Glaze by Raycast
Build native macOS desktop apps by describing them to AI
Glaze is the most direct path to a real, local macOS app without learning Swift—if you're on Apple Silicon, it's worth your time. The credit system can be confusing, but the ability to use your own Claude subscription makes it flexible. Teams already use it internally, which says a lot.
Verified 6d ago · liveness 73/100 · cite: rightaichoice.com/tools/glaze-by-raycast
- Non-developers who want custom macOS desktop tools without coding
- Developers prototyping internal utilities or menu bar apps quickly
- Teams needing private internal app stores with centralized billing
- Power users automating macOS workflows locally
- Windows or Linux users (macOS Tahoe and Apple Silicon only, Windows/Linux planned)
- Users needing web-based apps (Glaze builds desktop-only apps)
- Those wanting to build mobile or server-side apps
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Skip Glaze if you need Windows/Linux or Intel Mac support, or if you require web-based apps that can be accessed from any browser. Also skip if you dislike credit-based pricing and prefer unlimited building.
The Free plan only gives a one-time 120 credit welcome pack; once you run out, building pauses and you must upgrade or buy credits.
Glaze's freemium model gives you a 120-credit welcome pack to try it free, but ongoing building requires Pro at $20/month (launch price) or Team at $30/seat/month. Compared to hiring a developer or using subscription-based SaaS, it can be cost-effective for individuals and small teams, but the credit system can make costs unpredictable for heavy use. For teams needing private stores, Team is reasonable, though you might compare with internal tool platforms.
In short
Glaze by Raycast — Build native macOS desktop apps by describing them to AI. Best for Non-developers who want custom macOS desktop tools without coding, Developers prototyping internal utilities or menu bar apps quickly, Teams needing private internal app stores with centralized billing. Free to start; paid plans from $10/mo.
What's new in Glaze by Raycast
Checked 4 days agoAcross the latest 6 updates: 1 feature update, 1 changelog entry and 4 news mentions.
Glaze 0.14.1.0: Copy submenu, subagent task improvements, and bug fixes
Adds Copy submenu in My Projects, fixes chat breaks after folder rename, menu bar app click issue, and lost follow-up messages.
Glaze 0.14.0.0: Bring Your Own Agent, Creator Hub, Pro price cut to $10, team stores in beta
Connect Claude subscription, projects now in ~/Glaze/, Creator Hub analytics, Pro drops to $10/mo, team stores free during beta.
How Teams use Glaze
Overview of how teams at Linear, Vercel, and Cursor use Glaze for internal tools.
Why Glaze when Claude Code and Codex exist?
Glaze positions itself as delivering usable apps, not just code projects, unlike coding agents.
Introducing our Affiliate Program
Earn 20% commission on payments from referrals to Glaze Pro.
How we use Glaze at Raycast
Tour of internal apps built with Glaze at Raycast, including crash reporting and CRM.
What people actually say about Glaze by Raycast — is it worth it?
We ran a structured research pass across product reviews, community discussions, and post-purchase forum threads to surface the patterns vendors won't publish themselves. Below: the recurring strengths, the hidden costs people mention most, and the cohort that consistently regrets adopting this tool.
4 mentions across 3 sources (Hacker News, Product Hunt, Lemmy) · researched Jul 2, 2026.
- +Local-first, offline-capable apps respect user privacy.
- +Deep macOS integration: keyboard shortcuts, menu bar, file system.
- +Natural language prompts lower barrier for non-coders.
- +Iterative refinement in chat feels immediate and intuitive.
- +Publishing to the Glaze Store encourages community sharing.
- −Apple Silicon only; no Intel, Windows, or Linux support yet.
- −Community feedback is far too thin to judge reliability.
- −Credit-based pricing model is opaque and unpredictable.
- −AI-generated code quality for complex apps is unverified.
- −No independent security or performance benchmarks available.
- • Credit consumption per task is not publicly detailed, making cost estimation difficult for heavy users.
- • Pro and Team pricing tiers have no published pricing, creating uncertainty.
