Retext

Retext vs Espanso: A Complete Comparison

Compare Retext and Espanso side-by-side. See which text expander is the best fit for your workflow.

TL;DR

Choose Retext if you want AI-powered snippet generation, a native Mac app, and straightforward pricing.

Choose Espanso if you need developers comfortable with config files.

Quick Comparison

Retext

AI-powered text snippet expansion for macOS with intelligent snippet generation

Pricing:

$19/month or $99/year for Pro

Free tier: 3 snippets, 5 AI generations per day

Best for:

  • • AI-powered snippet generation
  • • Native Mac performance
  • • Privacy-focused users
  • • Simple, focused workflow

Espanso

Open-source, cross-platform text expander configured via YAML files

Pricing:

Free and open source

Free tier: Completely free, open source

Best for:

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

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

Pros and Cons

Retext

Strengths

  • AI-powered snippet generation with Claude
  • Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) for AI - use your own API key
  • Native macOS app with exceptional performance
  • Global hotkey for instant access
  • Simple, focused interface without bloat

Weaknesses

  • Mac only (no Windows/Linux)
  • No team sharing features
  • Newer product with smaller community

Espanso

Strengths

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

Weaknesses

  • No graphical interface for editing
  • Requires YAML configuration knowledge
  • No AI capabilities
  • Learning curve for non-technical users
  • No built-in backup or sync

When to Choose Each

Choose Retext if you:

  • Want AI to help generate snippets
  • Prefer native Mac apps over Electron
  • Want simple, predictable pricing
  • Value privacy and local-first storage
  • Prefer focused tools over feature-bloated apps

Choose Espanso if you:

  • Need developers comfortable with config files
  • Need users who want open source solutions
  • Need linux users needing text expansion
  • Need those who want full customization control
  • Need privacy-conscious users

Switching from Espanso to Retext

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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