TextExpander vs Raycast: Complete Comparison

Compare TextExpander and Raycast 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 Raycast is better for developers and power users wanting a modern launcher.

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

Raycast

Modern Mac launcher with built-in snippet expansion and AI capabilities

Pricing:

Free for personal use, Pro $8/month for AI and advanced features

Free tier: Snippet expansion free, AI requires Pro subscription

Best for:

• Developers and power users wanting a modern launcher
• Those who want snippets as part of a larger toolkit
• Users who value modern design and UX

Feature Comparison

Feature	TextExpander	Raycast
Snippet Expansion
AI Generation
Variables & Placeholders
Folder Organization
Team Sharing
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
Raycast	Freemium	Free for personal use, Pro $8/month for AI and advanced features	Snippet expansion free, AI requires Pro subscription

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

Raycast

Strengths

Beautiful, modern interface
Free snippet expansion included
Built-in AI assistant (Pro)
Extensive extension ecosystem
Active development and updates

Weaknesses

Snippets are secondary feature to launcher
AI requires Pro subscription
Limited snippet organization compared to dedicated apps
No dedicated snippet editing interface
Variable support less robust than TextExpander

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 Raycast if you:

•Need developers and power users wanting a modern launcher
•Need those who want snippets as part of a larger toolkit
•Need users who value modern design and ux
•Need mac users already in the raycast ecosystem

Consider Retext Instead

If neither TextExpander nor Raycast 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 Raycast →

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

Related Comparisons

Retext vs TextExpander Retext vs Raycast TextExpander Alternative Raycast Alternative