THE BUTTONS BLOG

Mac automation, without the busywork.

Practical guides on automating your Mac, AI agents that click for you, and getting repetitive work off your plate — from the team behind Buttons.

· 15 min read

9 best Stream Deck alternatives in 2026 (tested and compared)

If you want the Elgato Stream Deck's one-tap control without buying Elgato's hardware, you have real choices. A good Stream Deck alternative can be a touchscreen deck with physical dials, a phone or…

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· 15 min read

The 11 best macro software for Mac in 2026

Looking for the right macro software for Mac? We tested the field and ranked 11 tools by what they actually reach, how easy they are to set up, how much control they give you, how reliable they are…

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· 14 min read

The 12 best virtual assistant software tools in 2026

A virtual assistant, human or AI, lives inside a stack of apps all day: inboxes, calendars, portals, project boards, and password vaults. The virtual assistant software you pick decides how much of…

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· 18 min read

The 11 best AI employees in 2026, tested and compared

Everyone is selling AI employees right now, and most of the marketing sounds the same. This guide cuts through it. We tested and researched 11 tools that claim to do real work for you, and we ranked…

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· 11 min read

How to automate repetitive tasks in 5 steps (2026)

Automating a repetitive task means handing a rule-shaped job to software that runs it the same way every time. You know the chore: a two-minute copy-paste or a bit of filing that you repeat until it…

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· 10 min read

12 AI agent examples that show what they actually do

"AI agent" gets stuck on almost every product now, so it is hard to tell what the word actually means. This article walks through 12 real AI agent examples, from the ones running inside Uber and…

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· 8 min read

The best Mac automation tools in 2026, compared honestly

Shortcuts, Automator, AppleScript, Keyboard Maestro, Hazel, and AI agents — what each is genuinely best at, where each breaks down, and how to pick (including where the others beat ours).

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