RuSwitcher vs Punto Switcher for Mac
Yandex's Punto Switcher was the standard layout switcher for years. If you are used to it and want a replacement on a modern Mac, here is a comparison. Only facts you can check; sources are at the bottom.
| RuSwitcher | Punto Switcher for Mac | |
|---|---|---|
| Latest version | 3.3.0, August 19, 2026 | 2.1.5, signed August 17, 2018 |
| Apple Silicon (M1 and later) | runs natively | Intel only, runs through Rosetta 2 |
| macOS 28 and later | supported | Apple ends general Rosetta support after macOS 27 |
| Open source | yes, MIT | no |
| Homebrew | brew install --cask ruswitcher | no |
| What the installer adds | just the app | the installer includes a Yandex search component (Yalite) |
What this means in practice
Punto Switcher for Mac is built for Intel processors only. On Apple Silicon Macs it runs through Rosetta 2, which Apple keeps as a general-purpose tool only through macOS 27. Starting with the next macOS, apps like this will stop launching.
How to switch
Remove Punto so that two apps don't intercept the same keys.
Trigger. By default RuSwitcher fixes the last word on a single Option tap, and a second tap undoes the fix. If you prefer a combination, pick one in Settings, for example ⌘+⇧ or ⌃+⇧.
Change case, like in Punto, arrived in 3.3.0: a separate hotkey cycles the case of the last word, a selection or the whole line. Off by default.
Exceptions. Apps where nothing should be fixed and words that must stay untouched are set as lists in Settings.
Sources
- Punto Switcher for Mac release page on Yandex: https://yandex.ru/soft/punto/mac/release/
- Version, signing date and architecture come from the installer Yandex distributes today (PuntoSwitcher.app 2.1.5, x86_64).
- Apple on the Rosetta timeline: https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=w5ngl9k2