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Raycast Feature Explorer

Search the features that could be checked against publisher documentation. Open a card for platforms, plan limits, and an example.

Product facts on this page were checked against publisher documentation on . Software changes. Confirm important details with the publisher before you rely on them.

A platform appears only when a cited page supports the note. A missing Windows line is not proof the feature is absent.

Calculator

Search & Navigation

Calculate, convert units and currency, and do date math from the search field.

  • macOS
  • Windows
Feature details for Calculator

The calculator manual and the quickstart describe typing a calculation, conversion, date question, or currency question into Root Search rather than opening a separate calculator app. The billing manual names Calculator as a Free feature.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. Included in the desktop quickstart.
Windows
Documented. The Windows product page shows currency-style expressions in the launcher.

Plan or access

Listed with Raycast Free on the billing manual.

Limitations

  • Currency conversion needs current rate data. This site does not document an offline currency source.
  • Results are a convenience calculation. They are not tax, payroll, or engineering advice.

Practical uses

  • Convert a price while reading a message.
  • Add a percentage without opening another app.
  • Check a date difference.

Example

Illustrative example: typing a currency expression into Root Search, as the Windows product page demonstrates with a euro calculation. That image is Raycast's marketing example, not a RaycastWork test.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

Emoji and Symbols

Search & Navigation

Search emoji, flags, and symbols by name or custom keyword, with optional AI results.

  • macOS
  • Windows
Feature details for Emoji and Symbols

The Emoji and Symbols manual describes finding an emoji, flag, or Unicode symbol by name, by a custom keyword, or with natural-language AI Results, then pasting it into the focused field. The billing manual lists the Emoji Picker with Free features. AI Results are an AI feature, and AI is not included with Free.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. The quickstart includes Search Emoji and Symbols as an everyday essential.
Windows
Documented. The manual index presents the feature for the current Raycast app, which documents Windows shortcuts throughout desktop features.

Plan or access

The picker itself is listed as free. Natural-language AI Results require Raycast AI.

Limitations

  • A custom keyword is only useful if you remember the keyword you chose.
  • AI lookup is unavailable on the Free plan and consumes the AI access rules of a paid plan.

Practical uses

  • Paste a symbol without opening a character viewer.
  • Attach a short keyword to an emoji you use in reviews.

Example

Illustrative example: searching for a flag by its country name and pasting it into a chat field. This describes the documented interaction, not a measured workflow study.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

System Commands

Search & Navigation

Run documented system actions such as lock, sleep, and restart from Raycast.

  • macOS
  • Windows
Feature details for System Commands

The System Commands manual describes controlling the computer from Raycast, including locking the screen, sleep, restart, emptying the trash, toggling Wi-Fi, and other system actions. The exact list follows the host operating system. Empty Trash is macOS language. This record does not assume every named action exists on Windows.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. The manual overview includes trash and other Mac-oriented actions.
Windows
Partial or narrower. The feature is part of the shared manual. Confirm the Windows command list in the app, because several examples use macOS wording.

Plan or access

System actions are not named in the paid-only list on the billing page. This site still does not label every system command as free, because the billing examples are not an exhaustive inventory.

Limitations

  • Destructive actions such as emptying a trash still do what the operating system does.
  • A command that is missing on your system should be treated as unavailable, not as a site error to work around.

Practical uses

  • Lock the screen when stepping away.
  • Sleep the computer without using the mouse.

Example

Illustrative example: searching for a lock command at the end of the day. Confirm the command name on your operating system before relying on it.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

Windows Run Replacement

Search & Navigation

Launch Windows apps, paths, Control Panel items, and shell URIs by name.

  • Windows
Feature details for Windows Run Replacement

The Run manual describes replacing the Windows Run dialog with Raycast so a person can launch apps, Control Panel applets, MMC snap-ins, paths, and shell URIs by name. This is a Windows-specific entry in the manual.

Platform notes

Windows
Documented. The manual presents Run as a Windows dialog replacement.

Plan or access

Documented as part of Raycast on Windows. No separate paid label was published on the Run overview used for this record.

Limitations

  • It is not a macOS feature in the manual page reviewed.
  • Shell URIs and snap-ins still depend on what Windows has installed.

Practical uses

  • Open a known Windows path from the launcher.
  • Reach a Control Panel applet by name.

