and checked offline, and the trial date stays in your Keychain. | Direct download, notarized by Apple |
| Haptyk | Usage statistics “when the app launches, every 5 minutes while running, and when you quit”36; the trial email is kept with a machine fingerprint37 | Notarized DMG from haptyk.com38 |
| Clank Keys | “the app contains no networking code”39 | GitHub, closed source; “signed by its maker, not notarised by Apple”40, so the first launch needs a Terminal command41 |
| TapNoise | “It goes online only to check your license with Dodo Payments, and once a day to look for an update.”42 | Direct; “signed by its maker but not notarized by Apple”43 |
| Klack | “No data or personal information is collected by Klack.”44 | Mac App Store, or a standalone that's sold separately: “Buying one does not unlock the other.”45 |
| Thock (App Store) | “The app itself does not collect, store, or transmit personal data.”46 | Mac App Store |
| Keeby | App Store label: Data Not Collected. The direct edition needs internet “for activation and periodic license checks”47 | Mac App Store, or direct (Polar) |
| TypeLouder | “The app operates entirely offline”, with no network permission48 | Mac App Store |
| FunKey | App Store label: Data Not Collected | App Store |
| CupertinoClicks | Not stated | Direct download |
| Kachunk | “zero telemetry”49, works offline50 | Notarized direct download, or the Mac App Store |
| Klakk | “Activation and usage telemetry are separate network features described in the privacy policy. This is not a claim of zero network activity.”51 | Notarized DMG direct, or the Mac App Store |
| Tacque | “nothing is recorded, stored, or sent anywhere”52 | Mac App Store, Setapp |
| KeyClicker | App Store label: Data Not Collected | Mac App Store; newest version on GitHub |
| KeyEcho | “The open-source app sends no usage analytics or crash reports.”53 | Notarized DMG or Homebrew |
| Mechvibes | “one anonymous ping per launch”54 through Aptabase, which you can switch off, and a daily GitHub update check | Experimental Apple silicon DMG, “NOT notarized”55; permissions re-added after each update56; the Homebrew cask is disabled57 |
| Thock (open source) | Not stated | Homebrew or GitHub |
| Keyboard Sounds Pro | Not stated | Universal DMG on GitHub |
“Data Not Collected” is the developer's own answer on the App Store privacy label. Not notarized means macOS blocks the first launch until you allow it. Every keyboard sound app needs permission to see which keys you press; what Input Monitoring lets an app see.
Sources and quotes
Each note quotes the maker's page word for word and links an archive.org copy saved the same day, where archive.org could save one. All were checked on November 2, 2026 unless a note says otherwise.
- Haptyk, home page claim: “…where the sound follows how hard you press, thanks to the MacBook's accelerometer…” haptyk.com · archived copy
- Clank Keys, version: “released this 13 Sep 00:13 v1.3.0 88d1007 First public build.” github.com/VishnuViez/clank-keys-releases/releases/tag/v1.3.0 · archived copy
- Haptyk, force: “Sound follows how hard you type ✓ 4 levels, soft to slam” haptyk.com/compare · archived copy
- Haptyk, incompatible Macs: “you will see an "Incompatible Mac" notice on launch before any email or payment” haptyk.com/klack-alternative · archived copy
- Clank Keys, price + force: “Reads the accelerometer hidden inside your MacBook and plays a real switch recording that matches how hard you hit the key. You pay nothing.” github.com/VishnuViez/clank-keys-releases · archived copy
- Clank Keys, no sensor: “Without it, sounds still play, varied by typing rhythm.” github.com/VishnuViez/clank-keys-releases · archived copy
- TapNoise, force: “It is an estimate from body movement, not a force sensor measuring each individual switch.” tapnoise.com/blog/macbook-typing-pressure-sounds · archived copy
- TapNoise, force hardware: “MacBook Pro with M1 Pro or M1 Max, and later MacBook Air with M2, and later” tapnoise.com/docs/system-requirements · archived copy
- Thock (Mac App Store, thock.pro), force: “Each pack is multi-sampled, velocity aware, and designed for long sessions.” thock.pro · archived copy
- Haptyk, sensor risk: “This interface is not officially supported by Apple and may change or become unavailable in future macOS updates.” haptyk.com/refund · archived copy
