Launch everything from one bar
You type a few letters: an app opens, a file or folder appears, a window comes back to the front. The calculator and emojis are in the same bar.
AI tools · Your computer
Raycast pricing, use cases, and first steps
Raycast is a small search bar that opens with a keyboard shortcut, on top of whatever you are doing. You type a few letters to open an app, find a file, paste again what you copied yesterday, or insert a canned reply. With the paid plan, the same bar answers your questions with AI.
Raycast has a free plan. The recommended plan to start with: Free, $0. Prices checked on October 3, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
RaycastOne search field that launches everything on your computer- Vendor
- Raycast (United Kingdom)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Recommended plan
- Free, $0
- Page checked on
- October 3, 2026
What Raycast does
Who it’s for: anyone who spends the day on a Mac or a PC and is tired of hunting for windows, links, and things they copied.
Clipboard history
Raycast keeps everything you copy: text, images, files, links, email addresses, colors. You search through it, including the text inside an image, and paste again with one key.
Canned replies in a few letters
You save a text you write often and give it a keyword. As soon as you type that keyword, in any app, the full text replaces it.
Also
- Your everyday links, from the keyboard
- Arrange windows without the mouse
- Ask AI a question without switching windows
- Fix or rephrase selected text
- Dictate in any app
Raycast pricing
Raycast publishes its prices in dollars. Unused AI credits roll over for one more month, then are lost. Verified students get 50% off Pro. On the French App Store, we found €9.99 per month or €88.99 per year for Pro.
| Plan | Price | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Free Recommended to start | $0 | Almost everyone |
| Pro | $10 per month (or $96 per year) | You want AI and dictation in the bar |
| Pro Plus | $20 per month (or $192 per year) | Daily AI use |
| Pro Max | $50 per month (or $480 per year) | Heavy AI use |
| Teams | from $0 per user per month | Teams that share links and canned replies |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Large organizations |
What the free plan includes
The whole core of Raycast is free for personal use: the search bar, 3 months of clipboard history, snippets, quicklinks, window management, the calculator, extensions, and 5 notes. AI is not included.
Nova’s advice
Stay on the free plan: most of what saves you time is in it. Only get Pro at $10 if you want AI and dictation in the bar, and you don’t already have an assistant paid for by your company.
A first try, in 3 minutes
Your data. Raycast runs first on your computer: clipboard history and file search stay local. AI and sync, however, go through its servers.
What it does less well
- The app is in English only. You have to remember a few command names, such as “Clipboard History” or “Snippets.”
- AI is paid. Without a subscription, Raycast is still a very good launcher, but it answers no questions.
Find what you copied a moment agoRaycast- Copy three different things, one after another: a sentence from an email, a link, an amount in a spreadsheet.
- Open Raycast (⌥ + Space on a Mac) and type “clip.” Choose “Clipboard History” and press Enter.
- Your three copies are there, from newest to oldest. Move down with the down arrow.
- Press Enter: the selected item is pasted where your cursor was.
- Reopen the history and press ⌘ + P (Ctrl + P on Windows) to see only links, images, or text.
- Pin an item you paste often with ⌘ + period (Ctrl + period on Windows).
Alternatives to Raycast
Apple Intelligence
On a Mac, Spotlight and Apple’s writing tools are already installed.
Copilot on Windows
On Windows, Microsoft’s assistant is built into the system.
Wispr Flow
If you only want dictation, in all your apps.
ChatGPT
Its desktop app also opens with a shortcut, with AI included for free.
Frequently asked questions about Raycast
How much does Raycast cost?
Free: $0; Pro: $10 per month (or $96 per year); Pro Plus: $20 per month (or $192 per year); Pro Max: $50 per month (or $480 per year); Teams: from $0 per user per month. Prices checked on October 3, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
Can you use Raycast for free?
Yes. The whole core of Raycast is free for personal use: the search bar, 3 months of clipboard history, snippets, quicklinks, window management, the calculator, extensions, and 5 notes. AI is not included.
What happens to my data with Raycast?
Raycast runs first on your computer: clipboard history and file search stay local. AI and sync, however, go through its servers.
What are the alternatives to Raycast?
Apple Intelligence: On a Mac, Spotlight and Apple’s writing tools are already installed. Copilot on Windows: On Windows, Microsoft’s assistant is built into the system. Wispr Flow: If you only want dictation, in all your apps. ChatGPT: Its desktop app also opens with a shortcut, with AI included for free.
Official pages consulted
Page checked on October 3, 2026. Brands are named to identify the tools. No affiliation.