PCalc vs Raycast (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, PCalc grades higher than Raycast: 3.0 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 9, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
PCalc grades higher on value for money and ease of use. Raycast grades higher on the free plan and features. They get the same grade on platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
PCalc
Scientific calculator for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch
Raycast
Keyboard launcher with extensions, clipboard history and AI
Which one is for you
Pick PCalc if
- Fits if you want an RPN or programmer calculator on your Apple devices
- Works for people who convert units or switch number bases often
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you use Windows or Android, as there is no version for either
- Pricey if you want both: Mac and iOS are separate $9.99 purchases
- Tight if you want a free Mac version, since only Lite exists, on iPhone, iPad and Watch
- Watch out: the vendor's pages give different minimum macOS versions, so check the App Store listing
Pick Raycast if
- Fits if you'd rather type two letters than hunt for an app with the mouse
- Works for people who paste the same things all day and want clipboard, snippets and windows in one free app
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you're on Linux or Android, because there's no Raycast for either, and no web app
- Pricey if AI is the main draw, since it needs Pro at $96 a year and the top models need the $20-a-month tier
- Tight if you want your setup synced between computers, as sync is Pro only and you can't buy it without the AI
- Not for you if you want a launcher on your phone, as the iPhone app is mostly AI and notes
- Watch out: the Windows app lacks some Mac features, and users say version 2 brought bugs and heavier memory use
How we grade them
| 3.0GPAPCalcVery good | 2.8GPARaycastGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A$9.99 once for Mac and $9.99 once for iPhone, iPad and Watch, each under a year of this category's middle subscription. Prices vary by country. | CThe free app costs nothing, at work too. Pro is where the money is: $96 a year, or $10 a month, against the $2.99 a month utilities here charge in the middle. You can't buy sync without the AI, and the top models need the $20 tier. |
| Free plan and trial | CPCalc Lite is free on iPhone, iPad and Watch with in-app purchases, but the Mac app has no free version. | BThe launcher, clipboard history, snippets, window management and the whole extension store are free, even commercially. The caps are real though: 3 months of clipboard history, 5 notes, no AI and no sync between devices. |
| Features | BProgrammer modes, RPN, conversions, a button layout editor, a menu bar widget, Handoff and scripting. The listing names no gap in the core job. | AA launcher, clipboard manager, text expander, calculator and window manager in one, and then thousands of extensions for Linear, Slack, Notion and Spotify, with an API for writing your own. No other launcher here brings a store and an extension API with it. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating is on record, but you open it and press keys with nothing to set up. | CNo rating on record we can lean on, and the setup is yours to do: hotkeys, aliases and extensions all get picked by you. Press a hotkey, type, hit Enter is a minute's work, but some users say version 2 arrived with bugs and heavier memory use. |
| Platforms and integrations | BMac, iPhone, iPad, Watch and Vision Pro, with Shortcuts and AppleScript. No Windows, Android or web. | BMac, Windows, iPhone and iPad, plus a browser extension and a real extension API. No Android or Linux, no web app, and Raycast says the Windows app doesn't have every Mac feature yet. |
| Best for | a scientific and programmer calculator on Apple devices | 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: PCalc and Raycast. How we grade
Where they differ
- PCalc can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- PCalc also covers menu bar app and calculator.
- Raycast also covers launcher, clipboard manager, window management and text expansion.
At a glance
| PCalc | Raycast | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $9.99 one-time | $96 / year, billed annually |
| Free plan | PCalc Lite: a free version for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch; the extra features of the full app can be bought inside it, individually or all at once. | 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 | None listed | Free Pro trial for eligible new accounts; trial AI credits expire after 7 days |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | TLA Systems Ltd. | Raycast Technologies Ltd. |
| Price read from | pcalc.com | raycast.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Worth knowing
PCalc
- Apple platforms only; there is no Windows, Android or web version.
- The Mac and iPhone/iPad purchases are separate.
- The vendor's pages give different minimum macOS versions (macOS 12 on one page, OS X 10.13 on another), so check the App Store listing.
- The developer notes the App Store has no demos, which is why the Lite version exists.
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
PCalc
- Programmer modes
- Hexadecimal, octal and binary modes with bitwise operators.
- RPN mode
- Optional reverse Polish notation with one-button access to the stack.
- Conversions and functions
- A large set of unit conversions, plus editable user conversions, functions and constants that sync across devices.
- Button layout editor
- On the Mac, build your own calculator layout and sync it with iPhone and iPad.
- Menu bar widget
- The Mac version has a menu bar widget for quick calculations.
- Handoff and scripting
- Hands off in-progress calculations between Mac, iOS, visionOS and watchOS; the Mac app supports AppleScript and Shortcuts.
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
PCalc
PCalc Lite$0
Free app for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch with in-app purchases for the full app's features.
PCalc for iPhone, iPad and Watch$9.99
one-time, US price; covers iPad, iPhone, Vision Pro and Watch
Full app sold through the App Store; prices vary by country.
PCalc for Mac$9.99
one-time, US price; separate from the iOS purchase
Mac App Store purchase with a menu bar widget, multiple calculators and a button layout editor.
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
PCalc
No public discounts listed.
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.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, PCalc or Raycast?
As of Nov 13, 2026, PCalc starts at $9.99 one-time, and Raycast starts at $96 / year, billed annually.
Which has a free plan, PCalc or Raycast?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both PCalc and Raycast have a free plan.
Which platforms do PCalc and Raycast run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Raycast lists a Windows app and a browser extension. Both list macOS and iOS apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.