Raycast Review
After 3 months of replacing macOS Spotlight with Raycast across daily dev work, research, and workflow automation, this keyboard launcher has fundamentally changed how I interact with my Mac. The December 2025 update brings 1,300+ extensions, AI Extensions Beta with natural language workflows, and the new Windows beta finally makes this cross-platform.
Quick Intel
Free tier available. No credit card required.
Pricing Breakdown
Raycast's December 2025 pricing structure is refreshingly straightforward. The free tier includes core launcher features, 50 AI messages, and full extension access-no feature restrictions, just usage limits. Pro ($10/month) removes those limits and adds cloud sync. Teams tiers add collaboration features at $15/month per user. Advanced AI models are available as add-ons to Pro and Teams Pro.
- Core features (Clipboard History, Quicklinks, Calculator, etc.)
- 50 free Raycast AI messages
- 5 free Raycast Notes
- Clipboard History: 3 months
- Thousands of extensions
- Custom Extensions
- Developer Tooling
- Everything in Free tier
- Unlimited Clipboard History
- Raycast AI (unlimited messages)
- Cloud Sync
- Custom Themes
- Translator
- Unlimited Raycast Notes
- Everything in Pro tier
- Advanced AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Perplexity, Mistral, Google, xAI
- Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) support
- Local models via Ollama (100+ models)
Save 20% with annual billing. Pro drops to $8/month, Teams Pro to $12/month when billed annually.
Raycast Productivity ROI Calculator
- Raycast reduces context switching time by ~15% (5 seconds per app switch average)
- Based on 22 working days per month
- User reports show 30 min/week saved from reduced context switching
- Developers report up to 50% time savings on non-coding tasks (Jira, GitHub, Slack)
Feature Analysis
I've pushed every major feature to its limits-1,300+ extensions, AI capabilities across 6 providers, clipboard management, window snapping, and cross-platform sync. Here's what actually delivers value versus what's still rough around the edges.
Extension Ecosystem
1,300+ community extensions covering GitHub, Jira, VS Code, Docker, Notion, Linear, Slack, and more. The new AI Extensions Beta lets you build workflows in natural language. Quality varies but the breadth is unmatched.
Speed & Performance
0.5 second startup time, instant search results, near-zero lag. The Windows beta claims 4x faster extension launches than the Mac version. In daily use, it genuinely feels faster than Spotlight or Alfred.
AI Capabilities
Multi-provider support (OpenAI, Anthropic, Perplexity, Mistral, Google, xAI) with BYOK option. Local models via Ollama (100+ options). Reasoning models (o3-mini, Claude 3.7 Sonnet). The iOS app syncs AI chats cross-platform.
Clipboard Manager
Unlimited history on Pro, 3 months on Free. Search works great, categorization is smart. The killer feature is instant paste without leaving your current window. Alfred still has the edge on advanced clipboard workflows.
Window Management
Multiple snap configurations, hotkey support, works across monitors. Solid for basic tiling but Rectangle or Magnet offer more granular control. Good enough for 80% of use cases.
File Search
This is the known weakness. Alfred's file search is significantly faster and more comprehensive. Raycast prioritizes apps and commands over files-by design, but still frustrating for file-heavy workflows.
The Honest Truth
Based on 90+ days of daily use across macOS development, research workflows, and team collaboration, including testing the new Windows beta and AI Extensions Beta.
- Genuinely Useful Free Tier - Core launcher, 50 AI messages monthly, full extension access, 3-month clipboard history. Unlike most freemium tools, this isn't a crippled demo-it's production-ready for casual users.
- Extension Quality & Breadth - 1,300+ extensions with Node.js 22 and React 19 support. The GitHub, Jira, Linear, and VS Code extensions alone save hours weekly. AI Extensions Beta adds natural language workflow building.
- Multi-Provider AI Flexibility - Switch between OpenAI, Anthropic, Perplexity, Mistral, Google, and xAI mid-workflow. BYOK support means unlimited AI for API costs only. Local Ollama models (100+ options) run entirely offline.
