MacPipAnswer
Thock vs Klack: which Mac keyboard sound app should you pick?
Pick Thock if you want free and open source, your Mac runs macOS 13.5 or 14, or you like to tinker with your own sound packs and a Raycast command. Pick Klack if you’d rather pay $4.99 for a polished Mac App Store app on macOS 15 or later, with seven named switch sets ready to go.
Both are native Mac menu-bar apps with spatial audio and mouse clicks. The difference is mostly price, macOS version and how much you want to set up yourself.
Thock and Klack side by side
From each app’s own pages, read on 5 November 2026.
| Thock | Klack | Ahead | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, open source (MIT) | $4.99, Mac App Store | Thock |
| macOS | 13.5 or later | 15 or later | Thock |
| Install | Homebrew, a ZIP from GitHub, or build it | Mac App Store | Klack for ease |
| Sounds | Recorded packs, plus your own (JSON) | 7 switch sets, randomized pitch | Thock for choice |
| Spatial audio | Yes, by key and pointer position | Yes | Same |
| Mouse clicks | Yes, since 1.19 | Yes, since 1.7.1 | Same |
| Quiet while music plays | Yes (Apple Music, Spotify, VLC) | Not on its page | Thock |
| Languages | 10 | English | Thock |
Why pick Thock
Thock puts sounds where they happen: keys by their place on the keyboard, clicks by the pointer, through Apple’s spatial renderer in headphones and a stereo pan on speakers, with a Spatial width slider. Typing sounds go quiet while Apple Music, Spotify or VLC plays and come back when the music stops. A Raycast extension and a command-line tool switch it on and off or change packs.
It is free under the MIT licence and comes in English, Spanish, French, Japanese, Chinese, German, Italian, Vietnamese, Portuguese and Russian. Its README doesn’t say much about network use or notarization.
Why pick Klack
Klack is one of the best-known keyboard sound apps for the Mac, and installing it is one click in the App Store. Its site shows CherryMX Japanese Black, Everglide Crystal Purple, Oreo, Flurples Cardboard, Gateron Milky Yellow, Keychron Super Red and NovelKeys Cream. Its listing adds key down and key up sounds, tone pad tuning, sleep automation triggers and usage stats, and its privacy label is Data Not Collected.
How to install Thock
From Thock’s README. Homebrew is the quickest way.
- Install Homebrew if you don’t have it, then run brew install --cask kamillobinski/thock/thock in Terminal.
- Or download the latest Thock ZIP from its GitHub releases page, unzip it and move the app to Applications.
- Open Thock and allow it in System Settings → Privacy & Security when macOS asks.
- To add your own pack, put its folder in Thock’s packs folder and switch to it.
A third option
Thock and Klack are keyboard-first. If you want a sound for every trackpad tap and scroll notch too, with a ripple on every click and a screen recorder, Clacky does that for $4.99 once on macOS 13 or later. See Clacky vs Thock and Clacky vs Klack.
Where these facts come from
Checked on 5 November 2026. Prices are in US dollars, before tax. Apps change, so check each page before you buy.
- Thock: GitHub README and release 1.19.0 (via our 5 November guide)
- Klack: tryklack.com and Mac App Store listing
Questions
Is Thock really free?
Does Thock work on macOS 13 Ventura?
Can I add my own sounds to Klack?
Facts checked on 5 November 2026.
Related
- Clacky vs ThockThock vs Clacky on a Mac: keyboard and click sounds, scroll ticks, a click ripple, a recorder and screenshots. A fair comparison, with sources.
- Clacky vs KlackClacky vs Klack for Mac: keyboard, click and scroll sounds, a click ripple, a screen recorder, screenshots and more. A fair, sourced comparison.
- Klack vs MechvibesKlack is a $4.99 App Store app for macOS 15+. Mechvibes is free, open source and on Windows and Linux too, but experimental on Mac.
- Mechvibes vs ThockBoth are free and open source. Thock is a native Mac app from macOS 13.5. Mechvibes runs on Windows and Linux too but is experimental on Mac.
- The best keyboard sound apps for Mac (2026)The best keyboard sound apps for Mac, side by side: price, trial, sounds, privacy and network, macOS version. Free and paid, every fact sourced.
- Free alternatives to ClackyYes: Mechvibes, Thock, Keyboard Sounds Pro, KeyEcho and Clank Keys are free, and macOS can circle your clicks in a recording. Here is what each does.
Make something on your Mac today.
3 days free, every feature. Then $4.99 once.