Comparison
SuperCmd vs Raycast
Last reviewed 17 October 2026
SuperCmd is a native Swift macOS launcher sold as a one-time $19.99 licence for 3 Macs, while Raycast is free with a Pro subscription at $8 per month billed annually. SuperCmd includes the features Raycast reserves for Pro, such as unlimited clipboard history, unlimited notes, cloud sync and AI with your own providers, and it uses roughly three times less memory. Raycast has the larger extension store, team features and a Windows build. SuperCmd runs most Raycast extensions and can import a Raycast backup.
Both apps are keyboard-first launchers that open with a hotkey, search apps and files, run commands, manage windows and expand snippets. The difference is in what is included, how the app is built, and how you pay.
Feature comparison
| Feature | SuperCmd | Raycast |
|---|---|---|
| App and file launcher | Included | Included |
| Window management and Spaces | Included | Included |
| Clipboard history | Unlimited | Pro 3 months on the free plan |
| Notes and synced snippets | Unlimited | Pro 5 notes on the free plan |
| Cloud sync | Included, via your own folder | Pro |
| Raycast extensions | Supported Extensions that need Raycast-managed sign-in are not supported yet | Included |
| AI chat and agents | 13 provider options Bring your own key, ChatGPT sign-in, or local models | Raycast AI Pro, Advanced AI costs extra |
| Screenshot and annotation | Included | Screenshot only |
| On-device dictation | Included | Cloud dictation |
| Alt-Tab window switcher | Included | Not built in |
| Terminal commands from the launcher | Included | Script commands |
| Built with | Native Swift (AppKit and SwiftUI) | WebView, Node and Rust |
| Memory footprint | About 3× lower | 500 MB and up |
| Installed size | About 50 MB | About 144 MB |
| Platforms | macOS 26 or later | macOS, Windows (beta), iOS companion |
| Price | $19.99 once 3 Macs, lifetime updates, 7-day trial | Free, Pro $8/month Billed annually, about $96 per year |
Raycast plan limits, prices and memory figures were checked against Raycast's published documentation and pricing page in October 2026. Memory and disk use vary by version, installed extensions, workload and Mac.
What the two launchers share
- A global hotkey opens a floating search bar over any app.
- Fuzzy search for apps, files, system settings and commands.
- Window tiling to halves, thirds and quarters, with multi-display support.
- Snippets with text expansion, quicklinks, a calculator and an emoji picker.
- An extension model based on React: Raycast extensions run in SuperCmd through a bundled runtime.
Where SuperCmd is different
- Native Swift app with no embedded browser. Idle memory stays low even with widgets, agents and screenshots open.
- Everything is local by default. Clipboard history, snippets, screenshots and search history never leave the Mac unless you turn on an online feature.
- AI is bring-your-own: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Mistral, OpenRouter, xAI Grok, ElevenLabs, a ChatGPT account sign-in, Apple Intelligence on-device, local MLX models, Ollama and LM Studio.
- Extra tools that are separate apps elsewhere: screenshot annotation, Windows-style Alt-Tab, system widgets in the launcher, on-device dictation and read-aloud.
- Pricing: $19.99 once for 3 Macs with lifetime updates, instead of a monthly subscription.
Where Raycast is stronger
- The Raycast Store has thousands of extensions, and every one is guaranteed to work there. SuperCmd runs most of them, but extensions that depend on Raycast-managed OAuth are not supported yet.
- Raycast AI is a hosted service with many frontier models included in Pro. In SuperCmd you supply your own provider or sign in with a ChatGPT account.
- Raycast has Teams features, a Windows version in beta and an iOS companion app. SuperCmd is Mac only.
- Raycast supports older macOS versions. SuperCmd requires macOS 26 or later.
Cost over three years
| Plan | Year 1 | Three years |
|---|---|---|
| Raycast Free | $0 | $0 |
| Raycast Pro (billed annually) | $96 | $288 |
| Raycast Pro + Advanced AI (billed annually) | $192 | $576 |
| SuperCmd (3 Macs) | $19.99 | $19.99 |
Raycast prices from raycast.com/pricing in October 2026. SuperCmd early-bird price shown; the list price is $39.99.
Switching from Raycast to SuperCmd
- 01Download SuperCmd from supercmd.sh or run `brew install --cask shobhit99/tap/supercmd`. The 7-day trial starts on first launch.
- 02Export a backup from Raycast (Settings → Advanced → Export).
- 03In SuperCmd open Settings → Advanced → Raycast Import and pick the backup. Supported data such as snippets, quicklinks, hotkeys and aliases come across.
- 04Install the extensions you use from the extension catalog inside SuperCmd. Most work unchanged.
- 05Set the same launcher hotkey, or use a double-tap modifier, so muscle memory carries over.
Frequently asked questions
Is SuperCmd a Raycast alternative?
Yes. SuperCmd is a native Swift launcher for macOS that covers the same core jobs as Raycast, runs most Raycast extensions, and includes the clipboard history, notes, sync and AI features that Raycast puts behind its Pro subscription.
Can SuperCmd run Raycast extensions?
Most Raycast extensions run in SuperCmd through a bundled runtime that implements the @raycast/api surface. Extensions that rely on Raycast-managed authentication are not supported yet.
How much does SuperCmd cost compared to Raycast Pro?
SuperCmd is a one-time $19.99 licence for 3 Macs with lifetime updates and a 7-day free trial. Raycast Pro is $8 per month billed annually, about $96 per year, and Advanced AI is extra.
Does SuperCmd use less memory than Raycast?
SuperCmd is a native Swift app with no embedded browser and uses about three times less memory than Raycast in SuperCmd's own measurements. Actual usage varies with extensions and workload.
Can I import my Raycast data into SuperCmd?
Yes. Export a backup from Raycast, then in SuperCmd go to Settings → Advanced → Raycast Import and follow the prompts.