Raycast
Replace macOS Spotlight with an extensible command bar that launches apps, runs workflows, and now answers questions or automates tasks with built-in AI.
The verdict on Raycast: Mac and Windows users who want to launch apps, run workflows, and get AI help without touching the mouse (Windows feature set is still catching up to macOS) Raycast is not a better Spotlight, it is a fundamentally different way to use your desktop. Pricing: Free (core launcher) / $10/mo Pro (includes AI; free trial for eligible new accounts) / +$8/mo Advanced AI.
Best For
Mac and Windows users who want to launch apps, run workflows, and get AI help without touching the mouse (Windows feature set is still catching up to macOS)
Standout Feature
AI commands run inline in the launcher itself, so summarizing or translating text never breaks your focus
TL;DR
Genuinely changes how you use a Mac day to day, just don't expect a Windows or Linux version.
Alternatives
Fit Score: use-case reference
How this is scoredRaycast scored 1 to 5 on five dimensions for the named use cases below. Part of our catalog-wide use-case reference, not a product-quality review rating.
Keyboard-first app launching and AI workflows
3.6/5- Capability
- 4/5
- Reliability
- 3/5
- Value
- 3/5
- Ease
- 4/5
- Compatibility
- 4/5
A command palette, inline AI, and a script runner cover keyboard-first launching and workflows. The core launcher is free, but this combined AI use case needs the $10/month Pro plan, with Advanced AI listed separately at an extra $8/month. Windows still lacks full macOS feature parity, so check the specific commands and extensions your workflow needs.
Editorial judgment grounded in this tool's own published pricing, features, and our existing pros and cons, not a certification or a measured benchmark. Product quality is assessed separately under our review methodology.
Overview
Not yet reviewedProduct quality is assessed from original evidence. How reviews work.
Raycast is a productivity launcher, originally Mac-only, that replaces the OS's default launcher with a command palette that can search files, run workflows, manage clipboard history, open Jira tickets, draft emails with AI, translate text, generate code snippets, and control hundreds of apps, all from one keystroke. The AI commands handle summarization, writing, and translation inline without switching windows. The extension ecosystem (1000+ community extensions) means every tool in your stack has a Raycast integration.
Raycast also ships a Windows 10+ version, installable via the Microsoft Store or winget; some macOS features are still being ported to Windows, so availability is not full feature parity across platforms. Used by developers and knowledge workers who live by keyboard shortcuts and resent context switching.
The source of the legacy catalog rating and review count has not been substantiated. Neither is presented here as a verified review rating or included in review structured data.
Workflow Fit Scores are separate, use-case-specific editorial judgments, not user-review averages. Read the Fit Score methodology.
- • The fastest way to do almost anything on Mac, genuinely changes workflow habits
- • AI inline means you don't break focus to open ChatGPT
- • Extension ecosystem covers virtually every developer and productivity tool
- • Windows version does not yet have full feature parity with macOS
- • Best features require Pro subscription
Key Features
- Universal command palette
- 1000+ app extensions
- AI commands inline
- Clipboard history
- Snippets
- Script runner
Trust & Data
Verified 2026-09
- Training on your data
- NoContractual agreements with all AI providers explicitly prohibit use of AI interactions for model training; prompts are not logged or retained.
- Compliance
- SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, CCPA
- Retention
- Personal data retained until no longer necessary to provide the Service or until account deletion, whichever comes first.
- Export
- Partial export
Sources: raycast.com/privacy, raycast.com/enterprise, manual.raycast.com
As published by the vendor. Verify independently before purchase decisions.
Our Take
The keyboard-driven command palette handles app switching, clipboard history, Jira ticket lookup, AI drafts, and translation without ever touching a mouse, which compounds into real time savings across a full workday. The AI commands running inline in the launcher, rather than in a separate tab, is the specific thing that makes it different from just having ChatGPT in another window. Raycast now ships on Windows as well as Mac, though some macOS features are still being ported, so mixed-OS teams should check feature parity before standardizing. Core launcher features are free; AI is bundled into the paid Pro plan, and eligible new accounts can start a free Pro trial to test it before subscribing.
Workflows Using This Tool
Step-by-step playbooks whose entries name Raycast. The step shown is where the workflow uses it.