# Raycast vs Alfred for Mac

> Both replace Spotlight with a faster keyboard launcher. Raycast is free to start and bundles an extension store, clipboard history, snippets and window management, with AI and sync in its paid plan. Alfred is lighter and older, and its one-time Powerpack unlocks workflows that power users have refined for more than a decade. Facts checked 2026-10-19 by MacWorthy; nobody pays to be listed or compared.

## Choose Raycast if

- You want ready-made extensions for the tools you use, with no scripting.
- You'd like clipboard history, snippets and window management in the same app.
- You want AI built into the launcher.

## Choose Alfred if

- You prefer a one-time license to a subscription.
- You rely on Alfred workflows or want to script your own.
- You want a small launcher that does little beyond what you ask.

## Facts

| | [Raycast](https://macworthy.com/apps/raycast.md) | [Alfred](https://macworthy.com/apps/alfred.md) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free, with paid upgrades | Free, with paid upgrades |
| Developer | Raycast | Running with Crayons |
| Mac App Store | No | No |
| Homebrew cask | raycast | alfred |
| Open source | No | No |

## Questions

### Is Raycast better than Alfred?

Neither is better for everyone. Both replace Spotlight with a faster keyboard launcher. Raycast is free to start and bundles an extension store, clipboard history, snippets and window management, with AI and sync in its paid plan. Alfred is lighter and older, and its one-time Powerpack unlocks workflows that power users have refined for more than a decade.

### Is Raycast free?

Raycast is free to download and use, with paid upgrades for extra features.

### Is Alfred free?

Alfred is free to download and use, with paid upgrades for extra features.

### What else is like Raycast and Alfred?

Other productivity apps on MacWorthy worth a look are Tinycast (open source), Dock Groups (open source) and Things 3 (one-time purchase).

HTML version: https://macworthy.com/compare/raycast-vs-alfred/