TextExpander vs Alfred: Complete Comparison

Compare TextExpander and Alfred side-by-side to find the best text expander for your needs.

TL;DR

TextExpander is best for enterprise teams needing shared snippet libraries, while Alfred is better for power users who want an all-in-one productivity suite.

Neither quite right? Consider Retext for AI-powered snippet generation with native Mac performance.

Quick Comparison

TextExpander

Enterprise-focused text expansion tool with team sharing and snippet libraries

Pricing:

$4.16/user/month billed annually (~$50/year), $6.67/month monthly

Best for:

• Enterprise teams needing shared snippet libraries
• Customer support teams with canned responses
• Organizations requiring compliance and audit trails

Alfred

Powerful Mac launcher and productivity app with snippet expansion via Powerpack

Pricing:

Free for basic, £34 (~$42) for Powerpack (lifetime), £59 (~$74) Mega Supporter

Free tier: Launcher features free, snippets require Powerpack

Best for:

• Power users who want an all-in-one productivity suite
• Those already using Alfred for launching/workflows
• Users who prefer one-time purchases

Feature Comparison

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

Pricing Comparison

Product	Pricing Model	Price	Free Tier
TextExpander	Per Seat	$4.16/user/month billed annually (~$50/year), $6.67/month monthly
Alfred	One-Time	Free for basic, £34 (~$42) for Powerpack (lifetime), £59 (~$74) Mega Supporter	Launcher features free, snippets require Powerpack

Pros and Cons

TextExpander

Strengths

Extensive snippet library ecosystem
Powerful team sharing and organization
Advanced variables and fill-in forms
Cross-platform availability
Long track record and stability

Weaknesses

Expensive per-seat pricing adds up quickly
Requires subscription - no perpetual license
Complex interface with steep learning curve
Cloud-dependent for sync
Overkill for individual users

Alfred

Strengths

Powerful all-in-one productivity tool
One-time purchase with lifetime updates
Extensive workflow automation
Clipboard history integration
Highly customizable with workflows

Weaknesses

Snippets require paid Powerpack upgrade
Snippet feature is secondary to launcher
Steep learning curve for advanced features
No AI capabilities
Can be overwhelming for snippet-only users

When to Choose Each

Choose TextExpander if you:

•Need enterprise teams needing shared snippet libraries
•Need customer support teams with canned responses
•Need organizations requiring compliance and audit trails
•Need users who need cross-platform sync

Choose Alfred if you:

•Need power users who want an all-in-one productivity suite
•Need those already using alfred for launching/workflows
•Need users who prefer one-time purchases
•Need mac users who want deep system integration

Consider Retext Instead

If neither TextExpander nor Alfred is quite right, Retext might be what you're looking for.

✓AI-powered snippet generation - Let AI help create your snippets
✓Native Mac app - Fast, lightweight, no Electron bloat
✓Simple pricing - $19/month or $99/year, no per-seat costs
✓Privacy-first - Your data stays on your device

Retext vs TextExpander →Retext vs Alfred →

Ready to try Retext?

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

Download for Mac View Pricing

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