What is Espanso?
Espanso is a free, open-source text expander written in Rust. It watches for trigger keywords as you type and replaces them with longer text, dates, emoji, images or the output of a script, in most applications. Snippets and settings are kept in YAML files on the computer, and community packages from the Espanso Hub add ready-made sets. It was created by Federico Terzi and is now maintained by a small team.
Espanso is free to use. See every plan
Good for
- 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
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
Espanso pricing
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- Free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license, with no paid version. The project accepts voluntary donations through PayPal.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Espanso | $0 | The complete text expander for Windows, macOS and Linux, including the search bar, forms, scripts and the package manager. |
Read from github.com on Oct 6, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Espanso before you buy.
Espanso alternatives
- Espanso vs TextExpander
Free plan · from $5/mo
- Espanso vs Text Blaze
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
- Espanso vs PhraseExpress
Free plan
- Espanso vs Typinator
Free trial · from $29.99/yr
- Espanso vs aText
Free plan · from $4.99/yr
Common questions
Is Espanso free?
Yes. Espanso is free to use. Free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license, with no paid version. The project accepts voluntary donations through PayPal.
How much does Espanso cost?
Espanso lists one plan. Espanso: $0. Prices were read from github.com on Oct 6, 2026.
What platforms does Espanso work on?
Espanso is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Espanso have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Espanso is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Espanso have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Espanso is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is Espanso open source?
Yes. Espanso is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes Espanso?
Espanso is made by Federico Terzi. It dates from 2019.
What are the alternatives to Espanso?
The closest alternatives to Espanso in our directory are TextExpander, Text Blaze, PhraseExpress, Typinator and aText. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Espanso.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 6, 2026.