Apple Shortcuts is free and can open several apps from one shortcut, run from a hotkey, the menu bar, Spotlight or Siri. ClapSnap does the same job hands-free with a double clap or snap, adds a welcome overlay, and includes Air Mouse. Pick Shortcuts if a hotkey is fine; pick ClapSnap if you want no touch at all.
Both tools can put your whole workspace on screen in one go. The difference is what you have to do to start them.
Apple Shortcuts
Shortcuts comes with macOS and costs nothing. To open several apps:
- Open the Shortcuts app and create a new shortcut.
- Add an Open App action for each app.
- Give it a keyboard shortcut, pin it to the menu bar, or run it from Spotlight. You can also ask Siri to run it by name.
It is a solid, free answer. The limits are that something still has to start it (a key combination, a click or a spoken command), and anything beyond opening apps takes more actions and some trial and error.
ClapSnap
ClapSnap lives in the menu bar and listens, on your Mac, for a deliberate double clap or double snap. When it hears one, it opens every app in your list and plays a short full-screen welcome overlay.
- No key, click or voice command: the gesture is the trigger.
- Clap for a home office, snap for a quieter shared room, with three sensitivity levels.
- Air Mouse is included, for moving and clicking the cursor with your hand.
- One-time purchase from €8, with a 14-day refund.
Side by side
| Apple Shortcuts | ClapSnap | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens several apps at once | Yes | Yes |
| Trigger | Hotkey, menu bar, Spotlight, Siri | Double clap or snap |
| Needs a touch or voice | Yes | No |
| Welcome overlay | No | Yes |
| Hand-gesture cursor | No | Yes, Air Mouse |
| Cost | Free | From €8, one-time |
| Processing | On your Mac | On your Mac |
Which should you use?
If you are happy pressing a key, Shortcuts is free and good enough. If you want the workspace to appear as you sit down, before your hands are on the keyboard, that is the moment ClapSnap is built for. For other options, see all the alternatives.
Questions
Can Apple Shortcuts open several apps at once?
Yes. Add one Open App action per app to a shortcut, then run it from a keyboard shortcut, the menu bar, Spotlight or Siri.
Can I use Shortcuts and ClapSnap together?
Yes. They do not conflict. Many people keep a shortcut for the keyboard and use a clap when their hands are busy or they are just sitting down.
Try ClapSnap. Double clap or snap to open your whole Mac workspace, and steer the cursor with your hand. Pay what you want, minimum €8, one-time purchase, with a 14-day refund. Get ClapSnap