Raycast
FreemiumKeyboard-first launcher with 2,000+ extensions and AI for Mac and Windows.
By Tanmay Verma, Founder · Last verified 03 Jul 2026
5.4k views
Added 4/3/2026
95/100Safe BetIn short
Raycast — Keyboard-first launcher with 2,000+ extensions and AI for Mac and Windows. Best for Developers who want to search code, manage repos, and run scripts in a keyboard-driven flow, Designers who use Figma, Notion, and CleanShot X and want a unified launcher, Project managers tracking tasks in Linear/Jira/Todoist from a central command bar. Free to start; paid plans from $10/mo.
Is Raycast actually worth it?
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Editorial Verdict
Best for
Developers who want to search code, manage repos, and run scripts in a keyboard-driven flowDesigners who use Figma, Notion, and CleanShot X and want a unified launcherProject managers tracking tasks in Linear/Jira/Todoist from a central command barPower users automating repetitive workflows with snippets, quicklinks, and AI commandsAnyone switching from Alfred or Spotlight who wants a more extensible modern OS launcher
Not ideal for
Users who prefer a traditional GUI and mouse-based workflowsThose who only need a basic app launcher and don't use extensionsOrganizations requiring strict on-premise AI with no cloud API (BYOK is for Pro/Enterprise, but models run on Raycast cloud)Windows users needing full feature parity (beta missing AI and some extensions)Users who want a simple, lightweight tool without the learning curve of extensions and automation
Raycast is the most extensible launcher on the market, with a massive extension library and well-implemented AI features. The free tier is excellent for power users, and the Pro plan's AI is reasonably priced. Windows users should note the beta is still missing AI and some extensions.
Skip Raycast if Skip Raycast if you prefer mouse-driven navigation and rarely use keyboard shortcuts or extensions.
Compare with: Raycast vs Saner, Raycast vs Poke (Interaction Co.), Raycast vs Mindful Memo
Last verified: July 2026
What's new in Raycast
Checked 2 days agoAcross the latest 7 updates: 3 feature updates and 4 launches.
LaunchBlog·8 days agoNewest
Meet Glaze: Software, made personal.
Glaze is now open to everyone—describe what you want and it builds a real desktop app.
LaunchBlog·May 14
The New Raycast
Next generation of Raycast for macOS released with cross-platform rewrite details.
LaunchBlog·Mar 4
Introducing Glaze
Create desktop apps in minutes by chatting with AI—now in private beta.
FeatureChangelog·Dec 16
Raycast Wrapped 2025
Raycast Wrapped 2025 command gives insights on usage, AI, Focus stats; data stored locally.
LaunchBlog·Nov 20
Raycast for Windows
Raycast for Windows is now in public beta.
FeatureChangelog·Sep 15
macOS Tahoe Ready
Raycast updated for macOS Tahoe with Liquid Glass controls, Focus support for Comet browser.
FeatureChangelog·Jul 30
Auto Transcribe with Granola, Auto Model & BYOM
Auto Transcribe meetings via Granola; AI Auto Model selects best LLM; Bring Your Own Model for custom providers.
Viability Score
95/100
Safe BetHow likely is Raycast to still be operational in 12 months? Based on 4 signals — momentum (how recently it shipped), wrapper dependency, revenue model, and web presence.
