Raycast vs Alfred

by Gralio Feb 27, 2025

Raycast and Alfred are both productivity tools for Mac, but cater to different needs. Raycast offers more advanced features like AI and extensive integrations, but comes at a cost. Alfred prioritizes speed and customizability through scripting, with a powerful free version.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 51 reviews and 60 websites, saving 47 minutes of reading.

Logo of Raycast
Logo of Alfred

About

Raycast is a productivity tool designed for Mac users. It helps you work faster by providing a central hub to access your apps, files, and information. Think of it as a highly customizable search bar that connects with popular tools like Jira, GitHub, and Google services. You can automate tasks, manage windows, access a powerful clipboard history, and even utilize AI for tasks like writing emails and answering questions. Raycast also offers customization options like themes and extensions to tailor the experience to your needs.
Alfred is a productivity app for macOS. It lets you quickly launch applications, search files on your computer and the web, and automate tasks through workflows. While Alfred offers a free version with basic features, a paid "Powerpack" unlocks additional features like custom workflows and themes. Essentially, Alfred helps you use your computer more efficiently.

Summary

Main difference
Raycast stands out with its AI-powered features, extensive integrations, and a sleek, modern interface. Alfred, while simpler, excels in its speed, customizability through scripting, and a robust free version.

Relative strengths of Raycast (compared to Alfred)

  • Stronger AI features: Raycast offers AI assistance for writing and information retrieval, surpassing Alfred's basic capabilities.

  • Wider range of integrations: Raycast connects with more modern tools and web services, offering greater extensibility.

  • More polished user interface: Raycast features a more visually appealing and user-friendly design.

Relative weaknesses of Raycast (compared to Alfred)

  • Higher cost: Raycast's pro features come at a monthly cost, while Alfred's core functions are accessible for free.

  • Steeper learning curve: Raycast's advanced features and scripting can be complex for new users.

  • Mac-only availability: Unlike Alfred, Raycast is exclusively available for macOS, limiting its accessibility.

Who is using Raycast and Alfred?

Tobias Liebsch
Partner The Growth Syndicate
Nilay Mody
Founder at Central (YC S24)
No data

Who should use Raycast VS. Alfred

Raycast is a powerful productivity tool for Mac users, especially developers, offering a centralized hub for apps, files, and information. It's like a highly customizable search bar integrated with popular tools such as Jira and GitHub. Raycast enables automation, window management, clipboard history, and AI assistance for tasks like email writing and question answering. It also offers themes and extensions for a personalized experience.

Alfred is a macOS app that boosts productivity by streamlining workflows. Users praise its speed and customizability, especially for launching apps and searching files. However, some find the paid Powerpack upgrade costly and workflow creation complex. With positive ratings and growing popularity, Alfred effectively enhances personal productivity but requires an investment for full functionality.

  • Ideal for small to medium-sized businesses (1-1000 employees), particularly in tech.

  • Best fit for software, IT, and telecommunications companies.

  • Ideal for individual users on macOS.

  • Suitable for users in any industry seeking enhanced productivity.

Raycast and Alfred features

Supported
Partially supported
Not supported
Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

  • Cloud storage integration
    Partially supported

    Raycast does not directly support cloud storage for diagrams, but integrations may be possible.

    Partially supported

    Diagrams can be stored indirectly via cloud storage integrations.

  • AI-powered assistance
    Supported

    Raycast offers AI features for tasks like asking questions, generating content, and explaining code.

    Not supported

    Alfred does not integrate AI into the operating system.

  • Unlimited clipboard history
    Supported

    Raycast offers unlimited clipboard history for Pro users.

    Not supported

    Alfred offers clipboard history for up to three months, not unlimited.

  • File sharing
    Not supported

    Raycast does not directly support file sharing.

    Not supported

    File sharing among team members is not a documented feature of Alfred.

  • Slack integration
    Supported

    Raycast offers extensive Slack integration via various extensions.

    Partially supported

    Alfred supports Slack indirectly via Zapier or custom workflows.

  • Progress tracking
    Partially supported

    Raycast might support progress tracking via third-party integrations like Trello and Asana.

    Partially supported

    Alfred supports progress tracking indirectly via third-party integrations.

Raycast and Alfred Pricing

Raycast offers a free plan for individuals and paid Team and Team Pro plans with additional collaboration features. A paid AI add-on is also available for all plans. Annual subscriptions offer a 20% discount.
Plans

See full Pricing page

Alfred offers a Single License and a Mega Supporter license for Alfred 5. Previous users can upgrade their Powerpack to Alfred 5. More information about license types is available on the website.
Plans

See full Pricing page

Raycast and Alfred review insights

Users love

No data

  • Fast application launching and file searching.
  • Easy to use and intuitive interface, a powerful replacement for Spotlight.
  • Customizable hotkeys and shortcuts for various actions.
  • Clipboard history and text expansion features are very useful.
  • Integrates well with other apps and websites, enhancing workflows.

Users dislike

No data

  • High cost for the Powerpack upgrade for advanced features.
  • Steep learning curve for creating custom workflows.
  • Limited search results displayed in the dropdown.
  • Resource intensive, can consume significant system resources.
  • Lack of extensive community support and slow development of plugins.

Raycast and Alfred Ratings

  • G2
    4.6/5
    (12)
  • G2
    4.5/5
    (34)

Company health

Employee growth

27% increase in the last year
No change in the last year

Web traffic

39% increase in the last quarter
No data

Financing

August 2021 - $18M
No data

How accessible are Alfred's "Powerpack" features for non-programmers?

Alfred's Powerpack features, which enable custom workflows, require some technical understanding and are not readily accessible to non-programmers. While basic usage is straightforward, creating complex automations involves scripting and a learning curve. Users who are not comfortable with scripting or programming concepts may find it challenging to fully utilize the Powerpack's capabilities.

Which product offers better integration with third-party apps like Jira or GitHub?

Raycast offers better integration with third-party apps. Its description specifically mentions connectivity with popular tools like Jira, GitHub, and Google services. While Alfred allows for workflow automation, Raycast's explicit mention of these integrations suggests a more robust and readily available connection with those specific platforms.

What are the advantages of Raycast?

Raycast offers AI-powered assistance for tasks like code validation and content generation, a feature not available in Alfred. It also provides an unlimited clipboard history, while Alfred's clipboard history is limited in the free version. Finally, Raycast integrates with a wider range of third-party tools like Jira and GitHub, expanding its potential for workflow automation.

What are the disadvantages of Raycast?

Raycast's exclusive focus on macOS limits its accessibility for users on other operating systems. Some users have reported a steeper learning curve for utilizing its advanced features and extensions. While Raycast offers a free plan, its full potential is unlocked with the paid AI add-on, which can represent an additional cost compared to some alternative productivity tools.

Is Raycast cheaper than Alfred?

Raycast offers a free plan, while Alfred's free version is limited. Raycast's paid plans start at $8/month, while Alfred's single license is a one-time purchase of £34 (approximately $42). Therefore, determining which is "cheaper" depends on usage and the length of time Raycast is subscribed to. Over approximately 5 months of using the Pro version, Raycast would surpass the cost of a lifetime Alfred license.

Alternatives to Raycast and Alfred

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Page co-authored by
MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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