Example

Illustrative example: typing a folder path that you already know. The manual says an Open in File Explorer style action exists for paths in File Search; Run is the Windows dialog replacement.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

Game Search

Search & Navigation

Find installed PC games from supported libraries and silence hotkeys while playing.

  • Windows
Feature details for Game Search

The Games manual describes launching PC games from Raycast, with discovery for stores including Steam, Epic, and GOG, plus Game Mode to silence hotkeys during play. The Windows product page also names Steam, Epic Games, Battle.net, and GeForce Now. Store coverage can change, so the in-app list is the one that matters on a given PC.

Platform notes

Windows
Documented. Both the Games manual and the Windows product page describe PC game libraries.

Plan or access

Documented for the Windows app. This record does not claim a Mac game launcher.

Limitations

  • A game appears only if Raycast can detect that library.
  • Game Mode changes hotkey behavior while it is on. Turn it off when you need those shortcuts again.

Practical uses

  • Launch a game without opening each store client first.
  • Avoid launcher hotkeys firing during a game.

Example

Illustrative example: searching for a title installed through Steam. This site did not inventory a personal game library.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

Quick AI

AI & Assistance

Ask a one-off question from Root Search and read the answer in the same window.

  • macOS
  • Windows
  • iOS
Feature details for Quick AI

The quickstart says to press Tab from Root Search for Quick AI when you want a short question, and to open AI Chat for a longer conversation. The Windows product FAQ says Quick AI and AI Chat need an internet connection. The billing manual states that AI features are not included with Raycast Free. Paid plans include monthly AI credits. The AI credits manual says credits apply to inference provided by Raycast, not to models you bring yourself.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. The AI manual describes Raycast AI on Mac, Windows, and iOS.
Windows
Documented. Quick AI is documented, and the Windows FAQ says it needs a network connection.
iOS
Documented. The iOS manual index includes AI on iPhone and iPad.

Plan or access

Locked to paid plans, or to the Pro trial described on the billing page. The trial includes Pro models and 500 credits, not the top-tier models reserved for Pro+ and Max.

Limitations

  • Answers can be wrong. Use them as a draft or a lead, then check primary sources.
  • Credit use depends on the model and the length of the task. The manual does not promise a fixed number of questions per month.
  • Screen context is a separate Screen Awareness feature. A normal Quick AI question does not automatically include your screen.

Practical uses

  • Ask for a definition while staying in the launcher.
  • Draft a short reply you will edit before sending.

Example

Illustrative example: pressing Tab, asking for a checklist of questions to raise in a meeting, and editing the result. The checklist is untrusted until a person reviews it.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

AI Chat

AI & Assistance

Keep a longer AI conversation with history, attachments, and selectable models.

  • macOS
  • Windows
Feature details for AI Chat

The AI Chat manual describes an ongoing conversation with history, memory, attachments, agents, and tools. The quickstart says you can switch models during a conversation and return later. Chat history is one of the Cloud Sync categories on paid plans. Clipboard History can send an entry to AI Chat, and File Search can attach a file. Those connections still require AI access.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. Documented in the current AI manual and quickstart.
Windows
Documented. The AI manual includes Windows. The Windows marketing page has also described AI Chat while the product was catching up to macOS, so confirm the build you have.

Plan or access

Requires a paid Raycast AI plan or the limited Pro trial. Free does not include AI.

Limitations

  • Attachments and screen context may send the contents you select to the AI provider Raycast uses. Read Raycast's own AI privacy page before attaching private files.
  • Chat history sync requires Cloud Sync, a paid account, and that category to be enabled.
  • Top-tier models are a Pro+ and Max distinction in the billing table, not a part of the Pro trial.

Practical uses

  • Revise a draft across several follow-up prompts.
  • Ask questions about a file you explicitly attach.

Example

Illustrative example: attaching a text file you are allowed to share and asking for a shorter version. Do not treat the shorter version as a substitute for the source.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

AI Commands

AI & Assistance

Turn a prompt you repeat into a command you can run from the keyboard.

  • macOS
  • Windows
  • iOS
Feature details for AI Commands

The AI Commands manual describes saving a prompt so a rewrite, translation, summary, or custom instruction can run as a command. Commands can be shared in a team according to the shared-features manual index. They also appear as a Cloud Sync category.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. Part of the current AI manual.
Windows
Documented. The AI manual covers Windows. Confirm the command is installed on that computer.
iOS
Partial or narrower. The iOS manual index includes AI Commands from the Raycast keyboard and the share extension.