- Haptyk, incompatible Macs: “The M1 MacBook Air, the 13″ M1 MacBook Pro, Intel Macs and desktop Macs do not have it, and the app tells you at launch, before asking for an email.” haptyk.com · archived copy
- Mechvibes, Intel: “Intel Macs are not supported yet ( issue #128 ).” mechvibes.com/blog/mechvibes-not-working-mac · archived copy
- Clank Keys, requirements: “macOS 13 or later, Apple Silicon (M1 or newer)” github.com/VishnuViez/clank-keys-releases · archived copy
- Klack, macOS minimum: “Requires macOS 15.0 or later.” apps.apple.com/us/app/klack/id6446206067 · archived copy
- TypeLouder, macOS minimum: “Requires macOS 15.5 or later.” apps.apple.com/us/app/typelouder-keyboard-sounds/id6756606901 · archived copy
- Haptyk, trial: “The trial is activated by verifying your email address. After 3 days, sound playback is disabled until you purchase a Pro license. One trial per Mac, non-transferable.” haptyk.com/terms · archived copy
- Haptyk, trial: “we ask for your email address and a 6-digit verification code to confirm it” haptyk.com/privacy · archived copy
- Haptyk, refund (policy): “We offer a full refund within 14 days of purchase if: - The app does not function on your Mac due to a technical issue on our end - Your Mac does not have the required accelerometer sensor (and the trial did not warn you) - You accidentally purchased twice” haptyk.com/refund · archived copy
- Haptyk, refund (home page): “Full refund within 14 days, no questions asked.” haptyk.com · archived copy
- TapNoise, launch price: “The first 500 launch licenses are Solo US$5.99 and Duo US$7.99. The next 500 are Solo US$9.99 and Duo US$12.99. After those, or 14 days after launch day, whichever comes first, the regular prices apply.” tapnoise.com/pricing · archived copy
- TapNoise, trial history: “The 3-day free trial has been removed.” tapnoise.com/changelog · archived copy
- Klack, trial: “Can I try Klack before I buy it? No, you may however preview each switch on the landing page by clicking on their respective play buttons.” tryklack.com/faqs · archived copy
- KeyEcho, trial: “No subscription and no trial. 14-day refund.” keyecho.app/llms.txt · archived copy
- Haptyk, sound source: “The recordings come from the Mechvibes and ClickClack open-source sound libraries (MIT licence), credited in the app.” haptyk.com/keyboard-simulator · archived copy
- Clank Keys, sound source: “Switch recordings from the Mechvibes project, MIT licence” github.com/VishnuViez/clank-keys-releases · archived copy
- TapNoise, sound source (AI-generated): “Thock, Creamy, Clicky, Typewriter and Bubble, plus the shared slap and MacBook sounds: the lid chimes, hinge creak, and charger and USB sounds. The source files were generated with ElevenLabs.” tapnoise.com/notices · archived copy
- TapNoise, sound source (synthesized): “8-bit and Laser are synthesised by TapNoise.” tapnoise.com/notices · archived copy
- TapNoise, custom packs: “Your own sound packs Add sound packs you made yourself. No” tapnoise.com/compare · archived copy
- Klack, recordings: “Each switch set consist of over 100 audio files that need to be recorded and mastered individually.” tryklack.com/faqs · archived copy
- Keeby, recordings: “Recorded from real mechanical switches and processed with studio-grade audio” apps.apple.com/us/app/keeby/id6760791739 · archived copy
- TypeLouder, recordings: “Real keyboard recordings and thoughtful Mac-native controls” typelouder.app · archived copy
- TypeLouder, key-up sounds: “Key-up is now its own sound: four of the eight packs ship with real recorded releases, and the rest derive one from the press.” apps.apple.com/us/app/typelouder-keyboard-sounds/id6756606901 · archived copy
- FunKey, packs: “Explore over 25 premium sound profiles inspired by real mechanical keyboards” apps.apple.com/us/app/mechanical-keyboard-app-funkey/id6469420677 · archived copy
- Tacque, sound source: “Six synthesized sound packs, spatial sound, per-key pitch variation, in the menu bar.” luminoxe.com/tacque · archived copy
- KeyEcho, recordings: “Every pack is sampled per key; each key has its own press and release.” keyecho.app/llms-full.txt · archived copy
