Raycast is a keyboard-first, extendable launcher for macOS and Windows that combines productivity tools, extensions, and an integrated AI assistant in one app.
About
Raycast is a desktop launcher and command palette that replaces repetitive clicking, tab-switching, and app-hopping with fast keyboard-driven access to everyday tools. Instead of opening separate apps for tasks like managing issues, searching notes, controlling music, or grabbing passwords, users invoke Raycast with a hotkey and run commands from a single interface.
At its core, Raycast is a collection of built-in productivity tools — clipboard history, window management, snippets, quicklinks, notes, timers, and file search — wrapped in an extendable launcher. A public store offers thousands of community-built extensions for services such as Linear, JIRA, Notion, Slack, Spotify, 1Password, and Google Chrome. Raycast also includes an AI layer with chat, a hotkey-accessible Quick AI mode, and AI extensions that can act on the tools a user already has connected. The company offers free personal use and paid Pro plans, and its site lists a 99.8% crash-free rate as a reliability figure. Raycast is available for macOS and Windows, with iOS apps and team plans as well.
Key Features
Pricing & Fees
- Pricing: Raycast is free for personal use, including all built-in extensions and public community extensions; paid Pro plans add AI features, with Pro+ and Max tiers including advanced AI models. Exact prices are not publicly listed on the pages we reviewed; check the official site for current plans.
- Free tier: The free plan does not expire and is also available for organizational and corporate use without requiring a paid upgrade.
- AI credits: Paid plans include monthly AI credits that roll over for one extra billing cycle; each model consumes credits at its own rate, and balances are visible in settings.
- Student discount: Verified students can get 50% off the Pro plan.
- Platforms: Available on macOS and Windows, with an iOS app and a browser extension also listed on the site.
Who It's For
Raycast is aimed at professionals who spend much of their day at a keyboard: software developers managing Linear or JIRA issues, designers using tools like Figma-adjacent workflows and CleanShot X, writers and product managers working in Notion or Obsidian, and anyone who repeats the same small tasks throughout the day. It suits individuals who want a faster alternative to mouse-driven navigation, as well as teams that want to share snippets, quicklinks, and custom extensions across an organization. Well-known developers and designers, including figures from Vercel, Tailwind CSS, and Framer, are listed among its users.
FAQ
What is Raycast?Raycast is an extendable, keyboard-first launcher that combines productivity tools, thousands of community extensions, and an integrated AI assistant in a single desktop app.
Is Raycast free?Yes, Raycast is free for personal use, and the free plan covers all built-in extensions and public community extensions; it can also be used in organizations without upgrading.
Which platforms and services does Raycast support?Raycast runs on macOS and Windows, with an iOS app and browser extension, and its store offers extensions for services such as Slack, Notion, JIRA, Linear, Spotify, 1Password, and Google Chrome.
Can I get a Pro plan without AI features?No, Pro plans include AI, but AI can be turned off completely in Settings, which disables all AI features.
How does the free Team plan differ from paid plans?The free Team plan does not expire and is not a trial, but it is limited to 30 shared Snippets, 30 shared Quicklinks, and 5 Commands across all Extensions.
Related Tutorials
View all →
Related Tools
View all →
Dograh - Voice Assistant Workflow Builder Open Source Voice Assistant Workflow Builder. 
Agent-Native Apps Framework Build agentic apps where AI agents and UI share the same database and state. Open source framework with ready-to-fork templates. 
OfoxAI One API for all LLMs. Access OpenAI, Claude, Gemini & 100+ models through a unified endpoint. OpenAI SDK compatible. 
Cici AI Cici AI is an AI assistant that offers smart solutions. It helps users with daily tasks and questions. 
AI Agent Platform A platform for building and deploying AI agents to automate complex workflows and enhance decision-making.