Raycast icon
Raycast icon

Raycast

Raycast revolutionizes Mac productivity with AI-driven task automation, command shortcuts, and customizable workflows. Create snippets, manage clipboard history, translate text, and maintain sync across devices. Discover day planning, distraction-free focus, and versatile virtual assistance.

Raycast screenshot 1

Cost / License

  • Freemium (Subscription)
  • Proprietary

Application type

Platforms

  • Mac
  • Windows  needs Microsoft Store to be installed
  • iPhone
  • iPad
  • Google Chrome
  • Safari
Raycast screenshot 1
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Raycast screenshot 3
Raycast alternatives  
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Features

Properties

  1.  Customizable
  2.  Lightweight
  3.  Privacy focused
  4.  AI-Powered

Features

  1.  Application Launchers
  2.  File Search
  3.  Keyboard Shortcuts
  4.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
  5.  Support for scripting
  6.  Works Offline
  7.  Built-in viewer
  8.  Ad-free
  9.  No registration required
  10.  Dark Mode
  11.  No Tracking
  12.  Focus Mode
  13.  SOC 2 Compliant
  14.  Natural Language Processing

 Tags

Raycast News & Activities

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Recent News

Recent activities

Comments and Reviews

   
Comment summary: Raycast is widely praised for its versatility, speed, and intuitive keyboard-centric interface, standing out as a strong alternative to Spotlight and Alfred. Users appreciate its wide range of features, including window management, clipboard history, extensive customization, and a robust ecosystem of extensions. Some concerns are raised about privacy practices, occasional bugs, required subscriptions for basic features, and lack of support for older macOS versions and Windows.
Top Positive Comment
Nick Scientist
1

This is so many apps in one and its free! It does what Apple Spotlight/Alfred does, Magnet/Rectange (window management), Snippets management, web search from it, change system toggles (bluetooth, vol) which is useful for non Apple keyboards, search emojis (Rocket), screenshots, on screen temporary notes, calculator etc. I am just scratching the surface here as it has a store of free extensions to integrate most 3rd party apps too! If you have the money to donate to one free app it would be this one. -1 star because it can get buggy at times

Varun-Torka
0

Raycast shortcuts are something I can't live without. And it's available in the Free tier!

Not sure why Apple itself hasn't implemented these features.

Review from a new or low-activity account — shown here, but not counted in the app rating.
Gustavo D
0

Is kind of okay but it locks basic features that aren't services nor require constant work (specially if you don't need to have the latest) under a subscription rather than under a one-time payment.

It has been very quick to force obsolete older macOS system with much reason to why, all but eliminating those installers that would results in otherwise working apps in say, Mojave.

Be very cautions about devs, with paid evergreen apps, specially if they payment unlocks things that are already done, not "code in progress." In that case, ask no to beta test with customers.

TBayAreaPat
0

Site has Windows wait list.

TBayAreaPat

Available from Microsoft Store now

Abhishek Sachan
0

1 app for all. Very handy. Love its clipboard history feature.

Review from a new or low-activity account — shown here, but not counted in the app rating.
jairo-mtz
0

Definitely better than Spotlight and Alfred. It offers extensive customization, snippets, window management, a clipboard manager, and more.

Review from a new or low-activity account — shown here, but not counted in the app rating.
Rato GBM
0

Raycast is probably at the peak of what a what these hotkey launchers can do. Addons and Scripts allow to add anything that's not there by default.

Only concern: it is quite bloated, especially the AI integration/situation. Privacy: They say they don't collect anything, but they are in the same boat as Notion, so I have my doubts.

Lastly, you don't need it for many things you might want to use it for. If you didn't know modern browsers allow you to open bookmarks, search engines etc. using short keywords.

Also, making your terminal open with a hotkey allows for similar functionality to raycast or spotlight, as there are more and stronger CLI tools available than addons.

7 of 11 comments

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Official Links

AppStores & Other Links

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What is Raycast?

Raycast lets you access and use various tools and commands with keyboard shortcuts. You can also create and run AI extensions to automate tasks, answer questions, and chat with a virtual assistant.

A collection of powerful productivity tools all within an extendable launcher. Fast, ergonomic and reliable.

Don't repeat yourself. Automate the things you do all the time.

  • Snippets: Tired of typing the same thing? Create a snippet and insert it by simply typing its keyword.
  • Quicklinks: Say goodbye to open tabs. Create quicklinks to launch anything from anywhere.
  • Hotkeys and Aliases: Speed up your workflow by assigning hotkeys or aliases to common commands or apps.

Your OS just got smarter. AI where it’s most useful - on your OS.

  • Ask Anything, Anytime, Anywhere. Quick AI combines the power of AI with the web to answer any question.
  • Always On ChatGPT. Stuck while coding? Need help writing an email? Meet your new virtual assistant.
  • Your Automation Assistant. Create your own AI Commands to automate repetitive tasks and eliminate chores.

Raycast is about more than just AI.

  • Don’t get lost in translation. Quickly translate text on the fly, check pronunciation or dictate your own words.
  • Stay in sync. Cloud Sync ensures your workflow is the same across multiple devices.
  • Never forget. With unlimited clipboard history you can find that image you copied last year.
  • Keep organized. Position and resize your windows with custom commands.
  • Unlimited notes. Organize your thoughts and meeting notes without limits.
  • Express yourself. Craft your own custom theme or choose one of hundreds from the community.

Raycast can also take notes, track your flights, convert anything, search files, run scripts, manage your windows, plan your day, remind you of stuff, translate into any language, block distractions, find text in screenshots, insert emojis, and much, much more.

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Raycast information

AlternativeTo Categories

Office & Productivity, OS & Utilities, File Management, Security & Privacy

Apple AppStore

  •   Updated 
  •   4.49 avg rating
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Our users have written 11 comments and reviews about Raycast, and it has gotten 83 likes

Raycast was added to AlternativeTo by Paul on and this page was last updated .