- Haptyk, telemetry: “This data is sent when the app launches, every 5 minutes while running, and when you quit.” haptyk.com/privacy · archived copy
- Haptyk, trial: “Your email is stored only on our server alongside a machine fingerprint and is never sold or shared.” haptyk.com/privacy · archived copy
- Haptyk, distribution: “haptyk.com (notarized DMG)” haptyk.com/compare · archived copy
- Clank Keys, network: “the app contains no networking code, so nothing can leave your Mac” github.com/VishnuViez/clank-keys-releases · archived copy
- Clank Keys, notarization: “The app is signed by its maker, not notarised by Apple, so the first launch is refused.” github.com/VishnuViez/clank-keys-releases · archived copy
- Clank Keys, install: “xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine” github.com/VishnuViez/clank-keys-releases · archived copy
- TapNoise, network: “It has no account, no analytics and no advertising. It goes online only to check your license with Dodo Payments, and once a day to look for an update.” tapnoise.com/privacy · archived copy
- TapNoise, notarization: “TapNoise is signed by its maker but not notarized by Apple.” tapnoise.com/docs/open-anyway · archived copy
- Klack, network: “No data or personal information is collected by Klack.” tryklack.com/faqs · archived copy
- Klack, standalone version: “Buying one does not unlock the other.” tryklack.com/faqs · archived copy
- Thock (Mac App Store, thock.pro), network: “The app itself does not collect, store, or transmit personal data. It runs entirely on your Mac.” thock.pro/privacy · archived copy
- Keeby, network: “An internet connection is required for activation and periodic license checks. A valid signed grant permits offline use for up to eight days” getkeeby.com · archived copy
- TypeLouder, network: “TypeLouder does not require network permissions. The app operates entirely offline” apps.apple.com/us/app/typelouder-keyboard-sounds/id6756606901 · archived copy
- Kachunk, macOS + network: “macOS 13+ · 6 MB, no dock icon · zero telemetry” getkachunk.com · archived copy
- Kachunk, refund + distribution: “Notarised by Apple · works offline · refund within 30 days · also on the Mac App Store” getkachunk.com · archived copy
- Klakk, network: “Activation and usage telemetry are separate network features described in the privacy policy. This is not a claim of zero network activity.” tryklakk.com/llms.txt · archived copy
- Tacque, network: “Keystrokes are detected only to play a sound; nothing is recorded, stored, or sent anywhere.” apps.apple.com/us/app/tacque-mechanical-keyboard/id6778518424 · archived copy
- KeyEcho, network: “The open-source app sends no usage analytics or crash reports.” keyecho.app/privacy · archived copy
- Mechvibes, telemetry: “Mechvibes sends one anonymous ping per launch to track rough usage.” github.com/hainguyents13/mechvibes · archive.org couldn't save a copy
- Mechvibes, notarization: “This build is produced by CI and has never been run on a real Mac by the maintainer. It carries only an ad-hoc signature and is NOT notarized.” github.com/hainguyents13/mechvibes/releases/download/v3.4.0/README-macos-3.4.0.txt · archive.org couldn't save a copy
- Mechvibes, permissions: “You have to remove and re-add both entries after replacing the app with a newer build” github.com/hainguyents13/mechvibes/releases/download/v3.4.0/README-macos-3.4.0.txt · archive.org couldn't save a copy
- Mechvibes, Homebrew: “mechvibes (disabled)” formulae.brew.sh/cask/mechvibes · archived copy
How we check, and what we've corrected
On November 2, 2026 we read each app's website, pricing, FAQ, privacy and refund pages, its Mac App Store listing, GitHub repo or update feed, and asked archive.org to save a copy of each page we quote (for a few pages it couldn't). Where a maker doesn't say something, the table says “Not stated” instead of guessing.
For the Mac App Store, we searched with 12 terms and read the description of every keyboard-sound listing that came back. None mentions an accelerometer, a motion sensor, velocity or typing force. (Thock's website, not its listing, calls its packs “velocity aware”.) Keyslam is a direct download, not an App Store app. We haven't tested whether Apple would approve an App Store version that reads the motion sensor, so we don't claim it couldn't be done.
