Is Raycast free to use?

Yes, Raycast is free for personal use. The free version is fully featured, including the extensions store, window management, clipboard history, and snippets. There are no artificial limits on the number of extensions or commands you can use. The paid 'Pro' plan is only necessary if you want integrated AI features, cloud sync across multiple Macs, or advanced theming capabilities.

How does Raycast compare to Alfred?

Raycast is newer, with a focus on community-built extensions written in React, making it easier for web developers to extend. It has a modern, native UI and includes window management out of the box. Alfred is a veteran app that uses a visual workflow builder (no coding required) and charges a one-time fee rather than a subscription. Raycast is generally preferred by developers, while Alfred retains users who prefer its visual automation tools and non-subscription model.

Does Raycast drain battery?

No. Because Raycast is a native Swift application and not an Electron app, it is highly optimized for macOS power efficiency. It sits idle in the background with negligible CPU usage until activated. The extensions run in a separate lightweight process that spins down when not in use. This helps that having many extensions installed does not impact your battery life.

Can I use Raycast AI with my own API key?

Yes. If you prefer not to pay for the Pro subscription but want to use AI features, Raycast allows you to use your own OpenAI or Anthropic API keys. However, the Pro subscription offers a more smooth experience with a unified interface for multiple models (GPT-5.6 family models, Claude Opus 5 / Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.x, Grok 4.5, and Perplexity Sonar) without needing to manage individual API billing or keys.

Is my data safe with Raycast?

Raycast takes privacy seriously. Core data like your clipboard history, snippets, and quicklinks are stored locally on your Mac. If you use Cloud Sync (Pro), data is encrypted end-to-end. For Raycast AI, your queries are sent to the LLM providers, but Raycast has agreements ensuring your data is not used to train the models. For sensitive environments, you can disable AI features entirely.

Can Raycast replace a clipboard manager?

Absolutely. Raycast's built-in clipboard history is solid and fast. It supports pinning items, searching by content or application, and previewing images and files. For 99% of users, it completely eliminates the need for standalone apps like Paste, CopyClip, or Maccy. It allows you to paste as plain text or formatted text easily.

Does Raycast work on Windows?

Raycast’s Windows build remains in beta/early availability in August 2026. While the core experience is similar, the extension ecosystem for Windows is still catching up to the maturity of the macOS version. The team is actively developing it to bring feature parity across both platforms.

How do I backup my Raycast settings?

If you are a Pro subscriber, Cloud Sync handles this automatically across your devices. For free users, you can export your configuration via 'Settings > Advanced > Export' to create a `.rayconfig` file. This file can be imported onto a new machine to restore your extensions, snippets, and aliases instantly.

What are Script Commands?

Script Commands are simple scripts (Bash, Python, Ruby, Swift, Node.js) that you can run from Raycast. Unlike full Extensions, they don't require a UI or a build process. They are perfect for simple automation tasks, like toggling system settings, running a cleanup script, or fetching a piece of data from a URL and displaying it in the command bar.

Can I use Raycast to resize windows?

Yes, Raycast includes a full-featured window manager for free. You can assign hotkeys to commands like 'Left Half', 'Right Half', 'Maximize', and 'Restore'. It is faster and lighter than running a separate app like Magnet. You can find these settings under 'Extensions > Window Management' and customize the shortcuts to match your muscle memory.

Raycast vs Alfred: which should I buy?

Buy nothing to try Raycast Free. Stay on Alfred if you need visual workflows and hate subscriptions. Move to Raycast if you want a modern extension API, free window management, and optional multi-model AI. Many developers run Raycast Free indefinitely; Pro is optional until sync or AI becomes daily.

What AI models does Raycast support in August 2026?

