Retext

The Best Espanso Alternative for Mac

Looking for a Espanso alternative? Retext offers AI-powered snippet generation with a simple, native Mac experience.

TL;DR

Retext is the best Espanso alternative if you want AI-powered snippet generation, a native Mac app, and straightforward pricing without per-seat costs.

Why Switch from Espanso to Retext?

What Espanso Does Well

  • Completely free and open source
  • Cross-platform (Mac, Windows, Linux)
  • Written in Rust for excellent performance
  • Powerful YAML configuration

Why People Switch

  • No GUI makes it hard to manage snippets
  • YAML syntax errors are frustrating
  • Hard to discover available features
  • No visual preview of snippets

What Makes Retext Different

Only text expander with built-in AI generation

BYOK model - your API key, your costs, your control

No subscription lock-in for basic features

Built for individual power users, not enterprise teams

Native macOS performance without Electron bloat

Feature Comparison

FeatureRetextEspanso
Snippet Expansion
AI Generation
Not available
Variables & Placeholders
Folder Organization
Team SharingNot available
Cross-Platform
Native Performance
Privacy & Local Storage
Customization
Ease of Use

Pricing Comparison

ProductPricing ModelPriceFree Tier
RetextFreemium$19/month or $99/year for Pro
3 snippets, 5 AI generations per day
EspansoOpen SourceFree and open source
Completely free, open source

Who Should Switch to Retext?

Retext is great for you if:

  • • You want AI to help generate snippet content
  • • You prefer native Mac apps over Electron
  • • You want simple, predictable pricing
  • • You value privacy and local-first storage
  • • You don't need team sharing features

Stick with Espanso if:

  • Developers comfortable with config files
  • Users who want open source solutions
  • Linux users needing text expansion
  • Those who want full customization control
  • Privacy-conscious users

Migrating from Espanso

Migration difficulty: medium

Snippets stored in YAML, can be manually converted or scripted

Ready to switch from Espanso?

Get started with AI-powered text expansion. Free to try with 3 snippets and 5 AI generations per day.

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