Layouto provides three typing enhancements from the menu bar: text expansion with dynamic placeholders, automatic typo correction across multiple languages, and keyboard layout error detection and fixing.
Text shortcuts allow users to type brief abbreviations that expand to full phrases, templates, or multi-line text blocks. Placeholders including {{date}}, {{time}}, {{clipboard}}, and others insert contextual values automatically. This suits repetitive text such as email signatures, boilerplate responses, or frequently used code snippets.
The typo correction engine uses macOS’s built-in dictionary to fix misspellings automatically as users type, across any application. It supports 30+ languages with corrections active by default, plus additional languages available on demand. App exceptions allow specific applications—Terminal, VS Code, or code editors—to be excluded from corrections to prevent unwanted changes.
Wrong-layout detection addresses a common frustration for multilingual users: text typed with the incorrect keyboard layout active is detected and corrected to what the user intended to type. This saves the effort of manually deleting and retyping.
VoiceOver compatibility, spoken corrections feedback, large layout indicators, and full keyboard navigation make the app accessible.
System requirements: macOS 13.0 or later. Available on the Mac App Store (29.6 MB).
Pricing: 7-day free trial, then $2.99/month or $19.99/year subscription.
Limitations: The subscription model applies to all features. Text expansion and typo correction are established features available in free or cheaper alternatives. The app does not appear to offer a one-time purchase option.
Alternatives: Espanso provides free open-source text expansion. Raycast includes text expansion in its free tier. Typinator and Keyboard Maestro offer one-time purchase text expansion with broader automation.
Suitable for multilingual users who frequently switch keyboard layouts, or users seeking a single app that combines text expansion with automatic spelling correction.
