Fluent vs Raycast
We give Fluent a 2.6 GPA and Raycast a 3.4, out of 4.0. Fluent grades higher on value for money. Raycast grades higher on the free plan, ease of use and platforms. They get the same grade on features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Fluent
Mac AI assistant that opens over any app with your own models
Raycast
Keyboard launcher with extensions, clipboard history and AI
How we grade them
| 2.6GPAFluentGood | 3.4GPARaycastVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A$49 once for one Mac, with lifetime upgrades and every feature in. That's a few months of a typical assistant subscription, paid a single time. Two Macs are $69. Model usage isn't part of it: you bring keys, an existing AI plan or local models. | BThe free app is the bargain. Pro is $96 a year, or $10 a month, and it's mostly AI plus sync. You can't buy sync without the AI, and the top AI models need the $20 tier. |
| Free plan and trial | CNo free plan. There's a 7-day free trial, and the listing doesn't say whether it needs a card. Buy it and change your mind, and you have a 14-day money-back guarantee. | ALauncher, clipboard history, snippets, window management and the whole extension store, all free, even at work. What's held back is AI, sync and notes past the first 5. |
| Features | AA Smart Panel over any app that picks up your selection, clipboard, tab or window. 38 ready-made actions you can customise and schedule, on-device dictation, and Council, where several models answer and review each other. It can act on Finder, Calendar and Reminders too. | AA launcher, clipboard manager, text expander and window manager in one. Add thousands of extensions for Linear, Slack, Notion, Spotify and the rest, or build your own. |
| Ease of use | CIt doesn't come with a model. So first you add an API key, sign in with a ChatGPT, Claude, Google AI or GitHub Copilot plan, or set up a local one. That's an account to wire in before it does anything. There's no rating on record to go by. | BPress a hotkey, type, hit Enter. That bit takes a minute. The rest is hotkeys, aliases and extensions you set up yourself, and some users say version 2 came with bugs. |
| Platforms and integrations | DMac only, on macOS 14.2 or later, and local MLX models need Apple silicon. Licences are per Mac. From there it does connect to plenty: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, OpenRouter, Ollama, LM Studio and MCP servers. | BMac, Windows, iPhone and iPad, plus a browser extension. No Android or Linux, and Raycast says the Windows app doesn't have every Mac feature yet. The extension API is a real plus. |
| Best for | AI help over any Mac app, on a one-time licence | running your computer from the keyboard |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Fluent and Raycast. How we grade
Where they differ
- Fluent starts at $49 one-time (Basic, 1 Mac, lifetime upgrades). Raycast starts at $96 / year, billed annually.
- Raycast has a free plan. Fluent does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Raycast lists Windows and iOS apps.
- Only Raycast lists a browser extension.
- Fluent can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Fluent also covers dictation, chat assistant and AI agents.
- Raycast also covers launcher, clipboard manager, window management and text expansion.
At a glance
| Fluent | Raycast | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free plan |
| Starts at | $49 one-time (Basic, 1 Mac, lifetime upgrades) | $96 / year, billed annually |
| Free plan | None | Core features such as clipboard history (kept 3 months), snippets, quicklinks, calculator and window management, the extension store, and up to 5 Raycast Notes. AI is not included. |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial; purchases also carry a 14-day money-back guarantee. | Free Pro trial for eligible new accounts; trial AI credits expire after 7 days |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Epic Bits | Raycast Technologies Ltd. |
| Price read from | fluentmac.app | raycast.com |
| Checked | Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Fluent
- Mac users who want AI help inside the app they are already in
- People who prefer a one-time license and their own API keys
- Rewriting, replying and summarizing with repeatable actions
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
Worth knowing
Fluent
- It is Mac only and requires macOS 14.2 or later; local MLX models need a Mac with Apple silicon.
- The license does not include model usage: you supply API keys, an existing AI subscription or local models.
- Licenses are per Mac: Basic covers one, Standard covers two, and Team pricing starts at three.
- The app checks its license online from time to time, so it needs a connection at least once a week.
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.
Key features
Fluent
- Smart Panel in any app
- A shortcut opens a panel over the current app with the selected text, clipboard, browser tab or window attached. Results can be inserted back, keeping the original formatting.
- Actions for repeated tasks
- 38 ready-made actions cover jobs such as rewriting, replying and summarizing. Actions can be customized with shortcuts and prompt variables, given their own model, and scheduled.
- Your choice of model
- Connects by API key to providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Mistral and OpenRouter, signs in with an existing ChatGPT, Claude, Google AI or GitHub Copilot plan, or runs local MLX models.
- Chat window and Council
- A separate chat window holds longer conversations and history. Council sends one question to several models, has them review each other's answers anonymously, and a chairman model writes the result.
- On-device voice dictation
- Press the dictation shortcut in any text field and the words appear as you speak, cleaned up by a local model that runs on the Mac.
- Integrations and Memory
- Built-in integrations, among them Finder, Calendar and Reminders, plus a directory of external MCP servers let a model act on the Mac. Memory about you and your files is kept on the Mac.
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.
Plans
Fluent
Basic$49
one-time, 1 Mac, lifetime upgrades
Every feature on one Mac, including dictation, MCP integrations, Memory, Council and local models, with support by Discord, email and forum.
Standard$69
one-time, 2 Macs, lifetime upgrades
The same features on two Macs. Shown as 30% less than $98, the price of two Basic licenses.
Team$29
per license, one-time, starting at 3 Macs
The same features for three or more Macs, shown as a 40% saving 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.
Ways to pay less
Fluent
- Lifetime license
One-time license with lifetime upgrades
Every Fluent license is bought once and includes lifetime upgrades, with no subscription: Basic is $49 for one Mac. A 14-day money-back guarantee applies.
- Education
Additional 30% off for education
Educational institutions, teachers and students can get an additional 30% discount by contacting Epic Bits by email.
- Other savings
Lower per-Mac price for two or more Macs
Standard covers two Macs for $69, shown as 30% less than two Basic licenses, and Team licenses are $29 each from three Macs, shown as a 40% saving.
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.