Viability Score
How well maintained and how widely used is Glaze by Raycast? Built from what the vendor actually publishes (docs, changelog, tutorials, integrations, pricing), whether the site is live, and how much real users discuss it. How we calculate this
Last calculated: September 2026
How we score →Key Features
- Build macOS desktop apps by describing them in plain English
- Local-first: apps run on your machine, no internet needed
- Deep OS integration: file system, keyboard shortcuts, menu bar, background processes
- App Remixing: remix any public app to get your own editable copy
- Native Swift support for deeper macOS integration
- Glaze AI: add AI features to apps, no API keys needed
- Use your own Claude subscription to build without spending credits
- Open app sources with any agent (Claude Code, Cursor, Codex)
- Publish apps to public Glaze Store
- Unlisted sharing for 1:1 distribution (Pro)
- Private Team Store for internal distribution (Team)
- Attach files, PDFs, and images in chat for AI to act on
- Headphone motion: apps can react to AirPods motion data
- Queue editing and reordering (v0.9.0.0)
- MCP server scaffolding in apps (v0.10.0.0)
About Glaze by Raycast
Glaze by Raycast is a desktop app that lets you create fully functional macOS applications by chatting with an AI agent in plain English. Instead of writing code, you describe what you want, and the agent builds the app step by step on your own machine. The result is a native app that runs locally, launches instantly, and works offline—no server or internet connection required. Glaze targets non-developers who want custom tools for daily life and developers prototyping internal utilities. You own the code and data completely. Glaze apps integrate deeply with macOS: they can access your file system, keyboard shortcuts, menu bar, background processes, and even hardware like AirPods motion sensors. Recent updates added App Remixing (start from any public app) and native Swift support, making the AI-built code more transparent and hackable. The Glaze Store lets you publish apps publicly, share privately via unlisted links (Pro), or distribute within a private team store (Team). You can also bring your own agent—connect your Claude subscription and build without spending credits. Glaze is available for macOS Tahoe on Apple Silicon; Windows and Linux are planned. Compared to web-based builders like Lovable or Replit, Glaze focuses on deep OS integration, so your apps feel like real desktop software, not web pages.
Behind the Verdict
Glaze solves a real problem: making desktop apps without code. Most AI app builders target the web, but Glaze builds for your Mac, so it can touch your files, your menu bar, your keyboard shortcuts. For a non-developer who wants a personal tracker or a menu bar utility, this is far more practical than wrestling with Xcode. We'd reach for Glaze when we need a tool that lives in the menu bar or works offline — something a web app just can't do. The fact that apps run locally and you own the code is a big deal for privacy and reliability. Where it bites: the credit system. Free plan gives you a one-time welcome pack, but once it's gone, building pauses unless you buy top-ups or connect your own Claude subscription. That's a real friction point if you want to iterate a lot. The Apple Silicon and macOS Tahoe requirement locks out Intel Mac users and Windows/Linux folks — no cross-platform yet. Compared to Claude Code or Codex, Glaze produces a runnable app rather than a project you have to figure out how to build. That's the key difference. If you're a developer, you can still dive into the code and shape it further, which is a nice middle ground. Teams using it internally at Linear, Vercel, and Cursor suggest it's not just a toy. But if you need web-based apps or Windows support, wait—Glaze is desktop-only and Mac-only for now.
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Real-world workflow fit
Concrete scenarios for the personas Glaze by Raycast actually fits — and what changes day-one when you adopt it.
You need a simple habit tracker that lives in your menu bar and stores data locally. You describe it to Glaze, attach a reference image of how you want it to look, and the agent builds it. You test it, ask for tweaks, and within minutes you have a working app.
Outcome: A custom habit tracker app that runs offline, launches instantly from the menu bar, and stores your data locally—no coding required.
You need a dashboard that pulls metrics from your company's API and shows real-time data. You ask Glaze to build it, specifying the API endpoints and the fields to display. The agent generates a Swift-based app with native components.
Outcome: A polished internal dashboard app that connects to your API, refreshes automatically, and is ready to share with your team via a private store.
Your team needs a private repository of internal tools for CRM, reporting, and utilities. You sign up for the Team plan, create team members, and use the 14-day Store Trial to set up a private store. You build and share apps.
Outcome: A private team store with centralized billing, per-seat credits, and shared apps that your whole team can install and run.
Use Cases
- Create a custom menu bar app that displays upcoming calendar events and weather
- Build a file organization tool that automatically sorts downloads based on rules
- Develop a team dashboard that pulls data from internal APIs and shows real-time metrics
- Generate a quick one-off utility to batch rename files with regex patterns
- Assemble a workflow automation that monitors a folder and runs scripts on new files
- Craft a personal note-taking app with markdown support and local storage
Models Under the Hood
as of 2026-09-01
Limitations
- Glaze currently requires macOS Tahoe and Apple Silicon; Windows and Linux support are planned but not yet available.
- Building with Glaze's own models uses credits, so work pauses if you run out; the Free plan includes a one-time pack of welcome credits with no recurring allowance, while Pro adds a monthly allowance.
- Your data stays on your machine and apps run locally, but external agents like Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, or any editor can be used to modify projects.
as of 2026-08-19
Verification history
We have re-verified Glaze by Raycast 7 times since . Each pass re-reads the vendor's own pages and re-checks every listed field against that evidence; passes where nothing had changed are marked as such.
