Compare Retext and Magical side-by-side. See which text expander is the best fit for your workflow.
Choose Retext if you want AI-powered snippet generation, a native Mac app, and straightforward pricing.
Choose Magical if you need people who work all day in Chrome or Edge.
Magical lives in the browser. It's good at filling templates and forms with data from your open tabs, which Retext doesn't do. Retext is a native Mac app that expands snippets in every app, not just Chrome, with on-device dictation and AI snippet generation.
Snippets, dictation, autocomplete (beta) and notes in one native Mac app, on-device by default
Pricing:
Free (5 snippets), Pro $4.99/mo ($29.99/yr), Lifetime $49.99, Teams from $19.99/mo
Free tier: 5 snippets, 1 free AI generation, basic text expansion
Runs on: Mac
Best for:
Chrome and Edge extension for text shortcuts and autofill that pulls details from your open tabs
Pricing:
Not available on their site. Help docs list Core for individuals and Advanced for teams, billed per seat, with 16% off yearly
Free tier: A free plan with a limited number of template actions; the limit isn't published
Runs on: Web
Best for:
| Feature | Retext | Magical |
|---|---|---|
| Snippet Expansion | ||
| AI Generation | ||
| Voice Dictation | Not available | |
| Inline Autocomplete | Beta | Not available |
| Variables & Placeholders | ||
| Folder Organization | ||
| Team Sharing | ||
| Cross-Platform | ||
| Native Performance | ||
| Privacy & Local Storage | ||
| Customization | ||
| Ease of Use |
| Product | Pricing Model | Price | Free Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retext | Freemium | Free (5 snippets), Pro $4.99/mo ($29.99/yr), Lifetime $49.99, Teams from $19.99/mo | 5 snippets, 1 free AI generation, basic text expansion |
| Magical | Freemium | Not available on their site. Help docs list Core for individuals and Advanced for teams, billed per seat, with 16% off yearly | A free plan with a limited number of template actions; the limit isn't published |
We couldn't find an export feature in Magical's help docs, so plan to recreate your templates in Retext. Placeholders that pull from open tabs don't have a direct match; {fill:Label} and {clipboard} cover most of them.
Magical lives in the browser. It's good at filling templates and forms with data from your open tabs, which Retext doesn't do. Retext is a native Mac app that expands snippets in every app, not just Chrome, with on-device dictation and AI snippet generation.
Yes. Magical's free option: a free plan with a limited number of template actions; the limit isn't published. Paid: Not available on their site. Help docs list Core for individuals and Advanced for teams, billed per seat, with 16% off yearly.
Yes. Retext's free plan includes 5 snippets, 1 free AI generation, basic text expansion. Free (5 snippets), Pro $4.99/mo ($29.99/yr), Lifetime $49.99, Teams from $19.99/mo.
Magical runs on Web. Retext runs on Mac.
Magical is the better fit for people who work all day in Chrome or Edge, moving data between web apps, like a CRM and a spreadsheet and recruiting and support teams using web tools. Choose Retext if you want AI to help generate snippets.
We couldn't find an export feature in Magical's help docs, so plan to recreate your templates in Retext. Placeholders that pull from open tabs don't have a direct match; {fill:Label} and {clipboard} cover most of them.
Get started with text expansion. Free to try with up to 5 snippets. Upgrade to Pro for unlimited snippets and AI-generated content.
Sources
Magical, checked October 28, 2026: Magical on the Chrome Web Store · Magical supported browsers · How Magical keeps your data safe · Magical Advanced plan
Prices and features change. Check each vendor's site before you buy.