Raycast
FreemiumThe modern Mac launcher with built-in AI, extensions marketplace, clipboard history, window management, and quicklinks
What is Raycast?
Raycast is the modern replacement for Spotlight and the main competitor to Alfred. It is a keyboard-driven launcher for macOS that opens apps, searches files, runs calculations, manages windows, controls Spotify, copies emojis, translates text, and runs extensions from a thriving community store. In 2023 Raycast added Raycast AI, which puts Claude, GPT-4, Llama, and other models into the launcher itself — so you can ask AI questions, generate code, summarize text, or run AI Commands (custom prompts like "fix grammar" or "make this shorter") from anywhere on your Mac without opening a browser. The core app is free forever. Raycast Pro ($8/month) unlocks AI features with unlimited access to Claude Sonnet, GPT-4, and more, plus cloud sync, custom themes, and Raycast for Teams. Raycast Pro Advanced AI ($16/month or included in the higher Pro tier) adds access to Claude Opus, GPT-4.5, and other frontier models. The extension store includes 2,500+ free extensions maintained by the community, covering every major dev tool (GitHub, Linear, Notion, Figma, 1Password, etc.). Raycast is now the standard power-user launcher on Mac — used by the majority of engineers at companies like Vercel, Linear, and Arc browser. If you spend all day on a Mac keyboard, Raycast is one of the two or three most important apps you can install.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Mac developers, designers, and power users who live on the keyboard
Windows users, casual users happy with Spotlight, or anyone wanting all-GUI workflows
Free core app · Pro $8/mo · Pro + Advanced AI $16/mo
Yes — free core app with full launcher features
Best-in-class Mac launcher with integrated AI and 2,500+ free extensions
AI features require Pro; no Windows version yet
Bottom line: Raycast scores 4.7/5 — the most important Mac productivity app of 2026 — free to use, with optional AI subscription that replaces ChatGPT for quick tasks.
Pricing
Free: Full launcher, app and file search, calculator, clipboard history, window management, extensions store (2,500+ free community extensions), custom hotkeys, quicklinks, snippets.
Raycast Pro — $8/month or $96/year: Everything in free plus Raycast AI with unlimited access to Claude Sonnet, GPT-4o, and Llama, AI Commands, cloud sync across Macs, custom themes, emoji picker, unlimited iCloud import, Pro-only extensions.
Pro + Advanced AI — $16/month or $192/year: Everything in Pro plus access to Claude Opus, GPT-4.5, o1, and other frontier reasoning models. For AI power users.
Raycast for Teams — $10/user/month: Team-shared quicklinks, snippets, extensions, and AI credits with SSO and admin controls.
Key Features
- Launcher for apps, files, and calculations
- Built-in Raycast AI with Claude, GPT, and Llama
- Extensions store with 2,500+ community extensions
- Clipboard history with search and rich formatting
- Window management and workspace switching
- AI Commands for custom prompts (fix grammar, translate)
- Quicklinks and snippets for fast text expansion
- Deep integrations with GitHub, Linear, Notion, Figma
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Completely free core app with huge feature set
- Raycast AI makes AI accessible from anywhere
- Massive extension store for dev tools and workflows
- Extremely fast and polished UI
Cons
- Mac-only (iOS in beta, no Windows version yet)
- AI features require Pro subscription
- Steep learning curve to master keyboard workflows
FAQ
Is Raycast better than Alfred?
Yes, for most users in 2026. Raycast wins on UI polish, extension quality, built-in AI, free core features, and active community development. Alfred still wins on ultra-advanced workflows and has a dedicated user base, but Raycast has become the default choice for new Mac power users. If you are already happy with Alfred and its Powerpack, no need to switch; if you are starting fresh, install Raycast first.
Is Raycast Pro worth $8/month?
If you use Raycast AI more than occasionally, yes. Pro unlocks unlimited Claude Sonnet and GPT-4o access directly in the launcher — so you can ask AI questions, run AI Commands (like "fix grammar on selection"), and generate text without opening ChatGPT or Claude.ai. For many users, Raycast AI replaces a separate $20/mo ChatGPT Plus subscription, making Pro a clear cost saver.
What are Raycast extensions?
Extensions are community-built plugins that add functionality to the launcher. The store has 2,500+ free extensions for GitHub (create issues, search PRs), Linear (create tasks), 1Password (search vaults), Notion (create pages), Figma, Slack, Spotify, and hundreds more. Most extensions are free. Installing them is one click, and they appear as searchable commands in the Raycast launcher.
Does Raycast have Windows support?
Not yet as of early 2026, though a Windows version is in active development and has been announced. For now, Raycast is macOS only (with an iOS companion app in beta for mobile quicklinks and clipboard sync). Windows users should consider PowerToys Run, Flow Launcher, or Wox as alternatives.
How does Raycast AI compare to ChatGPT?
Raycast AI is not a replacement for ChatGPT for deep research or complex tasks — it is a replacement for the context switch of opening a browser to ask a quick question. For "translate this text", "summarize this paragraph", "fix grammar", "write a quick reply", Raycast AI is 10x faster because it lives in your keyboard workflow. For long conversations or complex coding help, open ChatGPT or Claude directly.
Can I customize Raycast hotkeys?
Yes, extensively. Every command, extension, and quicklink can have a custom hotkey. Many users set Option + Space to Raycast (leaving ⌘ + Space to Spotlight), others set CMD + K for snippets, and so on. The combination of hotkeys + aliases makes Raycast dramatically faster than Spotlight for repetitive tasks.
Is Raycast free forever?
The core launcher is free forever with no time limits — apps, file search, calculations, extensions store, clipboard history, window management, and snippets. Raycast AI and some advanced features require Pro ($8/month). Raycast has committed publicly to keeping the core app free as the company grows.
📋 Good to know
Install from raycast.com, grant accessibility permissions, set ⌘ + Space to Raycast, and browse the extension store for tools you use.
Core app is local-first. Raycast AI uses OpenAI and Anthropic APIs (Pro) — prompts are not logged for training. SOC 2 Type II compliant.
Free for launcher/extensions. Pro ($8/mo) for Raycast AI with Claude Sonnet and GPT-4o. Advanced AI ($16/mo) for Claude Opus and frontier models.
Moderate. Replace Spotlight on day one. Takes 2-3 weeks to discover and install useful extensions. AI Commands take 10 minutes to configure.