The official models page lists a large catalogue spanning OpenAI (including GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra, and Luna among others), Anthropic (including Claude Opus 5 and Claude Sonnet 5), Google Gemini 3.x family models, xAI Grok-4.5, plus Perplexity, Mistral, Meta, and others. Free users get a limited message allotment; Pro opens the core set; Advanced AI unlocks the frontier tier. Always re-check raycast.com/core-features/ai/models because the grid changes.

When should I skip Raycast?

Skip it if Spotlight is enough, if your company blocks third-party launchers, or if you need a mature Windows launcher today (Windows is still beta). Also skip Advanced AI if you already pay for ChatGPT or Claude desktop and never invoke AI from a hotkey.

Does Raycast replace Magnet, Maccy, and TextExpander?

For many people, yes on Free or Pro: window management covers Magnet-style halves and quarters, clipboard history covers Maccy-style reuse, and snippets cover simple TextExpander cases. Power users with deep BetterTouchTool gestures or complex TextExpander groups may still keep a specialist app.

PublishedJanuary 1, 2026•UpdatedSeptember 4, 2026

Raycast

Name: Raycast
Availability: InStock

Blazingly fast productivity launcher with extensions

ProductivityFreeReplaces Alfred Powerpack ($44)

Are you the maker of Raycast?

Install with Homebrew

brew install --cask raycast

Raycast screenshot — Raycast — Official Website

Quick Take: Raycast

4.9

In August 2026 Raycast remains the default productivity layer for keyboard-first Mac users. Free still replaces several utilities. Pro at $8 yearly and Advanced AI at +$8 are the paid forks for sync and frontier models. Windows beta is real but secondary. If you live on hotkeys, start on Free; upgrade only when sync or AI becomes daily.

Best For

•Software Developers
•Product Designers
•Keyboard-centric Power Users

What is Raycast?

Raycast is a free keyboard launcher for Mac that replaces Spotlight for people who live in hotkeys. In August 2026 it is still the default install for many developers: Free forever covers the command bar, thousands of Store extensions, window management, clipboard history (3 months), snippets, Quicklinks, calculator, calendar, system commands, and 50 AI messages. Raycast Pro is $8 per month billed yearly or $10 month-to-month and adds Cloud Sync, custom themes, unlimited clipboard history, unlimited Notes, Translator, and the main AI model catalogue. Advanced AI is +$8 on top of Pro (about $16 per month or $192 per year when billed yearly) for frontier models such as GPT-5.6 Sol/Terra/Luna, Claude Opus 5, Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.x family models, and Grok 4.5. Teams Pro is $12 per user per month yearly ($15 monthly). Homebrew cask 1.104.24 requires macOS 11+. Raycast is not a better file search alone; it is a control layer for extensions, AI, and window actions. Choose Alfred instead if you want a one-time Powerpack licence and a visual workflow builder without a subscription.

Deep Dive: Raycast Architecture and Ecosystem

Raycast stands out technically by combining the performance of native code with the flexibility of web technologies, creating a hybrid architecture that defines its success.

History & Background

Mann and Nikolaev, both ex-Facebook engineers, joined Y Combinator W20 with the idea that launchers like Alfred had stalled. Seed from Accel by late 2020, Series A in 2021, and a Series B led by Atomico in 2024 funded near-weekly shipping. By 2025 and 2026 the team added Notes, Focus, and broader AI surfaces, and started a Windows beta and an iOS companion. The product moved from Mac utility toward a cross-platform command layer, but the Mac version remains the reference.

How It Works

Raycast is Swift and AppKit, not Electron, so idle cost stays low. Extension code is React and TypeScript. It runs in a separate Node process and is rendered through a custom React reconciler into native components. The result looks native, hits 60 fps, and respects accessibility. Hooks exist for file system, window manager, and system commands, plus third-party APIs.

Ecosystem & Integrations

The Store installs extensions in one click. Each extension is open source and reviewed by Raycast. The API gives access to storage, AI, and OS hooks. For teams, Raycast for Teams lets you ship private extensions such as database lookups to staff. Presets let you share a full config with a link.

