ActiveWords vs PhraseExpress
ActiveWords
activewords.com
PhraseExpress
phraseexpress.comSide by side
| Figure | ActiveWords | PhraseExpress |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 28 | 8 |
| Spec score · Text Expanders Software | 8.6 (#3) | 9.0 (#2) |
| Spec score · Text expanders | 7.9 (#15) | 9.4 (#2) |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Integrations | Free add-ins are provided for Outlook, Evernote, Microsoft Office, Salesforce Classic and Lightning, Microsoft Teams, Clio, Toodledo, and other uses. | PhraseExpress supports Microsoft SQL Server, Azure SQL, Amazon SQL, Citrix/TerminalServer, Microsoft Azure Entra, and cloud sync services including Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive. |
| Security | ActiveWords says it does not log or transmit keystrokes during normal use, strongly encrypts its database, protects password fields by disabling monitoring by default, and uses HTTPS for license and update traffic. | The maker says the software is installed on premise, sends no text input or saved phrases, and supports end-to-end AES encryption of phrase files. |
| Support | The support site provides free email support, FAQs, and support-ticket submission, while paid licenses include personalized email support. | The company says customers contact the people who build its products, and support is not outsourced; freeware support is reserved for paying users. |
| Supported platforms | Windows 10 and 11 | Windows, macOS, iPhone/iPad |
| Team snippet sharing | Yes | Yes |
Plans
ActiveWords
- Personal Annual LicensePrice not published
- Personal Annual LicensePriced on request
- Enterprise Annual License (up to 5 users)$170 a year
- Enterprise Annual License (up to 10 users)$340 a year
- Enterprise Annual License (up to 15 users)$510 a year
- Enterprise Annual License (up to 20 users)$640 a year
- Enterprise Annual License (up to 25 users)$800 a year
- Enterprise Annual License (up to 30 users)$900 a year
- Enterprise Annual License (up to 50 users)Priced on request
- Enterprise Annual License (up to 50 users)Price not published
PhraseExpress
- iOS appFree
- PhraseExpress for iOSFree
- Standard$99.95, paid once
- Professional$149.95, paid once
- Enterprise$249.95, paid once
- PhraseExpress Enterprise Edition$249.95, paid once
- PhraseExpress Professional EditionPrice not published
- PhraseExpress Standard EditionPrice not published
In their own words
ActiveWords
ActiveWords turns typed words into triggers for Windows text expansion and automation. It can insert plain or formatted content, including RTF, HTML, and images, correct spelling in any context, launch programs, files, folders, and web pages, or run scripted sequences. One typed word can trigger multiple actions. Version 5’s ActionPad searches Words, applications, files, folders, and Start Menu items, and handles advanced and date calculations. Selected Text actions can search highlighted text, create email, open a URL, pass text to a custom script, or display it in Large Type. Sync stores Words, Actions, and Tags in a cloud-synced folder, commonly used with Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, and Google Drive. Enterprise deployments add read-only shared items, multiple shared files, centralized control, and support for Terminal Services, LAN, WAN, and NAS. ActiveWords supports Windows 10 and 11 and Windows Server 2019; Windows 7 is unsupported. There is no free plan, but a free 60-day trial requires no credit card.
PhraseExpress
PhraseExpress stores reusable text templates and expands abbreviations into longer phrases in other programs. On Windows, snippets can be arranged in multi-level folders and triggered by hotkeys, abbreviations, application windows, clipboard contents or scheduled times. Windows tools also include a macro recorder integration, document generator, input forms, clipboard manager and system-wide spelling correction. PhraseExpress supports database options including Microsoft SQL Server, Azure SQL and Amazon SQL, plus Citrix/TerminalServer and Microsoft Azure Entra. Cloud sync services include Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive. Third-party online and self-hosted AI tools can translate, shorten, expand, rewrite or create phrases. The maker says the software is installed on premise, sends no text input or saved phrases, and supports end-to-end AES encryption of phrase files. Windows licenses are lifetime one-time purchases with 12 months of updates and upgrades. After 30 days, an unlicensed Windows installation becomes freeware for personal use. The iOS app is free with no feature limitation.