Stream Deck alternatives for developers and coding agents

Developers looking for an Elgato Stream Deck alternative can choose a physical LCD keypad, a keypad with a dial, or virtual keys on a phone or computer screen. Logitech's MX Keypad ($99.99) works with Logi Options+ and offers native VS Code and IntelliJ controls plus prompt macros for GitHub Copilot, Claude Code and OpenAI Codex. The Logitech MX Creative Console adds a dialpad with a dial and roller. Elgato's Stream Deck Mobile and Virtual Stream Deck give you keys without new hardware. Orbtile does a different job: it shows live coding-agent sessions on the MX Creative Keypad or an Android phone.

Side-by-side comparison of Stream Deck alternatives

Elgato and Logitech send shortcuts and actions to your apps. Orbtile shows the state of your coding-agent sessions.

See Stream Deck or MX Creative Keypad for AI coding agents.

Logitech MX Keypad: the 9-key hardware alternative for developers

Logitech lists the standalone MX Keypad ($99.99) in its Master Series as "AI control keys for developers". It has 9 LCD keys, comes in Graphite and is made with recycled plastic.

With Logi Options+ installed, the MX Keypad provides:

• Native VS Code and IntelliJ integrations to navigate code, launch agents, manage debuggers and toggle terminals.
• One-tap prompt macros, code refactoring and voice commands across GitHub Copilot, Claude Code and OpenAI Codex.
• These AI controls need an active internet connection and an account with each AI provider.
• App-aware context switching that swaps tools as you move between apps such as VS Code, Slack, Figma, Zoom and Spotify.
• Ready-to-use profiles that ship with most plugins.
• Custom tools built with the Logi Actions SDK, by hand or with AI, to share with your team or on the Logi Marketplace.

Software, operating system and account requirements

• The MX Keypad needs Logi Options+ 2.07 or later on macOS 13 or later, or Windows 10 or later.
• Windows computers with ARM 64 processors are not supported.
• Logi Options+ supports 19 languages. You change the language from the gear icon at the top right of the home page.
• The keypad and console configurator supports English, French, German, Japanese, Italian and Spanish.
• The Logi Plugin Service runs the plugins and the marketplace. It only activates when an MX Creative Console or MX Keypad is connected.
• The default profile and the pre-installed System plugin actions work without signing in.
• You need to log in with a Logi ID to install a Marketplace plugin or profile, or to add an application profile.

See The Logitech MX Keypad for developers, with and without Options+.

Logitech MX Creative Console: adding a dialpad to the keypad

The Logitech MX Creative Console pairs the keypad with a dialpad that has a dial and a roller. It needs Logi Options+ 1.83 or later on macOS 13 or later, or Windows 10 or later, excluding ARM 64. Without Logi Options+, the keypad cannot be used at all, and the dialpad keeps only a very limited set of basic actions.

How plugins and application profiles work in Logi Options+

In Logi Options+, plugins are packages of actions for an application or feature. Their actions sit in groups and subgroups in the right panel.

• Every application plugin you install comes with a default profile for that application.
• Available plugins depend on the active profile. With a Photoshop profile active, Premiere Pro plugins may be unavailable.
• Plugins such as Spotify, IFTTT, Philips Hue and Twitch rely on web services, so no local application is needed.
• To install plugins, open the device configuration page, click All Actions and choose FIND MORE FROM MARKETPLACE.
• A small pulsating purple dot next to an installed plugin shows that an update is available.
• From Logi Options+ 1.99, every plugin on the official Logitech Marketplace goes through a security review.
• Third-party plugins from other sources can still be installed, but Options+ shows a security notification.

Mapping shortcuts and dial adjustments for unsupported apps

For apps without a Marketplace plugin, build a custom profile with the pre-installed SYSTEM plugin:

• Click + in the profile bar, choose APPLICATION PROFILE and pick your program.
• If your program is not listed, click ADD APPLICATION and point to its executable.
• Click START WITH A BLANK TEMPLATE, name the profile and click CONFIRM.
• Under KEYBOARD, drag KEYBOARD SHORTCUT onto a key, click the KEY field, press your shortcut and save.
• For the dial, drag DIAL ADJUSTMENT from ADVANCED onto it, set an optional initial shortcut, and assign a shortcut for each turning direction.

See MX Creative Console: setup, profiles, plugins and agents.

Elgato's own alternatives: smaller hardware, phone app and on-screen keys

Elgato compares its classic 15-key Stream Deck ($149.99) with smaller hardware, studio decks, foot pedals and virtual keypads in its own range.