- Cross-Platform Syncing - Mac, Windows (beta), and iOS with cloud sync for commands, snippets, and AI chats. The Windows beta finally makes this viable for multi-OS workflows-something Alfred can't match.
- Beautiful, Fast UI - macOS Tahoe Liquid Glass design integration, custom themes on Pro, zero lag. The attention to design detail makes using Raycast genuinely pleasurable-rare for productivity tools.
- Weak File Search - If you need robust file finding, Alfred wins decisively. Raycast prioritizes apps and commands, making file search feel like an afterthought. This is the #1 complaint in reviews.
- Subscription vs. One-Time Purchase - Alfred Powerpack is $42.60 once, LaunchBar is $35 once. Raycast Pro is $120/year. The ongoing cost adds up-only worth it if you heavily use AI, cloud sync, or unlimited clipboard.
- Windows Beta Limitations - Windows version is fast but missing feature parity with Mac. Extensions work, but some Mac-specific integrations (like Shortcuts) don't translate. Fine for early adopters, frustrating for production use.
- Extension Reliability Varies - Community extensions are hit-or-miss. The VS Code extension has known issues, some integrations break with API changes. Official extensions are solid, but vet community ones before relying on them.
Who Should Use This
Raycast excels for specific personas but frustrates others. Here's who gets maximum value-and who should look elsewhere.
Developers & Engineers
GitHub, Jira, VS Code, Docker, npm, and Linear extensions eliminate constant app switching. AI Extensions Beta automates repetitive coding tasks in natural language. The extension ecosystem is built by and for developers.
Best FitKeyboard Power Users
If you hate touching the mouse, Raycast is your new home. Every action has a hotkey, snippets automate repetitive typing, and window management keeps you in flow. The learning curve pays dividends.
Best FitTeams Sharing Workflows
Teams Pro enables shared commands, quicklinks, and snippets across your org. Standardize workflows, onboard new hires faster, and sync best practices. The admin controls actually work well.
Best FitResearchers & Information Workers
Multi-provider AI access, clipboard history search, and the new Auto Transcribe with Granola for meeting notes. Works well for knowledge work, though file search limitations can frustrate heavy document users.
Good FitMouse-First Users
If you prefer clicking to typing, Raycast will feel backwards. The entire interface is keyboard-optimized-you can use a mouse, but you're fighting the design. Stick with Spotlight or a dock replacement like uBar.
Not IdealFile-Heavy Workflows
Need robust file search and indexing? Alfred or LaunchBar are significantly better. Raycast deprioritizes file search in favor of apps and commands-fine for developers, frustrating for designers or content creators managing asset libraries.
Not Idealvs. Competition
How does Raycast stack up against other Mac launchers in December 2025? I've used all of these daily for 30+ days each.
My take: For developers and keyboard-driven users, Raycast wins decisively-the extension ecosystem and AI capabilities have no equivalent. But if you need robust file search, Alfred's one-time $43 purchase delivers better value than Raycast's $120/year subscription. For casual users, Raycast's free tier beats paid Alfred/LaunchBar, but macOS Spotlight is still good enough for basic app launching. I switched from Alfred to Raycast Pro because the extension ecosystem saves more time than Alfred's superior file search, but your mileage will vary based on workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about Raycast in December 2025.
Final Verdict
The Mac Launcher That Actually Changed My Workflow
Raycast has earned permanent Cmd+Space real estate on my Mac. The 1,300+ extension ecosystem eliminates app switching friction, and the multi-provider AI capabilities (with BYOK and local models) deliver institutional-grade flexibility at consumer pricing. Is it perfect? No-file search is genuinely weak compared to Alfred, and the subscription model ($120/year) costs more than one-time Alfred Powerpack ($43). But for developers and keyboard-driven users, Raycast Pro at $10/month pays for itself within 2 weeks from reduced context switching alone. The free tier is so capable that most casual users will never need to upgrade.
Try Raycast FreeThis review contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.