Future Development

The late 2026 theme is proactive help. Instead of waiting for a command, Raycast looks at the active window and suggests an action, like opening a Jira ticket when you copy a branch name. The team also wants closer parity on Windows and an option to run local models offline for users who do not want data leaving the machine.

Key Features

Extensions Store & Script Commands

The Store lives in the command bar and installs extensions for GitHub, Linear, Notion, Spotify, VS Code, and many others. You can open a PR, filter by status, and merge without opening a browser. Script Commands run local Bash, Python, Ruby, Swift, or Node from a keyword or hotkey.

Raycast AI (2026 model catalogue)

Raycast AI works over the frontmost window. Highlight text to rewrite it, press Tab for Quick AI, chat with a PDF or CSV or the current screen, switch models mid-chat, or run AI Extensions that act on Calendar, Linear, Finder, and Slack. Free gives 50 messages. Pro opens the core catalog. Advanced AI adds frontier models such as GPT-5.6 Sol/Terra/Luna, Claude Opus 5 and Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.1 Pro, and Grok 4.5. You can also bring your own keys.

Clipboard History

Clipboard history keeps plain text, images, HTML and file paths. Free keeps three months, Pro keeps it longer. Pin what you reuse, paste as plain text when needed, and run quick actions on what you copied.

Window Management

Window management snaps to halves, thirds, quarters, and multi-monitor positions. On Pro you can define custom layouts. For a lot of users this removes the need for a separate tiling app.

Quicklinks, Snippets, Notes & Focus

Quicklinks turn a keyword into a search shortcut (for example npm). Snippets expand a trigger with placeholders for date or clipboard. Notes gives you a floating scratchpad (5 on Free, more on Pro). Focus blocks apps you choose for a timed session. These pieces shipped through 2025 and 2026 and now straddle the Free/Pro line.

Windows Beta & Cross-Platform Reach

Raycast ships a Windows beta with core Pro features. Cloud Sync and the full AI set stay paid. The iOS companion and browser extension carry the same idea beyond the Mac, but macOS is still where the app is most complete.

Raycast vs Alfred decision points

Alfred Powerpack is a buy-once licence with a visual workflow editor. Raycast Free already includes window management and a large React extension Store; Pro adds sync and AI. Pick Alfred when subscription friction is a dealbreaker and you design automations visually. Pick Raycast when you want multi-model AI inside the launcher, community extensions in TypeScript/React, and one app that can replace clipboard and tiling utilities.

Who Should Use Raycast?

1The Full-Stack Engineer

For a senior engineer, context switching destroys flow state. Using Raycast, they start their day by typing 'my schedule' to see upcoming meetings without opening Calendar. When reviewing code, they use the GitHub extension to check assigned Pull Requests, pressing Enter to open a specific PR in the browser. During debugging, they convert Unix timestamps to human-readable dates using a built-in calculator and use the 'Kill Process' command to terminate a rogue Node.js server. Instead of remembering complex CLI arguments, they use a custom Script Command to flush their local DNS cache, all tailored to their specific dev environment.

2The Product Designer

A freelance designer relies on Raycast to speed up their Figma workflow. They use the 'Search Figma Files' command to jump straight into a specific project file. When grabbing assets, they use the Clipboard History to retrieve a color hex code copied an hour ago. To organize their workspace, they use Window Management hotkeys to snap Figma to the left and their reference browser window to the right. When sending a mock-up to a client, they use a Snippet triggered by ';deliv' to paste a formatted message template with placeholders for the project link. This helps consistent professional communication.

3The Content Creator

A creator managing multiple social channels uses Raycast as their operational hub. They use the 'YouTube' extension to check channel analytics quickly. When drafting a tweet, they highlight their rough draft and use the Raycast AI command 'Fix Grammar & Tone' to polish the copy. They use 'Quicklinks' to search their own Notion content database by typing 'n [keyword]'. To maximize focus during writing sessions, they toggle a 'Focus Mode' system script via Raycast that activates Do Not Disturb and quits distracting apps like Discord and Slack.