We recheck all of them monthly, TapNoise after its launch pricing ends on November 15, 2026, and Haptyk after each release in its update feed. When something changes, it goes in this log.
| Date | Topic | What we said | What's right |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who reads the sensor | This page said that, of the apps we checked, Keyslam and Haptyk use the MacBook motion sensor and TapNoise “advertises soft and hard responses”. | Clank Keys, a free app first released on September 13, 2026, also reads the accelerometer. TapNoise's own blog calls its pressure feature an estimate from body movement, not a force sensor. | |
| Lowest price | We said Keyslam had the lowest price of the apps that advertise force-sensitive sound. | Clank Keys is free. Of the two paid apps that read the sensor, Keyslam ($3.99) costs less than Haptyk ($8). | |
| Mac App Store | Our FAQ claimed that App Store sandboxing stops apps reading the motion sensor. | We hadn't verified that, so it's gone. What we did check: none of the Mac App Store keyboard-sound listings we read describes force sensing. | |
| Keyslam's strengths | Our own row said each board had “4 strengths”, which read as four separate recordings. | Each pack's strikes are cut from one real recording. They are sorted by natural loudness into soft, medium, hard and slam bands (slam is the hardest ~8%), and each band is leveled. | |
| Klack | We listed Klack as running on “macOS”, with no trial “on the App Store”. | The App Store version needs macOS 15. Klack has no trial at all; its FAQ points to previews on its site, a 14-day refund and up to 5 devices. | |
| Haptyk | We wrote that Haptyk's “anonymous usage counts leave the Mac”. | Now quoted from its privacy policy: usage statistics go out at launch, every 5 minutes while it runs, and at quit. | |
| Mechvibes | We listed Mechvibes as a macOS, Windows and Linux app, with no caveats. | The Mac build of Mechvibes 3 (v3.4.0) is experimental, Apple silicon only and not notarized. | |
| Coverage | The table had 9 apps. | It now has all the apps in our research, with Thock split into the App Store app and the unrelated open-source one. |
Found something out of date or unfair? Send a correction. Makers of these apps are welcome to write in too.
Comparison questions
What is the best keyboard sound app for Mac?
It depends on your Mac. For sound that follows how hard you type: Keyslam ($3.99; macOS 13 or later, and it also runs on Macs without the sensor) or Haptyk ($8, MacBooks with the motion sensor only); Clank Keys does it free on Apple silicon MacBooks with the sensor, but isn't notarized. To buy on the Mac App Store: Klack ($4.99, macOS 15 or later). Free and open source: Mechvibes, Thock (open source) or Keyboard Sounds Pro, and KeyEcho is free with paid packs. We make Keyslam, so check the sources on this page.
Are Klack and Klakk the same app?
No. Klakk's own site says “Klakk (K-l-a-k-k) and Klack (K-l-a-c-k) are separate apps from different developers.” Klack is Henrik Ruscon's $4.99 Mac App Store app. Klakk sells $4.49 Mac and Windows editions on tryklakk.com, with a 3-day trial, and a free download with paid upgrades on the App Store.
Why isn't Keyslam on the Mac App Store?
Keyslam is sold directly from its own website, not through the Mac App Store. We haven't tested whether Apple would approve an App Store version that reads the MacBook motion sensor, so we don't claim it's impossible. None of the Mac App Store keyboard-sound listings we read on November 2, 2026 describes force sensing.
Which keyboard sound apps send data from my Mac?
Going by their own pages: Haptyk sends usage statistics at launch, every 5 minutes and at quit. Mechvibes sends one anonymous ping per launch (you can switch it off) and checks GitHub daily. Klakk has activation and usage telemetry. TapNoise goes online to check its license and once a day for updates, and Keeby's direct edition checks its license periodically. Clank Keys says it has no networking code, TypeLouder says it works entirely offline, and Keyslam makes no network connections.
How do you keep this comparison accurate?
We quote each maker's own page, save an archive.org copy where archive.org can make one, and recheck monthly: TapNoise after its launch pricing ends on November 15, 2026, Haptyk after each release. Every change goes in the corrections log on this page. If you spot an error, tell us.
Hear the boards before you choose.
Play all 15 Keyslam boards in your browser now. The Mac app is $3.99 once after a 7-day free trial.