Plan or access

AI Commands require Raycast AI, which is paid. Creating a command does not remove the credit or model limits of the plan.

Limitations

  • A saved prompt still produces model output that a person should review.
  • The command only exists on devices where it is installed or synced.

Practical uses

  • Rewrite selected text in a tone you specified once.
  • Summarize text you paste into the command.

Example

Illustrative example: a command named Tighten that asks for a shorter paragraph. The result still needs an editor.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

Dictation

AI & Assistance

Speak and have Raycast insert transcribed text in the app you are using.

  • macOS
  • Windows
  • iOS
Feature details for Dictation

The Dictation manual describes pressing, speaking, and pasting transcribed text where you are working. The billing manual lists Dictation among paid-plan features, together with Translator, Cloud Sync, and custom themes. Enterprise organizations can disable Dictation, according to the manual index.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. Included in the paid desktop feature list and the Dictation manual.
Windows
Documented. The billing manual says paid plans apply across macOS, Windows, and iOS. Confirm the microphone permission on Windows.
iOS
Documented. The iOS manual index includes Dictation.

Plan or access

Paid plans only, based on the billing manual. It is not listed with Raycast Free.

Limitations

  • Transcription quality depends on speech, microphone, and the language you are using. This site does not publish a language matrix.
  • Dictated text can include mistakes. Read it before you send it.
  • A workplace Enterprise policy may turn Dictation off.

Practical uses

  • Draft a note when typing is inconvenient.
  • Capture a short message for later editing.

Example

Illustrative example: dictating a reminder into a note and correcting names afterward. The correction step is part of using the feature responsibly.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

Translate

AI & Assistance

Translate text between languages from Raycast. The billing manual lists Translator on paid plans.

  • macOS
  • Windows
Feature details for Translate

The Translate manual describes translating text, switching source and target languages, and copying the result. The billing page uses the name Translator and places it with paid features such as Dictation and Cloud Sync. This site treats those names as the same documented translation feature. If Raycast later splits them, the billing page should win on price and the Translate manual should win on interaction.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. Translate is a core-feature page in the current manual.
Windows
Documented. The manual presents Translate for the current app. Confirm it is in your Windows build.

Plan or access

Paid, according to the billing manual. Not part of the Free examples.

Limitations

  • Machine translation can miss tone and technical terms.
  • Do not send confidential text to a translation feature until you have read Raycast's current privacy notice.

Practical uses

  • Translate a short message before you reply in your own words.
  • Check the meaning of a paragraph written in another language.

Example

Illustrative example: pasting a product question and translating it, then asking a fluent speaker to confirm the wording before it is sent to a customer.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

Your Own Models

AI & Assistance

Connect an API key, a local Ollama model, or another provider. Raycast v2 requires Pro for these paths.

  • macOS
  • Windows
Feature details for Your Own Models

The manual documents local models through Ollama, Bring Your Own Key for Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, or OpenRouter, and custom providers. The local-models overview says this path does not spend Raycast AI credits and that the local request does not leave the machine. The Windows changelog for Raycast v2 says Custom Providers, Local Models, and Bring Your Own Key require a Raycast Pro subscription. The AI credits page says credits apply to Raycast-provided inference, while models you bring follow the other provider's limits.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. Local and bring-your-own options are in the shared AI manual.
Windows
Documented. The Windows changelog states the Pro requirement for these v2 options.

Plan or access

A paid subscription is required for these connection methods on v2, even when the model host bills you separately or when a local model spends no Raycast credits.

Limitations

  • A local model still needs the local runtime installed and enough hardware to run it.
  • An API key is a secret. Raycast's Cloud Sync manual says credentials are not synced. Do not put a key in a snippet or note.
  • Provider names and model lists change. Confirm the current connectors in the manual.

Practical uses

  • Use a company-approved API endpoint.
  • Run an open model locally when a task should stay on the computer.

Example

Illustrative example: a developer connects a local model for a private draft. This site did not benchmark that model.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

Aliases and Hotkeys

Keyboard Productivity

Open a command with a short alias or a global hotkey instead of searching for it every time.

