Raycast vs True Launch Bar
Raycast
raycast.comTrue Launch Bar
truelaunchbar.comSide by side
| Figure | Raycast | True Launch Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $8/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 20 | 3 |
| Spec score · App Launchers | 9.5 (#1) | 8.4 (#9) |
| Spec score · App launchers | 9.5 (#1) | 8.7 (#6) |
| Spec score · App Launcher Software | 8.9 (#3) | 8.3 (#11) |
| API and SDK | The Raycast Platform API supports building extensions with React, Node.js and TypeScript, while the Store distributes them to users. | A public GitHub Plugins Development Kit provides low-level TLBPDK and C++ wrapper libraries plus optional Cairo, HTTP reader, image, skin and UI libraries. |
| Development | Raycast provides an extension API for building integrations, and Teams can publish private extensions for their organization. | The maker says development will continue but less actively, with bug fixes and possibly new features. |
| Integrations | Official examples include Linear, Google Translate, Spotify, Arc, TinyPNG, 1Password, Jira, Slack, Zoom, Notion, Todoist, Google Chrome, Obsidian and CleanShot X. | The feature list names integration with StartKiller, which can open a True Launch Bar menu in place of the Start menu. |
| What it does | Raycast is a keyboard-first launcher combining apps, files, commands, workflows and productivity tools in one interface. | True Launch Bar replaces Windows Quick Launch with customizable taskbar menus for applications, files and folders. |
Plans
Raycast
- FreeFree
- Raycast FreeFree
- Raycast Teams FreeFree
- Teams FreeFree
- Pro$10 a month
- Raycast Pro$10 a month
- Raycast Teams Pro$15 a month
- Teams Pro$15 a month
- Pro+$20 a month
- Raycast Pro+$20 a month
True Launch Bar
- True Launch BarFree
- True Launch Bar 8.0 freewareFree
- Legacy registration$19.90, paid once
In their own words
Raycast
Raycast is a set of productivity tools organized around an extendable launcher, where a keyboard-focused interface opens tools and runs workflows. Built-in features include Clipboard History, Calendar, Window Management, Snippets, Quicklinks, Notes, file search and Calculator. Its Store offers community-made extensions, with examples for Linear, Slack, Notion, Google Translate, Spotify, 1Password and Jira. Developers can build integrations with an extension API, and Teams can publish private extensions. Raycast AI includes chat, quick AI actions, agents, commands and extensions, and supports models from multiple providers. The free plan includes core features and thousands of extensions, with Clipboard History limited to three months and Notes to five. Pro costs $10 a month and includes 500 AI credits each month, cloud sync, dictation, custom themes, Translator, and unlimited Clipboard History and Notes. Raycast is available on macOS, Windows, iOS and iPadOS, but not Android. Its browser extension supports Chromium-based browsers, Safari and Firefox. Eligible new accounts can start a seven-day Pro trial; advanced AI models are excluded.
True Launch Bar
True Launch Bar has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.