Espanso vs TextExpander
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
TextExpander
Text snippets that expand as you type, shared across a team
Where they differ
- Espanso is free. TextExpander starts at $5 per user / month, billed annually ($60).
- Only Espanso lists a Linux app.
- Only TextExpander lists an iOS app.
- Only TextExpander lists a browser extension.
- Espanso is open source, according to its own site.
At a glance
| Espanso | TextExpander | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $5 per user / month, billed annually ($60) |
| Free plan | Free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license, with no paid version. The project accepts voluntary donations through PayPal. | 5 active snippets with unlimited stored, 1 snippet swap every 2 weeks, sync across devices, and sharing with up to 5 team members across 3 teams. |
| Free trial | None listed | 30-day preview of paid features on sign-up, then the account moves to Free |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Federico Terzi | TextExpander, Inc. |
| Price read from | github.com | textexpander.com |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Espanso
- People who move between Windows, macOS and Linux and want one text expander
- Developers who want snippets that run shell commands or scripts
- Users who prefer snippets stored locally in plain files
TextExpander
- Support and sales teams that send the same replies many times a day
- Individuals who retype the same emails, addresses or code fragments
- Teams that need the same approved wording on Mac and Windows
Worth knowing
Espanso
- There is no graphical editor: snippets and settings are written in YAML files. The site says a GUI is planned.
- Sync is manual. The docs describe moving the configuration folder into a cloud folder such as Dropbox and linking to it.
- It supports Windows, macOS and Linux only; the installation page lists no mobile apps.
- Wayland support on Linux is labeled experimental in the project's README.
TextExpander
- The free plan keeps only 5 snippets active at a time, with 1 swap every 2 weeks.
- Pro is limited to 5 users; larger teams need Business at $10 per user a month billed annually.
- The download page lists Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad and a Chrome extension; no Android or Linux app is listed.
- Single sign-on starts on Business with Google only; other SSO providers and SCIM need Enterprise.
Key features
Espanso
- Keyword-triggered expansion
- Detects a trigger keyword as it is typed and replaces it in place, in most applications. Triggers can also be written as regular expressions.
- Search bar
- Pressing ALT+Space opens a search bar for finding and inserting a snippet when you do not remember its trigger.
- Dates, shell commands and scripts
- Snippets can insert past or future dates and the output of shell commands or custom scripts directly into the application being typed in.
- Forms
- A match can open a form with text fields, choice boxes and list boxes. The values entered fill the template and can be passed on to a script.
- Packages and Espanso Hub
- A built-in package manager installs community packages from the Espanso Hub, such as emoji, accents, mathematical symbols and HTML snippets.
- File-based, app-specific configuration
- Matches and options are defined in YAML files, and separate configuration files can change or disable behavior for individual applications.
TextExpander
- Snippets and abbreviations
- Save text you type often as a snippet, then insert it by typing its abbreviation or by searching snippet titles and content inline.
- Fill-ins and dynamic content
- Snippets can prompt for fill-in-the-blank fields and nest other snippets. Date and time math and JavaScript snippets are part of the paid plans.
- Rich text snippets
- Snippets can carry images, fonts, colors and links, or take on the formatting of the place where they expand.
- Shared snippet groups
- Share groups of snippets with a team and set who can view, edit or manage them. Free and Pro allow 5 team members; Business removes the limit.
- AI Recommendations
- In the Chrome extension, TextExpander suggests relevant snippets from your library based on what you are working on.
- Statistics
- Reports snippets expanded and an estimate of hours and dollars saved. Organization-wide statistics come with Business and Enterprise.
Plans
Espanso
Espanso$0
The complete text expander for Windows, macOS and Linux, including the search bar, forms, scripts and the package manager.
TextExpander
Free$0
5 active snippets, unlimited stored snippets, 1 snippet swap every 2 weeks, and up to 5 team members across 3 teams.
Pro$5
per user / month, billed annually ($60), or $6 billed monthly
Unlimited active snippets for up to 5 users, unlimited teams, and dynamic content such as date math and JavaScript snippets.
Business$10
per user / month, billed annually ($120), or $12 billed monthly
Unlimited team members, organization statistics, 7 days of snippet activity history, Google SSO and guest sharing.
EnterpriseCustom
Business features plus advanced security and admin controls, unlimited activity history, all SSO providers with SCIM, and custom reporting.
Ways to pay less
Espanso
No public discounts listed.
TextExpander
- Annual discount
Two months free with annual billing
Pro is $60 per user a year when billed annually, against $6 per user a month on monthly billing. Business is $120 a year against $12 a month.