4The Alfred switcher

You already paid for Alfred Powerpack years ago and wonder whether Raycast is worth the relearn. Map your top ten Alfred workflows first. Clipboard history, window snapping, and emoji pickers often move for free. Complex visual workflows without code may stay on Alfred. If you want GPT-5.6 family or Claude Opus 5 inside the same bar that launches apps, budget Pro or Pro plus Advanced AI and trial for two weeks before you delete Alfred.

How to Install Raycast on Mac

Raycast is best installed via Homebrew for easy updates, but a direct download is also available. It requires macOS 12.0 or later.

Install Homebrew

If you haven't yet, open Terminal and run: /bin/bash -c '$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)'

Install Raycast

Run the following command in your Terminal: brew install --cask raycast

Verify Installation

Launch Raycast with ⌘+Space (or your preferred hotkey). You should see the command bar appear instantly. Walk through the onboarding tutorial to grant necessary permissions.

Pro Tips

• Replace Spotlight: Go to Raycast Settings > General and enable 'Launch Raycast on start'.
• Disable Spotlight hotkey: In macOS System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts, uncheck Spotlight so Raycast can claim ⌘+Space.
• Grant Accessibility: Ensure Raycast has Accessibility permissions in macOS Privacy & Security settings for window management to work.

Configuration Tips

Assign Aliases to Extensions

To speed up your workflow, assign short aliases to your most-used extensions. Go to Settings > Extensions, select an extension like 'Search Emoji', and add an alias like 'em'. Now, you only need to type 'em' and hit Space to launch the emoji picker, saving keystrokes hundreds of times a day.

Configure Fallback Commands

When Raycast doesn't find a direct match for your query, it uses Fallback Commands. You can configure this in Settings to default to 'Google Search', 'Search in Browser', or even 'Ask AI'. Setting 'Ask AI' as a fallback effectively turns Raycast into an omnipresent answer engine for any query that isn't a local app or file.

Set Global Hotkeys

Don't just rely on the main search bar. You can bind specific commands to global hotkeys. For example, map ⌥+C to 'Clipboard History' and ⌃+⌥+Enter to 'Toggle Floating Notes'. This allows you to bypass the search step entirely and invoke specific utilities instantly from anywhere in macOS.

Alternatives to Raycast

While Raycast leads the modern launcher market, veterans like Alfred and native options like Spotlight offer compelling alternatives depending on your philosophy regarding subscriptions vs. licensing.

Alfred 5

Alfred uses a one-time Powerpack and a visual workflow editor. Raycast offers free window management, a React extension store, and multi-model AI inside the launcher. Pick Alfred if you want buy-once automation without a subscription. Pick Raycast if you want AI and a large community extension catalog.

Apple Spotlight

Spotlight is free and built in, and it searches the system well on macOS Tahoe. It does not have a third-party extension store, clipboard history, or tiling. It is fine as a baseline, but most power users hit its limits fast.

LaunchBar 6

LaunchBar has stayed loyal to its noun-verb model, but its release pace is slower than Raycast. The UI feels older and the extension catalog is smaller than what you find in Raycast today.

Suprmind / multi-model AI hubs

Multi-model hubs like Suprmind focus on routing prompts across models. Raycast is cheaper if you want hotkey AI inside a launcher. Pick a dedicated hub only if you do not need extensions or window control.

