I built a fast emoji, symbol and kaomoji picker for macOS (launch price 0.99$)
Hey everyone, I recently built CharBox (Character Picker), a small menu bar app for macOS that makes it quicker to find and copy emoji, kaomoji and unicode symbols. The idea came from getting frustrated with the default picker. It's hidden behind a shortcut I never remember, search is limited, and it doesn't cover everything. CharBox sits in the menu bar, so it's always one click away. You can: Search with keywords (including things like colors or meanings) Browse categories for emoji, kaomoji and symbols Copy anything instantly with one click Access recently copied characters Everything works offline and nothing is tracked. It's especially useful if you write a lot, work with text, code, or just need symbols often without breaking your flow. I'm launching it at 0.99$ for now: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/charbox-character-picker/id6773061923?mt=12 I'd really appreciate any feedback, feature requests, or things that feel off. I'm planning to keep improving it based on how people actually use it. Thanks!
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Nice app! I agree multi copy would be very useful. I also searched ‘100’ for the 100 emoji, but it didn’t produce a result. Related to that, it might be nice if the name of each emoji appeared when you hover over them.
Thanks for the feedback! I'm expanding the keywords and 100 will be included among any others. Showing the name on hover is a nice idea, will add it! I'm also adding extended details on long click or similar. About multi copy, would you see it like select multiple characters and then copy? Or something different?
multi copy would be nice. collect multiple in clipboard before paste. or does it directly paste? then i shut up. edit* maybe just the way i work. potentially
Okay so like select multiple characters in a sequence and then copy paste the whole sequence, so you don't have to switch between the picker and the other app you are using, correct? Right now it does not directly paste into other apps, it would be more complicated to implement, but it could be possible
Does it have the new Saudi riyal symbol? macOS default emoji search has it but only findable by Unicode they didn’t add a name for it U+20C1
Not yet, I'm looking into adding support for the latest unicode 17 right now!
Like others said - multicopy, I could use it at this time :)
About multi copy, would you see it like select multiple characters and then copy? Or something different?
the default picker being buried behind a shortcut i can never remember has been annoying me for years. does it let you create custom collections or favorite specific symbols you use a lot?
It does neither but I can work on it. Right now recently copied characters are shown at the top of each list. Would this be the same as favorites for you, or would you see favorites to be a different feature? Could you give me an example of custom collection and how you would use it? Sorry it's just for me to understand better and implement it the best way possible
Very nicely done sir — thank you. Would love the option to have a "Favorites" tab! I have been using SymbolScribe which also has an "Alphabet" tab ... but it has no search option.
Thank you! Right now there are recently copied characters at the top. Do you see favorites as a different features? I'm looking into splitting the symbols tab into separate groups like alphabet, arrows, math, etc, might be more usable!
Been using this little app today, and THANK YOU for sharing ... It's going to be super useful. Really do appreciate it. Splitting the symbols tab would be very helpful, and I'm not sure how many recents stay in the cue, but favorites are a "go-to" for many. BTW, if you are willing to bake in the ability to activate with a keyboard shortcut, that would be the bomb. 💣 👍🏼 Again ... NICE work.
Some kind of favourite animated gif selection/storage area, where you can quickly locate and copy/paste them for use from the clipboard?
Sorry could you elaborate? Not sure if I understand
can you add natural language search for emojis? something like raycast extension does. would be super useful for people like me
I'll have a look into it!
Would love: Favorites, with categories. Like: Emoji, Arrows, Bullets & Stars, Maths Symbols, Pictographs etc. I now use my text expander for (categories of) favorites, but if CharBox would include this, I would buy it at an instant.
Thanks for the feedback! Would you like to be able to create your own categories, or having the existing ones would be enough?
Congrats for the release 🎉
Thank you!
Can I ask u what's the difference with the fn button in the keyboard?
Not sure I understand the question, you mean the default macOS character picker?
Like other people are saying a favorites tab would be nice! It could be like a group at the top, almost like a pin that you can collapse and uncollapse to view them.
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