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What is Raycast AI?
Raycast is a fast Mac launcher that replaces Spotlight, and Raycast AI adds chat, quick AI commands, and model access without leaving your keyboard. Because it lives in the launcher, you can summarize, rewrite, or ask a question from any app with a single shortcut.
Key features
- AI chat and quick commands from the launcher
- Access to multiple frontier models on paid plans
- AI Commands you can trigger on selected text anywhere
- Extensible with a large community extension store
- Keyboard-first workflow that stays out of the way
How to get started
- Install Raycast on macOS and set your hotkey
- Subscribe to Raycast Pro to unlock AI features
- Open the launcher and type or trigger an AI command
- Create custom AI Commands for repeat tasks
Use cases
- Quick questions and rewrites without opening a browser
- Running AI on selected text in any app
- Speeding up everyday Mac workflows
- A single keyboard interface for multiple models
Raycast AI vs. alternatives
| Tool | How it compares |
|---|---|
| Raycast AI | AI built into a keyboard-first launcher, one hotkey from anything on your Mac. |
| ChatGPT | The underlying model access, in a standalone app instead of a launcher. |
| Monica | Browser-based assistant if you live in the browser more than the OS. |
FAQ
Is Raycast AI free to use?
Raycast AI's plans: Free app; AI features on paid Pro/Advanced AI plans. Pricing and free-tier limits change over time, so check the official site above for the latest details.
What is Raycast AI used for?
AI built into a keyboard-first launcher, one hotkey from anything on your Mac.
Who is Raycast AI best for?
Raycast AI is a good fit for quick questions and rewrites without opening a browser, or running AI on selected text in any app.
What are the alternatives to Raycast AI?
Commonly compared alternatives include ChatGPT and Monica, see the comparison above for how they differ.
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Last reviewed: 2026-08 · Reviewed by AIKetra editors · How we evaluate tools
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