Raycast vs Ueli
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Raycast
Keyboard launcher with extensions, clipboard history and AI
Where they differ
- Raycast starts at $96 / year, billed annually. Ueli is free.
- Only Raycast lists an iOS app.
- Only Raycast lists a browser extension.
- Only Ueli lists a Linux app.
- Ueli is open source, according to its own site.
- Raycast also covers clipboard manager, window management and text expansion.
- Ueli also covers calculator.
At a glance
| Raycast | Ueli | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $96 / year, billed annually | Free |
| Free plan | 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. | The whole app is free and open source under the MIT license, and its Microsoft Store listing is priced at 0. The website has a Sponsor link for supporting development. |
| Free trial | Free Pro trial for eligible new accounts; trial AI credits expire after 7 days | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Raycast Technologies Ltd. | Oliver Schwendener |
| Price read from | raycast.com | apps.microsoft.com |
| Checked | Oct 4, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Who each one suits
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
Ueli
- People who want the same launcher on Windows, macOS and Linux
- Windows users who want a free keyboard launcher from the Microsoft Store
- Users who prefer open-source software with no paid tier
Worth knowing
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.
Ueli
- The GitHub builds are unsigned, and not notarized on macOS, so Windows and macOS block them until the user allows the app manually.
- File search on Windows depends on Everything and its command-line interface being installed and running.
- Global hotkeys may not work under Wayland sessions on Linux; the README suggests binding a system shortcut to the ueli command.
- The DeepL Translator extension needs the user's own DeepL API key, which a free developer account provides.
Key features
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.
Ueli
- Application search
- Alt+Space shows or hides the search window. Type to filter, move through results with the arrow keys and press Enter to launch the selected item.
- Built-in extensions
- Extensions are switched on or off in the settings and include Browser Bookmarks, Web Search, Custom Web Search, DeepL Translator, Visual Studio Code, JetBrains Toolbox and System Settings.
- File search
- Searches files and folders using mdfind on macOS and Everything on Windows, where Everything and its command-line interface must be installed and running.
- Calculator and conversions
- Calculations and unit conversions such as 2 inch to cm run in the search field, and a currency extension converts amounts at current exchange rates. Enter copies the result.
- Favorites and additional actions
- Cmd+K on macOS or Ctrl+K on Windows and Linux opens further actions for a result, including Add to Favorites, which keeps that item first in the results.
- System commands
- Operating system commands such as shutdown, restart, sign out, lock and sleep can be searched for and run with Enter on Windows and macOS.
Plans
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.
Ueli
Ueli$0
The complete launcher with all built-in extensions, from the Microsoft Store or winget on Windows and from the GitHub releases page for macOS and Linux.
Ways to pay less
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.
Ueli
No public discounts listed.
