Inline autocomplete next to the cursor
Type a colon, enter a few letters, and use arrow keys plus Return to insert an emoji, symbol, or shortcode without opening a separate picker.
Mojito
Mojito is a macOS app that autocompletes emoji, symbols, shortcodes, and optional GIFs inline as you type. It is designed for text entry across most apps while avoiding places that already support shortcode emoji natively.
What Mojito does
Mojito is a macOS utility for inline emoji autocomplete. When you type a colon, it searches emoji, symbols, and shortcodes directly beside the cursor, so you can insert an item without opening the system emoji picker or switching context.
It is intended for typing anywhere on the Mac, including apps like TextEdit, Terminal, Mail, Notes, browsers, and Notion. Mojito stays out of applications that already handle shortcode emoji natively, and it adds a few workflow controls such as skin tone selection, symbol mode, pause controls, and optional GIF insertion.
Core features
Native-app awareness
The app avoids Slack, Discord, Messages, and GitHub, where shortcode emoji already work natively, so you do not get duplicated handling.
Simple controls from the menu bar
A menu bar setting lets you choose a default skin tone, switch on an optional symbol mode, and pause Mojito for an hour or until tomorrow.
Usage-based result ranking
Results are re-ranked based on what you use most often, which helps frequently used entries rise to the top over time.
Optional GIF search
Type three colons to search for a GIF from Giphy; the feature is enabled by default and can be disabled in General settings.
Emoticon and localized shortcode support
Common emoticons such as :) and <3 are recognized, and shortcode localization is available in a subset of supported languages.
Common use cases
Fast in-line insertion
Use Mojito when you want to drop an emoji or symbol into a sentence without breaking your typing flow or opening a separate picker.
General text entry across macOS apps
Use it in editors, terminals, notes, and browsers where shortcode autocomplete is useful and native emoji handling is not already built in.
Symbols and keyboard-friendly notation
Use the symbol mode when you need shortcuts like :cmd: → ⌘ or :star: → ★ during writing, documentation, or command-heavy work.
Short-term disablement
Use temporary pause controls when you need to stop autocomplete for a while, such as during focused typing or when a field should stay untouched.
Optional GIF lookup
Use GIF search if you want to insert a Giphy result directly from the keyboard instead of switching to another app or browser tab.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Works inline next to the cursor instead of requiring a separate picker window.
- Supports emoji, symbols, shortcodes, emoticons, and optional GIF search.
- Avoids apps that already support shortcode emoji natively, reducing duplicate handling.
- Provides small but practical controls like skin tone, symbol mode, and temporary pause options.
- Updates automatically through Sparkle and can be uninstalled using standard macOS steps.
Cons
- The app is limited to macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
- GIF search sends the query text to Giphy when enabled, so it is not fully local.
- The source does not show pricing details on a dedicated pricing page; only the homepage states that the app is free and open source.
FAQ
How is Mojito different from the built-in macOS emoji picker?
Mojito appears next to your cursor when you type a colon, so you can search emoji, symbols, and shortcodes without opening a separate picker window. The macOS emoji panel is still available, but Mojito is designed for inline insertion as you type.
Where does Mojito work?
It works in apps and sites where you can type text, including TextEdit, Terminal, Mail, Notes, browsers, and Notion. It stays out of places that already handle shortcodes natively, such as Slack, Discord, Messages, and GitHub, to avoid double-handling.
Can I customize the behavior?
Yes. The menu bar app includes settings for default skin tone, an optional symbol mode, and pause controls. It also re-ranks results based on what you use most often, and recognizes common emoticons like :) and <3.
Does Mojito support GIFs?
Yes. You can type three colons followed by a search term to insert a GIF from Giphy. GIF search is on by default, and you can turn it off in Settings → General if you want to keep things local.
What are the system requirements and update process?
Mojito requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later. It runs natively on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, updates through Sparkle, and can be uninstalled by quitting it from the menu bar and dragging the app from Applications to the Trash.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Productivity
- Platform
- macOS
- Primary use
- Inline emoji, symbol, and shortcode autocomplete
- Source domain
- mojito.wells.ee
- License
- AGPL-3.0
- Availability
- Free and open source
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