Raycast
A Spotlight replacement
freemiumProductivity Editor's pick
Raycast is a launcher that replaces Spotlight and half the utilities on this list: app launching, clipboard history, window management, snippets, calculator, and thousands of extensions. Custom bash/python scripts become first-class commands. The free tier covers almost everything.
// Install
Your MacHomebrew in /opt/homebrew
brew install --cask raycast// What it is for
- Replaces Spotlight and beats it at finding apps and files
- Extensions turn the search bar into a control panel: window management, clipboard, tasks, doc search
- Clipboard history and text snippets work out of the box, no separate apps needed
- Shell or Python scripts run as ordinary commands — a personal tool takes five minutes to add
// Common questions
Raycast or Alfred?
Raycast is free at the base tier and ships window management, clipboard, and an extension store immediately. Alfred needs the Powerpack for workflows but offers deeper customisation and a longer history — some people stay for workflows they already built.
What costs money in Raycast?
Personal use is free, store extensions included. The paid subscription adds cloud settings sync, AI features, and team capabilities.
