LaunchBar vs Raycast

LaunchBar

• Mac users who want to keep their hands on the keyboard
• People who prefer a launcher license bought once over a subscription
• Scripters who extend their launcher with AppleScript or JavaScript 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

LaunchBar

• macOS only. Version 6.24 runs on macOS Tahoe and is also compatible with Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura and Monterey.
• Without a license, LaunchBar occasionally interrupts with an invitation to take a short break.
• Prices are shown in euros; the vendor's shop gave no US dollar price when it was read.
• The Family License is limited to one household and non-commercial use, and a Single License does not cover several users on several computers.

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.

LaunchBar

Adaptive abbreviation search

Finds apps, documents and other items from short acronyms of their names, such as SP for System Preferences. The ranking of results adapts to your usage.

Clipboard History and ClipMerge

Recently copied items stay available, with a paste-as-plain-text option and an ignore list for sensitive data. Pressing Command-C twice merges successive copies into one clip.

Send To and Instant Send

Tab sends the selected item to an app, a folder, an email contact or a search template. Holding Command-Space sends a file or text selection from another app to LaunchBar.

File browsing and operations

Navigate the file system with the arrow keys, including inside packages, and move, rename, compress or tag files and create folders from the keyboard.

Calendar, Reminders and Contacts

Create calendar events and reminders with live feedback on what will be created, and reach contacts to start an email or look up a phone number or address.

Scriptable actions

Custom actions can be written in JavaScript, AppleScript, Ruby, Python, PHP and other languages with the built-in Action Editor, or installed from other users.

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.

LaunchBar

• Free use0 €

  LaunchBar 6 without a license. It keeps working after the 30-day trial but occasionally asks you to take a short break.

• Single License35 €

  one-time purchase, license for LaunchBar 6

  Either one user on multiple computers or multiple users on one computer, but not multiple users on multiple computers.

• Family License59 €

  one-time purchase, license for LaunchBar 6

  Up to 5 computers at a time that belong to one household. Non-commercial use only.

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.

LaunchBar

• Other savings

  Reduced-price upgrades for existing licenses

  The order page offers upgrades at a reduced price: owners enter their license key to check which upgrade options are available.

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.