Retext

Retext vs TextExpander: A Complete Comparison

Compare Retext and TextExpander 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 TextExpander if you need enterprise teams needing shared snippet libraries.

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

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
  • Users who need cross-platform sync

Feature Comparison

FeatureRetextTextExpander
Snippet Expansion
AI Generation
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
TextExpanderPer Seat$4.16/user/month billed annually (~$50/year), $6.67/month monthly

Per-seat pricing adds up

TextExpander charges per user, which can get expensive for teams or power users with multiple devices. Retext's flat pricing means you always know what you'll pay.

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

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

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 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

Switching from TextExpander to Retext

Migration difficulty:easy

TextExpander can export snippets as CSV or proprietary format

Export format: CSV

Ready to switch from TextExpander?

Get started with AI-powered text expansion. Free to try with 3 snippets and 5 AI generations per day.

Related Comparisons