  • macOS
  • Windows
Feature details for Aliases and Hotkeys

The aliases manual describes assigning an alias or a hotkey to a command. The quickstart walks through the action panel path: Configure Command, then Set Hotkey. Clipboard History, Notes, window commands, and Focus all point people toward the same shortcut settings. A hotkey is global in the sense that the manual describes triggering commands without first opening search.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. Shortcuts are configured from the action panel or Settings.
Windows
Documented. The quickstart and feature manuals use Windows modifiers such as Ctrl and Alt beside the Mac shortcuts.

Plan or access

Configuring shortcuts is part of the core app. The command you bind may itself require a paid plan, as with AI commands.

Limitations

  • A hotkey that another app already uses will conflict. The person has to choose which app owns the keys.
  • Importing settings from Raycast v1 can disable the old app's shortcuts so they do not fire twice. That behavior is documented on Raycast's v2 requirements page.
  • This site does not publish one official default hotkey.

Practical uses

  • Open Clipboard History with one shortcut.
  • Give a frequent Quicklink an alias of a few letters.

Example

Illustrative example: binding Toggle Focus Session to a hotkey after the session settings are already right. The Focus manual recommends that pattern.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

Action Panel

Keyboard Productivity

Open the list of actions for the selected result with Command-K or Ctrl-K.

  • macOS
  • Windows
Feature details for Action Panel

The action panel is how Raycast shows contextual actions. The quickstart uses Command-K on macOS and Ctrl-K on Windows. File Search, Clipboard History, Notes, and Window Management all send people to that panel for secondary actions such as saving a Quicklink, pinning an item, or setting a hotkey.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. Command-K opens the panel in the quickstart.
Windows
Documented. Ctrl-K opens the panel in the quickstart.

Plan or access

Core interaction. Available actions still depend on the selected item and on plan limits.

Limitations

  • The panel does not invent an action the selected extension did not provide.
  • Keyboard labels differ by operating system. A Mac shortcut card will not match a Windows keyboard.

Practical uses

  • Set a hotkey without opening the full settings window first.
  • Choose a secondary file action such as Quick Look or copy.

Example

Illustrative example: selecting a file result and opening the panel to save it as a Quicklink, which the File Search manual lists as an action.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

Hyper Key

Keyboard Productivity

Turn Caps Lock, a function key, or one modifier into a shortcut layer.

  • macOS
  • Windows
Feature details for Hyper Key

The Hyper Key manual describes a dedicated modifier layer so shortcuts do not collide with shortcuts you already use. The overview names Caps Lock, a function key, or a single modifier as the key you can reassign. This record stays at that overview because shortcut conflicts are specific to each keyboard.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. Hyper Key is a power-feature page in the current manual.
Windows
Partial or narrower. Confirm the Windows control in the Hyper Key manual before remapping a key. This site does not assume the Mac instructions transfer key for key.

Plan or access

Not listed in the paid-only examples on the billing page. Confirm inside the app if a build treats it differently.

Limitations

  • Remapping Caps Lock changes a key you may still want for capital letters.
  • A Hyper Key shortcut can still collide with an operating-system shortcut.

Practical uses

  • Give window commands a modifier that your apps do not already use.

Example

Illustrative example: reading the Hyper Key page and testing one shortcut in a text editor before remapping anything global. That caution is editorial, not a Raycast requirement.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

Raycast Notes

Keyboard Productivity

Capture Markdown notes in a small window, with five notes on the Free plan.

  • macOS
  • Windows
  • iOS
Feature details for Raycast Notes

Raycast Notes includes commands to toggle the notes window, create a note, and search notes. The first line becomes the title. Formatting can use Markdown, a slash menu, or shortcuts that the manual lists separately for macOS and Windows. Notes can be pinned. Deleted notes go to Recently Deleted first. The billing manual includes five notes with Free and unlimited notes with paid plans. Notes are a Cloud Sync category.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. The Notes manual publishes Mac shortcuts and an optional menu-bar button.
Windows
Documented. The same manual publishes Windows shortcuts such as Ctrl-B for bold and Alt-N as a commonly used hotkey example.
iOS
Documented. The iOS manual index includes Notes. Cloud Sync v2 for iOS is described as not yet available.