momentum
100
funding runway
80
website health
90
wrapper dependency
100
Last calculated: July 2026
How we score →Key Features
- Keyboard-first launcher for apps, files, and web
- Extension Store with 2,000+ integrations
- AI Chat with standard and advanced models
- AI Quick Answers with web search
- Custom AI Commands for automation
- Bring your own AI model (Pro/Enterprise)
- Snippets for frequently used text
- Quicklinks to launch web URLs with shortcuts
- Clipboard history (3 months free, unlimited Pro)
- Window management (tiling, resizing)
- Native calculator, unit conversion, emoji picker
- Pomodoro timer (Raycast Focus)
- File search and app launcher
- Script execution (shell, AppleScript, Python) via Extensions
- Auto Transcribe meetings with Granola (via extension)
About Raycast
FreemiumBeginner-friendlyAPI availableDesktop
Raycast is a blazing-fast launcher for macOS and Windows (public beta) that replaces the dock, Spotlight, and dozens of utility apps with one extensible interface. Built for developers, designers, and power users, it combines an ergonomic keyboard-first design with a rich ecosystem of over 2,000 extensions for tools like Linear, Jira, Notion, Spotify, and more. The free tier includes snippets, quicklinks, window management, clipboard history (3 months), and native integrations with major services. Raycast Pro ($8/mo annual) adds AI Chat with GPT-4-class models, customizable presets including auto model selection and bring-your-own-model, and AI-powered Quick Answers that pull from the web. An Advanced AI add-on ($8/mo extra) unlocks top-tier models. Teams plans add shared snippets, quicklinks, and commands, plus admin controls. Recent updates include a cross-platform rewrite for Mac (May 2026), Windows public beta (Nov 2025), and Glaze private beta for creating desktop apps via AI chat. Raycast positions itself as a modern alternative to Alfred and Spotlight, offering a larger extension ecosystem and integrated AI at a competitive price. The free tier is generous enough for most users, while Pro adds meaningful AI capabilities for those who need them.
Behind the Verdict
Raycast has evolved from a simple Spotlight replacement into a full-fledged productivity platform. The extension ecosystem—over 2,000 and counting—is its killer feature. You can search Jira issues, control Spotify, compress images with TinyPNG, and even run shell scripts, all without leaving the keyboard. The AI integration is thoughtful: Quick Answers pull from the web, and custom AI Commands let you automate repetitive tasks. The recent cross-platform rewrite (May 2026) promises better performance and a foundation for future platforms. Pick Raycast if you live in the keyboard and want to minimize context-switching. It's ideal for developers who manage repos, designers who use Figma and Notion, and anyone who automates workflows with snippets and quicklinks. The free tier is genuinely useful—3 months of clipboard history, window management, and thousands of extensions. Pro is $8/month annual, which undercuts many AI assistants. Skip Raycast if you prefer a mouse-driven GUI or only need a basic app launcher. The Windows beta is promising but still lacks AI and many extensions. For pure Spotlight replacement on Mac, the free tier is excellent, but if you don't use extensions, you might not need the full power. Compared to Alfred, Raycast offers a larger extension store (2,000+ vs. a few hundred workflows) and native AI at a lower price point. Alfred's Powerpack ($34 lifetime) is more affordable for non-AI users, but Raycast's free tier already includes features Alfred charges for. If you want deep automation and AI in one package, Raycast is the better pick.
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Real-world workflow fit
Concrete scenarios for the personas Raycast actually fits — and what changes day-one when you adopt it.
Developer managing multiple projects
You need to quickly switch between code repos, run scripts, and check Jira tasks without leaving the keyboard.
Outcome: You create hotkeys for common commands, use snippets for boilerplate code, and query Jira directly from Raycast, saving 15+ minutes per day.
Designer with diverse toolset
You use Figma, Notion, CleanShot X, and Slack daily, but switching between them slows you down.
Outcome: You install extensions for each tool and use Quicklinks to open specific projects, cutting app switching time by 50%.
Use Cases
- Search and create Notion pages without leaving the keyboard
- Manage Jira issues and sprints entirely from Raycast
- Translate text via Google Translate without switching apps
- Start a Pomodoro timer and track intervals from the menu bar
- Compress images with TinyPNG directly from Finder
- Use AI to draft emails, code snippets, or summarize documents
- Auto-transcribe meetings and get summaries with Granola
- Quickly open and organize browser tabs via Arc or Chrome extensions
Models Under the Hood
GPT-4 class (standard)Advanced AI add-on models (GPT-4 class)OpenRouter models (user provided)Custom provider models via Bring Your Own Keys
as of 2026-07-06
Limitations
- Raycast is keyboard-first, which may be a barrier for mouse-oriented users.
