Our take
Pick Raycast if mac or Windows users who will stay on Free at $0 (launcher + File Search + community extensions; no AI credits) while they open a first .heic list, then Pro at $10/month when they want AI Chat — not Plus $20 unless they need advanced models, and not Max $50 unless they need the top credit grant. Pick TextExpander if people who will stay on Free while they keep 5 active snippets (and one ;csupport
Best for
Raycast A launcher you start at a public $
TextExpander An abbreviation you start at a public $
Free plan
Raycast $0 · launcher + community extensions. No AI credits (“AI isn’t available on the Free plan”)
TextExpander $0 · 5 active snippets; unlimited saved; 1 swap / 2 weeks; up to 5 team members / 3 teams. No credit card
Lowest paid
Raycast Pro $10/mo
TextExpander Pro $6/user/mo yearly
Next step up
Raycast Plus $20/mo
TextExpander Business $12/user/mo yearly
Watch out
Raycast AI is not on Free
TextExpander Free is hard-capped at 5 active snippets
Last checked
Raycast 2026-10-23 · raycast.com/pricing
TextExpander 2026-10-23 · textexpander.com/pricing
mac or Windows users who will stay on Free at $0 (launcher + File Search + community extensions; no AI credits) while they open a first .heic list, then Pro at $10/month when they want AI Chat — not Plus $20 unless they need advanced models, and not Max $50 unless they need the top credit grant.
Read the Raycast pagepeople who will stay on Free while they keep 5 active snippets (and one ;csupport fill-in) — then Pro at US$6/user/mo (or US$5 billed yearly) when they want unlimited active snippets, not Alfred Powerpack £34 first unless they want a launcher, and not if they refuse Accessibility / keyboard permissions (expansion needs them).
Read the TextExpander page