Hardware specs: 15-key Stream Deck vs Stream Deck Mini and other models

The 15-key Stream Deck measures 118 x 84 x 25 mm (4.6 x 3.3 x 1.0 in) without its stand. It weighs 145 g without the stand and 270 g with it. It connects over USB 2.0 with a 150 cm (59 in) USB-C to USB-C cable with a 90-degree connector. It offers classic membrane switches or scissor keys and supports interchangeable faceplates. It needs Windows 11 or newer, or macOS 13 or newer, plus a USB-C port and the Stream Deck software.

Other hardware options on the same page include:

• Stream Deck Mini: 6 keys, an integrated stand, a 1.5 m cable, 84 x 60 x 58 mm and 160 g.
• Both the 15-key Stream Deck and the Mini work with the Elgato Network Dock.
• Larger and specialised models: Stream Deck XL, Stream Deck +, Stream Deck + XL, Stream Deck Neo, Stream Deck Studio, Stream Deck Pedal and Galleon 100 SD.
• CORSAIR keyboards with G-Keys also work with Stream Deck natively.

Virtual Stream Deck and Stream Deck Mobile

• Stream Deck Mobile is a phone app that gives you a 6-key virtual deck with plugin and hotkey support.
• Virtual Stream Deck puts customisable keys directly on your computer screen.

How Stream Deck software automates developer and desk workflows

• Control apps by sending keyboard shortcuts, or through dedicated plugins where they exist.
• The Elgato Marketplace lists plugins such as Window Mover, Zoom, Discord, Slack, PowerPoint, Spotify, Clocks, Weather and Audio Switcher.
• Developers can build their own plugins with Elgato's Stream Deck SDK.
• Smart Profiles switch your key layout automatically based on the app in focus.
• Profiles at Scale gives every workstation the same key layout.
• Multi Actions run a sequence of actions from one press, with optional delays between them.
• Key Logic assigns different actions to a single press, a double press and a press-and-hold on one key.
• Random Action picks one of several assigned actions at random on each press.
• Pages, Folders and Pinned Actions help you organise larger layouts.

Live coding-agent status on a keypad or Android phone with Orbtile

Orbtile shows which AI coding agent has stopped for a tool permission or a clarifying question. It runs on a computer with macOS 14.0 Sonoma or later on Apple silicon, or Windows 11 (x64). It uses the Logitech MX Creative Keypad, the standalone MX Keypad or an Android phone:

• Orbtile drives the keypad's 9 LCD keys and 2 page buttons directly over USB, without Logi Options+ or an account.
• While Orbtile holds the keypad, your Logi Options+ keypad profile pauses.
• To hand the keypad back, use the Mac menu bar or the Windows tray, hold both page buttons for 1.5 seconds, or quit Orbtile.
• Without a keypad, Orbtile Mobile turns an Android phone with Android 8.0 or later into the same pad over your local network.
• Sign in with the same Orbtile account on the computer and the phone, then turn on Settings > Keypad > Phone pad.
• Keys 1 to 8 show sessions from Claude Code, Codex, ZCode, the Antigravity desktop app and Kimi Code.
• The keys also show sessions on remote servers over SSH, and your own scripts through the local Adapter API.
• Each key shows the session name, its state, such as Thinking, Permission, Question or Done, and its latest words over an animated Frosted orb.
• Waiting sessions move to the front and glow in their agent's alarm colour.
• A tap on key 9 opens the first waiting session, including sessions on other pages.
• A short tap on a session key opens its window on your computer.
• Holding a session key for 0.6 seconds opens Focus mode across all 9 keys.

Answering approvals and questions from the pad

In Focus mode, you can answer supported requests without switching windows:

• For a permission request from Claude Code, ZCode or a compatible local Codex desktop chat, press Deny on key 7 to decline.
• To approve, hold Allow on key 9 for 0.6 seconds while its ring fills.
• Codex terminal command approvals offer Allow only on the keys, so decline those in the terminal.
• For a supported multiple-choice question, pick options on keys 1, 2, 3 and 7, then hold Send on key 9.
• In the Antigravity desktop app, you can answer up to four questions with two to four numbered choices each.
• Antigravity permission requests and written answers stay on your computer.
• For Kimi Code sessions in Kimi's own server, started with kimi web, kimi rc or /rc, you can answer permissions and listed-option questions.
• The keypad can answer a Kimi Code permission request for up to 2 minutes, or less if Kimi Code's own limit is shorter.
• Claude Code and ZCode CLI sessions on a remote server are display-only, so you answer on the server.

See Use the Logitech MX Creative Keypad without Logi Options+, Your old Android phone as a status pad for coding agents and Approve agent tool calls without switching windows.