KeyCastr for Windows: it’s Mac-only, so use one of these
KeyCastr has no Windows version, but the job is easy to cover. KeyViz and KeyCastOW are free if you only need keys on screen. SHARA is the pick when you also want a click halo, a laser and a pen; its Keystroke Pill is included free for your first 14 days, then it’s a one-time upgrade.
- You want more than keys. The cursor halo with its click flash, Pen, Laser and Arrow are free forever and sit in one overlay.
- You teach or demo live. The Keystroke Pill shows shortcuts, typed words, clicks and scroll, and follows the pointer or sits in one of three places.
- You type near passwords. The pill hides completely and drops the keys in password fields.
- You want no account. SHARA needs no sign-in and sends no telemetry.
Updated November 1, 2026
KeyCastr vs SHARA: only the rows that change the decision
If you are on a Mac, KeyCastr is the free default. On Windows, this is how SHARA’s pill compares.
| What decides it | KeyCastr | SHARA |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | ✕macOS only. Its GitHub page doesn’t mention Windows | ✓Windows 10 and 11 |
| Price | Free, BSD 3-Clause, source on GitHub | Free tier. Keystroke Pill PRO: free for 14 days, then Pro is $19.99 once, with a 14-day refund |
| Install | Homebrew (brew install --cask keycastr) or a GitHub download | Microsoft Store, free |
| What it shows | Command keys, all modified keys or all keystrokes | Shortcuts, typed words, command keys, clicks and scroll |
| Mouse clicks | An option to include them | ✓Halo with click flash FREE; clicks in the pill PRO |
| Where it appears | Not listed on its GitHub page | Follows the pointer, or sits at one of 3 anchor positions |
| Password fields | Never receives passwords from fields the app marks as secure | Pill hides completely and drops the keys in password fields |
| Toggle | Not listed on its GitHub page | Ctrl+Win+T, or the toolbar Keys button |
| Beyond keystrokes | ✕Not its job | ✓Halo, Pen, Laser, Arrow, text FREE; zoom, Highlighter, shapes PRO |
Try SHARA’s Keystroke Pill on a real recording. The free tier never expires, and every install starts with a 14-day Pro trial.
The Windows alternatives to KeyCastr, side by side
None of these is a port of KeyCastr. Each shows your key presses on screen for talks, tutorials and recordings.
| Tool | Cost and licence | Latest release | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| KeyViz | Free, GPL-3.0. A $9 Pro tier adds animations and styles | v2.1.1, April 1, 2026 | Windows and macOS. Shows keys and mouse clicks, and can filter by hotkey. Its site says keystrokes are processed locally |
| KeyCastOW | Free, open source | No releases. Last code change October 2019 | One ~100 KB exe you build yourself. A hotkey turns it on and off |
| Key’n’Stroke | Free, Apache-2.0 | Last code change July 2024 | Its page lists Windows 10. Shows keys, clicks and key history. Windows warns on first launch |
| Carnac | Free, MS-PL | v2.3.13, June 20, 2020 | A keyboard logging and presentation utility, per its page. Needs .NET 4.5.2; no release since 2020 |
| SHARA | Free tier. Keystroke Pill PRO (free for 14 days), then $19.99 once | Version 4.3.3, Store update October 22, 2026 | Keys plus halo, Pen, Laser and zoom in one overlay. Windows 10 and 11 only |
Want the full walk-through of each tool, with set-up steps? Read how to show keystrokes on screen in Windows, or test your own capture with the planned keystroke visualizer in your browser.
Three differences that matter on a Windows PC
It runs on Windows
KeyCastr is a Mac app, so the question is which Windows tool fills its place. KeyViz, KeyCastOW, Key’n’Stroke, Carnac and SHARA all list Windows.
Proof: each tool page on GitHub or the Microsoft Store listing, read November 1, 2026.
Keys plus the rest of a live demo
KeyCastr does one job. SHARA puts the keys in the same overlay as the cursor halo, Laser, Pen and zoom, so the audience can follow the click, the shortcut and the point you are making.
Proof: Ctrl+Win+T toggles the pill, and Ctrl+Space opens the Wheel with the other tools.
The pill steps aside
KeyCastr says it never receives passwords from fields an app marks as secure. SHARA’s pill hides completely and drops the keys in a password field, and it errs on the side of hiding.
Proof: Test it once on a dummy sign-in form before you record.
When SHARA isn’t the right fit
You only want keys, and want to pay nothing. After the 14-day trial, SHARA’s Keystroke Pill needs Pro. KeyViz is free and does the job.
You are on a Mac. SHARA is Windows only. Use KeyCastr there.
You want a tiny single-purpose tool. SHARA is a full presenting overlay, so it does more than you may need.
Your audience only sees one window. Overlays show in an entire-screen share or recording, not in a single-window share.
Show your keys on Windows in three steps
There is nothing to migrate: KeyCastr keeps no projects, only a display.
- Install SHARA free from the Microsoft Store.The install starts with a 14-day Pro trial, so the Keystroke Pill is available straight away.
- Turn the pill on.Press Ctrl+Win+T or click Keys on the toolbar. It is off by default. Pick whether it follows the pointer or sits in one of three places.
- Share or record the entire screen.Zoom, Teams, Meet and OBS capture the overlay when you share the whole display. Then decide before day 14 whether to stay on the free tier or buy Pro at sharacursor.com/buy.
KeyCastr on Windows, answered
Is there a KeyCastr for Windows?
What is the best free KeyCastr alternative for Windows?
Is SHARA’s keystroke display free?
Does SHARA show mouse clicks like KeyCastr’s click option?
What happens to passwords I type?
Will viewers on Zoom or Teams see the keys?
None of these worked: what now?
Show every shortcut, on Windows.
Halo, click flash, Pen and Laser free forever. The Keystroke Pill, zoom and shapes are free for 14 days, then one $19.99 payment.
Disclosure and methodology: Mashyo makes SHARA. We compared documented features and list prices, not a benchmark. KeyCastr facts come from its GitHub page and releases; KeyViz, KeyCastOW, Key’n’Stroke and Carnac facts from their GitHub pages and releases (KeyViz also from keyviz.org); SHARA facts from the app. Where a page doesn’t say something, we don’t assume it. Prices and versions change, so check each site before you decide. Last updated: November 1, 2026.