- AI features are restricted to the Pro plan ($8/month billed annually); the Free plan offers only 50 AI messages and no AI commands.
- The Free plan also limits Clipboard History to 3 months.
- Some advanced customizations require manual setup.
as of 2026-06-30
12-month cost
Project the real annual outlay, including the implied monthly cost when only an annual tier is published.
Annual total
Free
Over 12 months
Effective monthly
Free
Billed monthly
Vendor list price only. Add-on usage, seat overages, and contract minimums are surfaced under Hidden costs & gotchas.
Plans compared
For each published 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/mo
Ideal for
Solo users who want a fast launcher, clipboard history, and basic extensions without AI.
What this tier adds
Starting tier: free forever with 3-month clipboard history, 5 notes, and 50 AI messages.
Pro Monthly
$10/mo
Ideal for
Individuals who need unlimited clipboard history, custom themes, and AI for $10/mo.
What this tier adds
Adds unlimited clipboard history, custom themes, AI Chat (standard models), and cloud sync vs Free.
Pro Annual
$8/mo (billed yearly at $96)
Ideal for
Power users who want the full Pro set at a 20% discount by paying yearly.
What this tier adds
Same as Pro Monthly but billed annually at $8/mo.
Teams Free
$0/user/mo
Ideal for
Small teams that want to share snippets and quicklinks without paying.
What this tier adds
Free entry for teams: up to 30 shared snippets, 30 shared quicklinks, 5 shared commands.
Teams Pro Monthly
$15/user/mo
Ideal for
Collaborative teams needing unlimited shared resources and per-user AI.
What this tier adds
Unlimited shared snippets, quicklinks, commands; AI per user (50 messages included); shared extensions.
Teams Pro Annual
$12/user/mo (billed yearly)
Ideal for
Teams committed to Raycast who want the Pro features at a discount.
What this tier adds
Same as Teams Pro Monthly but billed annually at $12/user/mo.
Enterprise
Custom
Ideal for
Large organizations requiring SAML/SSO, domain capture, and full AI control.
What this tier adds
Adds SAML/SCIM, domain capture, 2FA enforcement, extensions allow-list, IP allow-list, AI control center with BYOK.
Integrations
LinearJiraSlackNotionSpotifyGoogle Translate1PasswordZoomGoogle ChromeArcObsidianTodoistTinyPNGCleanShot XGitHub
Where the pricing makes sense
The company stage and team size where Raycast's pricing actually pencils out — and where peers do it cheaper.
Raycast's free tier is generous for individual use, but its Pro plan at $8/mo (annual) is cheaper than Alfred's Powerpack ($34 one-time) but adds ongoing AI costs. For teams, Raycast Teams at $12/user/mo is competitive with other productivity suites, though AI add-ons can increase per-user cost.
Setup time & first value
How long it actually takes to get something useful out of Raycast — broken out by persona, not the marketing-page minute.
For a macOS user, basic setup (install, enable extensions) takes under 10 minutes. Full configuration of snippets, hotkeys, and AI commands may take an hour. Windows beta setup is similar but with fewer extensions available.
Switching to or from Raycast
How to bring data in from common predecessors and how to get it back out — written for the switcher, not the buyer.
Migrating in
- →From Alfred: Export your Alfred workflows (if possible) and manually recreate them as Raycast extensions or scripts.
- →From Spotlight: No migration needed; just install Raycast and it becomes your default launcher—your files and apps are indexed automatically.
Migrating out
- ↗To Alfred: Export your Raycast snippets and quicklinks as plain text; Alfred can import custom snippets and workflows.
- ↗To macOS Spotlight: Disable Raycast and Spotlight resumes as default; no data transfer possible.
Resources & Guides
Tutorials & Learning
Frequently Asked Questions
Tools that pair well with Raycast
Common stack mates teams adopt alongside Raycast, with the specific reason each pairing earns its keep.
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