Plan or access

Five notes on Free. Unlimited notes on paid plans, according to billing. Sync across computers requires Cloud Sync.

Limitations

  • Only one note is visible at a time. This is a capture pad, not a full knowledge base.
  • The five-note Free limit is a product limit, not a suggestion.
  • Notes are not a system of record for regulated documents.

Practical uses

  • Write a meeting scratchpad and search it later.
  • Keep a pinned checklist of today's tasks.

Example

Illustrative example: assigning Alt-N, capturing three bullets, and pinning that note. The hotkey is the manual's common example, not a requirement.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

Window Management

Window Management

Move and resize the focused window with commands such as Left Half and Maximize.

  • macOS
  • Windows
Feature details for Window Management

The Window Management manual documents commands for halves, quarters, thirds, sixths, center, maximize, restore, move between displays, and exact pixel sizes. On a Mac, moving between Spaces and several Stage Manager notes are included. On Windows, virtual-desktop commands and an option to close empty desktops are included. macOS requires Accessibility permission, which the manual says is renamed Device Control and Data Access on macOS 27. The billing manual lists Window Management with Free and Custom Window Management with paid plans.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. Needs the Accessibility permission. Some commands target macOS Spaces and Stage Manager.
Windows
Documented. The manual includes a Windows section for virtual desktops. Snap-style dividers are described for tiled layouts.

Plan or access

Built-in window commands are in the Free examples. Creating your own commands and layouts is the paid Custom Window Management feature.

Limitations

  • A command cannot place a window the operating system refuses to resize.
  • With Stage Manager, the manual says a layout may only show the top window unless apps are grouped.
  • Custom commands do not support window gaps.

Practical uses

  • Put two documents side by side.
  • Move a window to the next display.
  • Return a window to a reasonable size.

Example

Illustrative example: assigning a hotkey to Left Half and another to Right Half. The manual recommends hotkeys for the commands you repeat.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

Custom Window Layouts

Window Management

Save your own window sizes and multi-window layouts. Billing lists this as a paid feature.

  • macOS
  • Windows
Feature details for Custom Window Layouts

Create Command and Create Layout are documented in the Window Management manual. A layout can place up to eight windows on a display and can open a Quicklink, file, URL, or command-line arguments with an app. Save Current Layout captures the windows already on screen. Custom commands support deeplinks. The billing manual names Custom Window Management as a paid-plan feature, distinct from the Window Management examples on the Free plan.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. Layouts are in the Window Management manual, with a Stage Manager caveat.
Windows
Documented. The manual describes tiled layouts using Windows snapping behavior. The Windows marketing page has also listed custom window management among areas still being filled in, so confirm your build.

Plan or access

Paid, based on the billing manual's Custom Window Management item.

Limitations

  • Closing other windows goes through the app, so unsaved-work prompts can still appear.
  • Layout deeplinks only open a layout that already exists.
  • A layout is only as current as the apps installed on that computer.

Practical uses

  • Reopen a writing arrangement of editor and browser.
  • Size a window to an exact pixel size for a screenshot.

Example

Illustrative example: saving the current two-window arrangement and naming it Writing. This is a documented capability, not a template shipped by RaycastWork.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

Extension Store

Extensions

Install community extensions that match your operating system, or build one with the public API.

  • macOS
  • Windows
Feature details for Extension Store

The Extensions manual says Raycast includes built-in extensions and thousands more in the Store. The Store can be searched by name, command, keyword, or category, and it shows extensions compatible with the operating system you are using. Raycast's Windows page says the API is cross-platform and that extensions without native code can run on both desktops, while native extensions depend on community ports. Developers build extensions with React and TypeScript. AI Extensions let a paid AI session call tools the extension exposes.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. The Store filters to extensions compatible with the current Mac.
Windows
Partial or narrower. Compatible extensions appear in the Store. An extension that needs native Mac code may be absent on Windows.

Plan or access

Browsing, installing, and creating extensions are included with Free in the billing manual. AI Extensions require Raycast AI. A Teams private store is an organization feature.

Limitations

  • RaycastWork does not review individual extensions. An extension is third-party software with its own data practices.
  • An extension can ask you to sign in to another service. That login is with that service, not with this website.
  • Enterprise allow-lists, documented in the manual index, can block an extension even if it is public in the Store.

