Compare TextExpander and PhraseExpress side-by-side to find the best text expander for your needs.
TextExpander is best for enterprise teams needing shared snippet libraries, while PhraseExpress is better for people who don't want a subscription.
Neither quite right? Consider Retext for AI-powered snippet generation with native Mac performance.
Enterprise-focused text expansion tool with team sharing and snippet libraries
Pricing:
Pro $5/user/month billed yearly ($60/year) or $6 monthly; Business $10/user/month billed yearly ($120/year) or $12 monthly; Enterprise custom
Free tier: 5 active snippets, 1 snippet swap every 2 weeks, sharing with up to 5 team members; 30-day preview of paid features
Runs on: Mac, Windows, iPhone and Web
Best for:
Long-running text expander for Windows and Mac with macros, input forms and server-based team sharing
Pricing:
One-time license per user in Standard, Professional or Enterprise editions, with 12 months of updates; prices are shown only at checkout
Free tier: Free for personal home use; commercial use needs a license. The iPhone app is free
Runs on: Mac, Windows and iPhone
Best for:
| Feature | TextExpander | PhraseExpress |
|---|---|---|
| Snippet Expansion | ||
| AI Generation | ||
| Voice Dictation | Not available | Not available |
| Inline Autocomplete | ||
| Variables & Placeholders | ||
| Folder Organization | ||
| Team Sharing | ||
| Cross-Platform | ||
| Native Performance | ||
| Privacy & Local Storage | ||
| Customization | ||
| Ease of Use |
| Product | Pricing Model | Price | Free Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| TextExpander | Per Seat | Pro $5/user/month billed yearly ($60/year) or $6 monthly; Business $10/user/month billed yearly ($120/year) or $12 monthly; Enterprise custom | 5 active snippets, 1 snippet swap every 2 weeks, sharing with up to 5 team members; 30-day preview of paid features |
| PhraseExpress | One-Time | One-time license per user in Standard, Professional or Enterprise editions, with 12 months of updates; prices are shown only at checkout | Free for personal home use; commercial use needs a license. The iPhone app is free |
If neither TextExpander nor PhraseExpress is quite right, Retext might be what you're looking for.
TextExpander is the better pick for enterprise teams needing shared snippet libraries and customer support teams with canned responses. PhraseExpress is the better pick for people who don't want a subscription and offices that want to host shared phrases on their own server.
TextExpander: Pro $5/user/month billed yearly ($60/year) or $6 monthly; Business $10/user/month billed yearly ($120/year) or $12 monthly; Enterprise custom. PhraseExpress: One-time license per user in Standard, Professional or Enterprise editions, with 12 months of updates; prices are shown only at checkout.
Yes. TextExpander's free option: 5 active snippets, 1 snippet swap every 2 weeks, sharing with up to 5 team members; 30-day preview of paid features. Paid: Pro $5/user/month billed yearly ($60/year) or $6 monthly; Business $10/user/month billed yearly ($120/year) or $12 monthly; Enterprise custom.
Yes. PhraseExpress's free option: free for personal home use; commercial use needs a license. The iPhone app is free. Paid: One-time license per user in Standard, Professional or Enterprise editions, with 12 months of updates; prices are shown only at checkout.
TextExpander runs on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Web. PhraseExpress runs on Mac, Windows and iPhone.
Retext, if you want AI-powered snippet generation. Snippets, dictation, autocomplete (beta) and notes in one native Mac app, on-device by default.
Get started with text expansion. Free to try with up to 5 snippets. Upgrade to Pro for unlimited snippets and AI-generated content.
Sources
PhraseExpress, checked October 28, 2026: PhraseExpress for Mac · PhraseExpress for Mac shop · PhraseExpress shop FAQ · Export a phrase file (Mac)
Prices and features change. Check each vendor's site before you buy.