AltTab vs Raycast

AltTab

• People moving from Windows who miss switching between individual windows
• Mac users who keep many windows of the same app open
• Anyone who wants a free, open-source switcher with optional paid extras

Raycast

• Mac and Windows users who prefer the keyboard to the mouse
• Replacing separate clipboard, snippet and window utilities with one app
• Developers who want to build their own commands and extensions
• Teams that share snippets, quicklinks and internal extensions

AltTab

• macOS only; it runs on macOS 12 and later.
• Search, the App Icons and Titles styles, auto-sizing and more than two keyboard shortcuts require Pro once the 14-day trial ends.
• The $9.99 Pro license covers updates for the current major version only; future major updates need Pro Lifetime.
• It needs Accessibility permission, plus Screen Recording to show thumbnails, and thumbnails can look distorted under Stage Manager.

Raycast

• AI is not part of the free plan; Raycast AI, cloud sync and unlimited notes need Pro.
• The free plan keeps 3 months of clipboard history and allows 5 Raycast Notes.
• Top-tier AI models need the Plus or Max tier, at $20 or $50 a month.
• The Windows app does not yet have every macOS feature; Raycast says it is still bringing them across.

AltTab

Every window, not every app

The switcher lists individual windows, including minimized and hidden ones and those on other Spaces, each with a badge saying where it is.

Full-size preview

The selected window is shown at full size on top of everything else, so you can confirm it is the right one before switching.

Window controls in the switcher

Hovering a thumbnail lets you close the window, minimize it or send it full screen without switching to it first.

Custom shortcuts and filters

Almost any key combination can open the switcher, filtered by app, Space or screen. Pro allows up to 9 shortcuts, each with its own keys and filters.

Search and styles (Pro)

Pro finds a window by typing part of its title or app name, switches between thumbnails, app icons or a compact list of titles, and resizes previews to fit.

Trackpad gestures and command line

A three-finger swipe switches windows without the keyboard, and a command line lists and focuses windows from the terminal or scripts.

Raycast

Launcher with hotkeys and aliases

Open apps, search files and run commands from one keyboard-driven window, and assign hotkeys or aliases to the commands and apps you use most.

Extension store

Thousands of extensions for tools such as Linear, Slack, Notion and Spotify. The extension API lets anyone with web development skills build their own.

Clipboard history, snippets, quicklinks

Built-in utilities included in the free plan. Free keeps clipboard history for 3 months.

Window management

Window management commands are part of the free core features; creating custom window management commands needs Pro.

Raycast AI

Pro adds Quick AI and AI Chat on a monthly credit allowance. A browser extension for Safari, Chrome, Firefox and Chromium browsers passes the active tab to the AI.

Notes and iOS companion app

Raycast Notes captures quick thoughts: 5 notes on Free and unlimited on Pro. The iOS app carries AI, notes, snippets and quicklinks; syncing them across devices needs Pro.

AltTab

• AltTab (free)$0

  Window switching with thumbnails, live preview, Dark Mode, window controls and trackpad gestures. No account or registration needed.

• Pro$9.99

  one-time purchase, updates for the current major version

  Adds search, the App Icons and Titles styles, an auto-sizing switcher and up to 9 keyboard shortcuts. 3 devices per license.

• Pro Lifetime$24.99

  one-time purchase, every future update

  Everything in Pro plus all future major updates. 3 devices per license.

Raycast

• Free$0

  Core launcher features, thousands of extensions, custom extensions, 3 months of clipboard history and 5 Raycast Notes. No AI.

• Pro$96

  per year, or $10 / month billed monthly

  Raycast AI with 500 credits a month, cloud sync, dictation, translator, custom themes, unlimited notes and custom window management commands.

• Pro (Plus tier)$192

  per year, or $20 / month billed monthly

  Pro features with 3,000 AI credits a month and access to top-tier AI models.

• Pro (Max tier)$480

  per year, or $50 / month billed monthly

  Pro features with 7,500 AI credits a month and access to top-tier AI models.

• Teams Pro$144

  per user / year, or $15 / user / month billed monthly

  Pro for each member plus unlimited shared commands and a private store. Plus and Max tiers cost more; a free Teams plan caps sharing at 30 snippets and 30 quicklinks.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Teams Pro plus an AI Control Center and admin controls such as SAML/SCIM, domain capture, enforced 2FA and extension and IP allow-lists.

AltTab

• Lifetime license

  Pro Lifetime with every future update

  The $24.99 Pro Lifetime license is a one-time purchase that includes every future major update, where the $9.99 Pro license covers the current major version.

Raycast

• Annual discount

  Annual billing saves 20%

  Pro is $96 a year against $10 a month, which is $120 over twelve months. Teams Pro is $144 per user a year against $15 per user a month. Both work out 20% cheaper.

• Education

  50% off Pro for verified students

  Raycast's pricing FAQ says verified students get a 50% discount on the Pro plan through an application form.