Raycast is a launcher app that brings app switching, search, window management, and clipboard history to a single hotkey. It launched for macOS in 2020 and later expanded to Windows and iOS. Raycast AI refers to the set of AI features built into that launcher. Without reopening a browser or a chat app, you can summon AI on top of whatever you are working on to ask questions, translate, summarize, generate code, and reshape text. Models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Perplexity, Mistral, and DeepSeek can be switched between in one interface, and MCP (Model Context Protocol) integration with external tools is supported. The point of the service is to remove the very step of “switching to another app in order to use AI.”
Key Features
- AI Chat — switch among 32+ models in one view: Models from multiple providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Perplexity, Mistral, and DeepSeek can be selected from the same chat view. You can switch models mid-conversation to compare answers, or save frequently used configurations as presets. PDFs, CSVs, and screen content can be attached for context
- Quick AI — a floating window for instant answers: A small window opens on a hotkey without interrupting your work, so you can throw a short question at it on the spot. When needed it runs a web search and returns current information with reference links
- AI Commands — routine processing as a single command: Over 30 built-in commands cover grammar fixes, code explanations, webpage summaries, tone adjustment, and more. They run directly on selected text, and you can create your own or bring in community-made ones
- AI Extensions — operate apps with natural language: Instructions in plain language such as “add this task to Linear” are translated into actual app operations. They work in combination with extensions from the Extension Store, including Linear, Slack, Notion, and Jira
- MCP support — connect external tools and data sources: Once an MCP server is registered, its tools become available across AI Chat, Quick AI, and AI Commands. In conversation you invoke them with mention syntax such as
@linear. By default Raycast asks for approval before running a tool (MCP is a Pro-only feature) - Available on macOS, Windows, and iOS: Originally macOS-only, it now runs on Windows and iOS as well, so the same workflow travels across devices
Pricing
| Plan | Monthly (billed monthly) | Monthly equivalent (billed annually) | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | Core launcher features (3-month clipboard history, Quicklinks, snippets, window management) and extensions. AI features not included |
| Pro | $10 | $8 | Everything in Free plus unlimited clipboard history, cloud sync, dictation, custom themes, unlimited Raycast Notes, and AI features (standard models) |
| Advanced AI add-on | +$8 | +$8 | Added on top of Pro to unlock higher-tier models |
| Team Free | $0 / user | $0 / user | Free tier for teams, with limits such as 5 shared commands and 30 shared quicklinks/snippets |
| Team Pro | $15 / user | $12 / user | Everything in Pro plus unlimited shared items and the AI Control Center |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | Contact sales | Everything in Team Pro plus admin controls such as SAML, SCIM, domain capture, enforced 2FA, and extension/IP allow-lists |
Pricing is as of August 2026. Check the official site for the latest information.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Because it is built into the launcher, AI can be summoned without switching to a browser or chat app, lowering the mental cost of small questions and short conversions
- Models from multiple providers can be used under a single subscription, with no need to manage separate API keys or contracts
- The flow of selecting text and running an AI Command is fast, which suits repetitive work such as translation, summarization, and text cleanup
- With MCP and AI Extensions, the AI can go beyond answering and actually operate apps
- The launcher itself is polished enough to be worth keeping resident even on days you do not use AI
⚠️ Cons
- AI features require the Pro plan or above and are not available on the free plan
- Higher-tier models require the separate Advanced AI add-on ($8/month), bringing the total to $18/month alongside Pro
- Linux is not supported
- The keyboard-centric design carries a learning curve until the shortcuts become familiar
- For settling in to write long documents, a dedicated chat app can make better use of screen space
Comparison with Similar Services
| Criteria | Raycast AI | Alfred | ChatGPT desktop app | Claude desktop app |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main use | Launcher + AI | Launcher + workflows | Dedicated AI chat | Dedicated AI chat |
| Platforms | macOS / Windows / iOS | macOS | macOS / Windows | macOS / Windows |
| Model choice | Switch among multiple providers | No AI by default (via extensions) | OpenAI models only | Anthropic models only |
| External tool integration | AI Extensions / MCP | Workflows (self-built) | Connectors / MCP | MCP |
| How it’s invoked | Global hotkey | Global hotkey | Open the app / hotkey | Open the app / hotkey |
Who Is It For
- People who already live in a launcher app and want to add AI to it
- People who perform short tasks such as translation, summarization, and text cleanup many times a day
- People who want to switch models by use case without signing up for several services separately
- Developers who want to connect internal tools and task management services to AI via MCP
- People who prefer to complete their workflow entirely from the keyboard
Summary
Raycast AI is less a standalone AI service than “AI as a feature of a launcher.” Its strength lies not in raw model performance but in how easy it is to invoke; by removing the app switching that used to accompany every AI request, it sharply raises how often you reach for AI on small tasks. AI features require the Pro plan ($10/month, or the equivalent of $8/month billed annually) or above, and top-tier models need a further add-on, so a practical path is to try Raycast as a launcher on the free plan first and move to Pro once you find it worth keeping around.