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
Showing the 6 most recent of 7 verification passes.
Free to cite with attribution — this page re-verifies continuously.
12-month cost
Project the real annual outlay, including the implied monthly cost when only an annual tier is published.
Vendor list price only. Add-on usage, seat overages, and contract minimums are surfaced under Hidden costs & gotchas.
Plans compared
For each published Glaze by Raycast tier: who it actually fits, and what it adds vs. the previous tier. Cross-reference the cost calculator above for projected annual outlay.
Free
$0
Ideal for
Solo users who want to try Glaze and build a few apps without paying, using the one-time 120 welcome credits.
What this tier adds
Starting tier: includes 120 welcome credits (one-time), browse/install from public store, publish to public store. No recurring credits.
Pro
$10/mo
Ideal for
Individual builders who need a recurring monthly credit allowance, credit top-ups, and the ability to share unlisted apps for private, one-to-one sharing.
What this tier adds
Adds 200 monthly credits, credit top-ups, unlisted publishing, and the ability to disable remixing of your apps, compared to Free.
Team
Free during Beta
Ideal for
Teams that need a private app store, centralized billing, and per-seat credit management for building and sharing internal tools.
What this tier adds
Adds private team store, 200 monthly credits per seat, centralized billing, per-seat top-ups managed by owners/admins, and 14-day Store Trial, on top of Pro features.
Where the pricing makes sense
The company stage and team size where Glaze by Raycast's pricing actually pencils out — and where peers do it cheaper.
Glaze's freemium model gives you a 120-credit welcome pack to try it free, but ongoing building requires Pro at $20/month (launch price) or Team at $30/seat/month. Compared to hiring a developer or using subscription-based SaaS, it can be cost-effective for individuals and small teams, but the credit system can make costs unpredictable for heavy use. For teams needing private stores, Team is reasonable, though you might compare with internal tool platforms.
Setup time & first value
How long it actually takes to get something useful out of Glaze by Raycast — broken out by persona, not the marketing-page minute.
Non-developer: 5-10 minutes to download, sign up, and build your first app with the free credits. Developer: 15-30 minutes to build and test a simple utility, including setup of any external API. Team: 1-2 hours to configure the team plan, create members, and set up the private store, including the 14-day trial.
Switching to or from Glaze by Raycast
How to bring data in from common predecessors and how to get it back out — written for the switcher, not the buyer.
- →From browser-based builders (Lovable, Replit, v0): You can migrate by describing your web app's functionality in Glaze and building a native version with desktop capabilities. Since Glaze apps are native, you may need
- →From manual coding (Swift/Xcode): Use Glaze to generate the initial app code, then customize it in Xcode. You own the generated code, so it's a starting point.
- →From other app builders: If you have existing apps that run on your Mac, you can rebuild them in Glaze by describing them, or use App Remixing to start from a similar public app.
- ↗To Xcode: Since Glaze generates native Swift code (for Swift projects), you can take the generated project and continue developing it in Xcode.
- ↗To web apps (Lovable, Replit, v0): If you need a web version, you can replicate the logic in a browser-based builder, but you'll lose desktop integration.
- ↗To other desktop frameworks (Electron, Tauri): If you need cross-platform, you can use the Glaze-generated app as a reference and rebuild it in a cross-platform framework.
Integrations
Resources & Guides
Tutorials & Learning
Official links
Tools that pair well with Glaze by Raycast
Common stack mates teams adopt alongside Glaze by Raycast, with the specific reason each pairing earns its keep.
Featured Head-to-Head Comparisons
Glaze By Raycast vs Locus Robotics
Locus Robotics and Glaze by Raycast serve completely different needs and are not direct competitors. Locus is a physical automation solution for warehouses, best for 3PL and eCommerce operations seeking 2-3x productivity gains via AMRs and the new Locus Array (Physical AI). Glaze is a macOS app that lets users build custom desktop tools by chatting with AI—ideal for non-developers or teams needing offline-native utilities. Choose based on whether your challenge is physical fulfillment or software creation.
Glaze By Raycast vs Presto Voice
These tools serve entirely different needs: Presto Voice is for QSR chains wanting to automate drive-thru ordering with proven ROI, while Glaze by Raycast empowers Mac users to build custom desktop apps by chatting with AI. Choose based on whether you run a restaurant or need personalized macOS software.
Glaze By Raycast vs Truleo
If you're a law enforcement agency needing to connect siloed data (RMS, jail calls, BWC) and automate case leads, Truleo is purpose-built—though pricier and closed. If you're a Mac user—developer or not—who wants to instantly create custom desktop apps via chat, Glaze by Raycast offers a freemium, offline-first solution with growing store ecosystem. These tools serve entirely different verticals; choose based on your domain.
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