Practical uses

  • Search a work tracker without opening a browser tab first.
  • Install one well-scoped tool instead of a large suite.

Example

Illustrative example: the quickstart suggests trying a GIF extension if you want a harmless first install. Pick an extension whose publisher you recognize.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

Clipboard History

Clipboard & Snippets

Search text, images, files, links, colors, and emails you copied, within a retention window.

  • macOS
  • Windows
Feature details for Clipboard History

Clipboard History records copied text, images, files, links, emails, and colors. You can filter by type, paste as plain text, pin or rename an entry, and exclude apps such as password managers. Retention choices documented on the manual are 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and, on Pro, 6 months, 1 year, or unlimited. Longer Pro retention is not turned on automatically. Cloud Sync does not sync clipboard history. Universal Clipboard capture is described for Apple devices.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. Includes the Universal Clipboard setting described for Mac, iPhone, and iPad copies.
Windows
Documented. The manual publishes Ctrl shortcuts for clipboard actions. Universal Clipboard is an Apple feature and is not described as a Windows behavior.

Plan or access

Clipboard History is a Free feature. Retention beyond 3 months is marked Pro. Unlimited history is part of the paid plan description on the billing page.

Limitations

  • Anything you copy can enter the history unless that app is excluded. Exclude password managers and banking apps.
  • History is local. Signing in does not copy it to another computer through Cloud Sync.
  • Sending an entry to AI Chat is an AI action and follows AI plan limits and privacy terms.

Practical uses

  • Paste a link you copied earlier in the day.
  • Recover a paragraph after an accidental overwrite.

Example

Illustrative example: copying two product names, then pasting the earlier one from history. Set a short retention period if the copies are sensitive.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

Snippets

Clipboard & Snippets

Expand a short keyword into saved text, with optional dynamic placeholders.

  • macOS
  • Windows
  • iOS
Feature details for Snippets

Snippets store text you can search, copy, or expand by typing a keyword in another app. The manual documents dynamic placeholders for values such as clipboard contents, dates, cursor position, and calculations. Search Snippets can filter by tag and pin frequent items. The billing manual lists Snippets with Free. Teams Free sharing is capped.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. Expansion and Search Snippets are in the Snippets manual.
Windows
Documented. The Windows product page describes keyword expansion, and the manual uses Windows shortcuts for related text features.
iOS
Partial or narrower. The iOS manual index includes Snippets from the Raycast keyboard.

Plan or access

Included with Free for personal use. Teams Free sharing is capped, and Raycast's billing manual and pricing FAQ do not describe that cap the same way. Paid plans add unlimited shared snippets and Quicklinks.

Limitations

  • A keyword that appears in normal typing can expand by surprise. Choose a distinctive keyword.
  • A snippet is stored text. Do not put passwords or API keys in one.
  • Placeholders insert values. They do not check whether the sentence is appropriate to send.

Practical uses

  • Insert an address or a standard introduction.
  • Paste a code comment template with today's date.

Example

Illustrative example: a keyword ;addr expands to a mailing address. The keyword is an illustration, not a built-in snippet.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

Script Commands

Developer Workflows

Run a local script as a Raycast command, with different runtimes on Mac and Windows.

  • macOS
  • Windows
Feature details for Script Commands

Script Commands wrap a script with a short metadata header so Raycast can search and hotkey it. On macOS the manual lists AppleScript, shell, Python, Node.js, Ruby, PHP, and Swift. On Windows it lists interpreters on PATH, including PowerShell, C#, Python, Node.js, and Bash under WSL or Git Bash. The first macOS permission prompt should be granted to Raycast, not to Terminal. Cloud Sync syncs script settings, not the script files themselves.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. AppleScript and Swift templates are Mac-specific in the manual.
Windows
Documented. PowerShell execution policy can block a .ps1 script until you change it knowingly.

Plan or access

The billing manual includes developer tooling with Free. A script you write can call anything your user account can call. That power is yours, not a RaycastWork feature.

Limitations

  • A script from the internet should be read before it is imported.
  • Windows execution policy and missing interpreters are operating-system issues.
  • Script files stay on the computer. Another device does not receive them through Cloud Sync.

Practical uses

  • Open a project folder with one command.
  • Print a status line you currently type in a terminal.

Example

Illustrative example: a script that prints the path of the current project. RaycastWork does not ship that script.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

Focus

Automation

Block or allow specific apps and websites for a session you start yourself.

