Raycast
A keyboard launcher for Mac and Windows with built-in clipboard history, snippets, window tiling and an extension store.
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 6
- Approved reviews
- 0
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About Raycast
Raycast replaces Spotlight with a command bar that does far more than open apps. Out of the box it includes clipboard history, text snippets, quicklinks, a natural-language calculator, window management, emoji search and calendar shortcuts, and a store of community extensions adds commands for tools like Linear, Notion, Slack and GitHub. Extensions are written in TypeScript and React, which has made it popular with developers. The core launcher and the full extension store are free for personal and work use. A Pro subscription adds Raycast AI (chat, quick AI prompts and AI extensions using several model providers), cloud sync and custom themes, and team plans add shared snippets, quicklinks and private extensions. It started on macOS and now also runs on Windows, with an iOS companion app. People who dislike subscriptions or AI upsells sometimes find the paid tier pushy, but the free tier alone covers what most launcher users need.
Best for: Mac or Windows users who want one launcher for apps, clipboard, snippets and windows.
Pros and cons
What works
- Free tier includes clipboard history, snippets and window management
- Large extension store for popular work tools
- Extensions are easy to write in TypeScript and React
- Fast, polished interface with good defaults
Why people leave
- AI features and sync are locked behind a subscription
- Requires an account for sync and team features
- Windows version is newer and has fewer extensions
Top Raycast alternatives
See all 6- 1
Alfred66.5The long-standing Mac launcher, sold as a one-off Powerpack licence instead of a subscription.
- 2
LaunchBar62.6An older Mac launcher with deep file browsing and scriptable actions, usable free with occasional pauses.
- 3
Microsoft PowerToys59.6On Windows, PowerToys' free Command Palette covers app launching and quick commands.
- 4
Flow Launcher57.2Free, open-source Windows launcher with a plugin store, no account or subscription.
- 5
Wox55.3Open-source launcher that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux with plugins in Node.js or Python.
Why people left Raycast
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Raycast: common questions
Is Raycast free?
Raycast has a free plan and paid plans. Free plan: Yes, for personal and work use (checked on Raycast's own site).
Is Raycast open source?
No, Raycast is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Microsoft PowerToys, Flow Launcher and Wox.
What platforms does Raycast run on?
Raycast is available for macOS, Windows and iOS.
What are the best alternatives to Raycast?
The highest-ranked Raycast alternatives right now are Alfred, LaunchBar and Microsoft PowerToys. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.