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TextExpander vs aText: Complete Comparison

Compare TextExpander and aText 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 aText is better for budget-conscious users who want basic snippet expansion.

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

aText

Affordable one-time purchase text expander for Mac with basic snippet features

Pricing:

$5.99 one-time purchase

Best for:

  • • Budget-conscious users who want basic snippet expansion
  • • Users who prefer one-time purchases over subscriptions
  • • Those with simple text expansion needs

Feature Comparison

FeatureTextExpanderaText
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

ProductPricing ModelPriceFree Tier
TextExpanderPer Seat$4.16/user/month billed annually (~$50/year), $6.67/month monthly
aTextOne-Time$5.99 one-time purchase

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

aText

Strengths

  • Extremely affordable one-time price
  • No subscription required
  • Simple and straightforward
  • Local storage - no cloud required
  • Lightweight and fast

Weaknesses

  • Limited feature set compared to alternatives
  • No AI capabilities
  • Basic variable support
  • Infrequent updates
  • Dated interface design

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 aText if you:

  • •Need budget-conscious users who want basic snippet expansion
  • •Need users who prefer one-time purchases over subscriptions
  • •Need those with simple text expansion needs

Consider Retext Instead

If neither TextExpander nor aText 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 aText →

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 MacView Pricing

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