Pricing

Freemium / Subscription

Free Forever includes the launcher, unlimited public extensions, window management, clipboard history (3 months), snippets, quicklinks, calculator, calendar, system commands, and 50 AI messages. Raycast Pro is $8/month billed annually or $10/month billed monthly (14-day Pro trial; student 50% off Pro only). Pro adds Cloud Sync, custom themes, unlimited clipboard history, unlimited Notes, Translator, and the full Pro AI model set. Advanced AI is +$8/month on top of Pro (~$16/month or $192/year annually) for frontier models. Teams Free is free with caps (30 shared snippets/quicklinks, 5 shared commands). Teams Pro is $12/user/month annually or $15 monthly with unlimited sharing plus Advanced AI as a per-user add-on. Enterprise is custom with SAML/SCIM, AI control center, and admin allow-lists.

Pros

✓Extremely fast native performance
✓Huge store with thousands of free community extensions
✓Built-in window management and clipboard history
✓Modern, beautiful UI that fits macOS aesthetics
✓Developer-friendly Extension API (React/TS)
✓Verified August 2026 pricing still free for core launcher utilities

Cons

✗AI and Sync features require subscription
✗No visual workflow builder (requires coding)
✗Mobile app is a companion, not a standalone launcher
✗Steeper learning curve than Spotlight
✗Frontier models cost Pro plus Advanced AI (~$16/month yearly)

Community & Support

Raycast's community centers on Slack and GitHub. The extension repo gets daily commits, and the Slack has channels for dev help and script sharing. The founders answer there as well. Docs for building extensions are clear and the Store surfaces new tools each week. Email support usually replies within a day or two, but the community often answers faster.

Video Tutorials

Getting Started with Raycast

MinorCo92.3K views

Apple just copied @mkbhd’s fav app Raycast on Mac’s Spotlight – WWDC 25🤯

Singular Podcast • 146.8K views

101 Things You Can Do With Raycast

Raycast • 167.5K views

Raycast: The FIRST App I Install on ANY New Mac (Here's Why!)

Justin Brown - Primal Video • 22.5K views

Frequently Asked Questions about Raycast

Yes. Free forever includes the launcher, public extensions, window management, three months of clipboard history, snippets, Quicklinks, and 50 AI messages. Pro is $8/month yearly or $10 monthly for sync, themes, unlimited clipboard and Notes, Translator, and the Pro AI set. Advanced AI is +$8/month for frontier models. Teams Pro is $12/user/month yearly. Student discount is 50% off Pro only, not Advanced AI.

About the Author

Jordan Kim

Productivity & Workflow Analyst

Productivity ApplicationsNote-Taking & Knowledge ManagementTask & Project Management

8+ years in operations management · PMP certified

Expert Tips for Raycast

Power users on X still treat Raycast as a multi-app consolidator: launcher plus clipboard, window management, and AI often replace Alfred, Rectangle, and Maccy in one install.

Hands-on TestingHigh Confidence

Frontier models (GPT-5.6 family, Claude Opus 5, Grok 4.5) sit behind the Advanced AI add-on; Pro alone is enough for everyday rewrite/summarize workflows on mid-tier models.

Official DocsHigh Confidence

Searchers landing on /apps/raycast usually want pricing, free-tier limits, and Alfred comparison in the first screen. Lead with those numbers before history or architecture.

Hands-on TestingHigh Confidence

Related Technologies & Concepts

RaycastAlfredThomas Paul MannReactY CombinatorGPT-5.6 SolClaude Opus 5

Sources & References

Fact-Checked

Last verified: Aug 9, 2026

Key Verified Facts

Raycast Pro costs $8/month billed annually or $10/month monthly; Advanced AI is +$8/month; Teams Pro is $12/user/month annually.[cite-pricing]
Free users receive 50 AI messages; Free includes clipboard history limited to 3 months.[cite-pricing]
Raycast AI surfaces frontier models including GPT-5.6 Sol/Terra/Luna, Claude Opus 5, Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.x, and Grok 4.5.[cite-ai, cite-models]
Homebrew cask raycast is at version 1.104.24 and requires macOS 11 or later.[cite-brew]
Raycast was founded in 2020 by Thomas Paul Mann and Petr Nikolaev (YC W20).[cite-yc]