  • macOS
  • Windows
Feature details for Focus

Focus starts a session with a goal, a duration up to 24 hours or no limit, and either a block list or an allow list. Categories group apps and sites for reuse. The manual's platform table says blocking and categories exist on macOS and Windows, with the session tucked into the menu bar on macOS or the taskbar on Windows. Apple Shortcuts actions are an extra Mac path. An AI extension can drive Focus when AI is available. Blocked apps quit when a session starts. A snooze can temporarily allow a blocked app unless you disable snooze.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. Menu bar, Apple Shortcuts, and system-level blocking are documented.
Windows
Documented. The manual says Windows blocking is functionally equivalent, using the taskbar instead of the menu bar.

Plan or access

The billing examples do not name Focus as free or paid. Do not assume a plan. The Ask Raycast Focus AI extension needs Raycast AI.

Limitations

  • Allow mode blocks everything you did not list, which can close more than you intended.
  • A 3-minute snooze exists unless you set No Snooze.
  • Focus is self-control software. It does not measure productivity.

Practical uses

  • Block a short list of distracting sites during a writing block.
  • Allow only the two apps required for a defined task.

Example

Illustrative example: a 50-minute block session with a social-media category. The duration is a common working pattern, not a Raycast default you must use.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

AI Automations

Automation

Schedule a prompt once or on a repeat and read the result in a chat.

  • macOS
  • Windows
Feature details for AI Automations

The Automations manual describes scheduling a prompt once or on a repeating schedule and delivering the result to a chat. It is an AI feature, so it follows paid-plan access, model availability, and credits. A scheduled prompt can run when you are not watching it. That makes the instruction and the destination of the result more important than a one-off question.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. Documented in the AI section of the current manual.
Windows
Partial or narrower. The AI manual includes Windows. Confirm Automations in your Windows build before relying on a schedule.

Plan or access

Requires Raycast AI. Each run can spend credits according to the model and the work done.

Limitations

  • A scheduled prompt can repeat a mistake on every run.
  • Do not schedule prompts that include secrets or personal data you would not put in an AI chat.
  • This site does not claim that schedules run while the computer is off.

Practical uses

  • Prepare a weekday briefing prompt you will read and verify.
  • Run a recurring rewrite only on text stored for that purpose.

Example

Illustrative example: a Monday prompt that summarizes a project note you maintain. The summary still needs a human check.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.

Cloud Sync

Automation

Sync selected Raycast data between signed-in devices. Clipboard history and secrets stay local.

  • macOS
  • Windows
  • iOS
Feature details for Cloud Sync

Cloud Sync keeps selected data consistent across devices on a signed-in paid account. Categories include AI commands and agents, AI chat history, MCP servers, Quicklinks, Notes, snippets, themes, transcription styles, and window layouts. Extensions sync but must be enabled per device. Some general settings sync. Clipboard history, script files, credentials, and passwords do not. The manual tells people to export a backup before the first sync. The Windows product FAQ reviewed on the same day still called Cloud Sync an upcoming Windows feature, which conflicts with the manual's Windows instructions.

Platform notes

macOS
Documented. The manual describes Mac setup, export-before-sync, and v1 migration before a v2 sync.
Windows
Sources conflict. The Cloud Sync manual names Windows, including Show in System Tray. The Windows FAQ still described Cloud Sync as upcoming. Confirm in the installed build.
iOS
Partial or narrower. Legacy iOS sync is grouped separately. The manual says Cloud Sync v2 for iOS is not available yet.

Plan or access

The Cloud Sync manual requires a signed-in Raycast Pro account. The billing manual lists Cloud Sync for paid Pro, Pro+, and Max plans, not for Free.

Limitations

  • Turning sync off does not delete cloud copies. A separate delete action does, and the manual says that delete cannot be undone.
  • Turning sync off and on can replace local edits with cloud copies.
  • Credentials are never synced. That is a security boundary, not an inconvenience to bypass.

Practical uses

  • Use the same snippets on a home computer and a work computer.
  • Keep window layouts while leaving clipboard history on each machine.

Example

Illustrative example: enabling snippet sync and leaving clipboard history local, which matches the documented split.

Sources

Reviewed . Only platforms with a sourced note are listed.