Spotlight replacements for MacHead to head
Raycast vs rcmd
Raycast ranks #1 and rcmd ranks #3 in our guide to the best Spotlight replacements for Mac. Raycast is our pick for most people.
RaycastPick Raycast if you want 1 free search bar for apps, files, clipboard history and window snapping.Free to start#3 in the guide
rcmdPick rcmd if you only need to switch between the same few apps fast, not search for files or commands.Free to startWhat decides it
- On price: Raycast is free. Pro is $10 a month or $96 a year. rcmd is free. Pro is €15 once.
- Both run on Mac. Only Raycast runs on iPhone and iPad.
Side by side
Prices are checked every day.
| At a glance | Raycast | rcmd |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free. Pro is $10 a month or $96 a year | Free. Pro is €15 once |
| How you pay | Free, with paid upgrades | Free, with paid upgrades |
| 3 years of use | $288 Yearly plan | Depends on the plan |
| Free trial | Free to start | Free to start |
| Runs on | Mac, iPhone, iPad | Mac |
| Where to buy | Developer, App Store | Developer |
| Features | Free trial | Free trial |
| Last updated | 29 Oct 2026 | 2 Nov 2026 |
Who should get which
Get Raycast if
You keep your hands on the keyboard and want 1 shortcut for apps, files, clipboard and windows.
Get rcmd if
You bounce between the same handful of apps all day and Command-Tab feels slow.
Skip Raycast if
You launch apps from the Dock and rarely press Command-Space, so Spotlight already covers you.
Skip rcmd if
You keep 2 or 3 apps open at a time, and Command-Tab already gets you there in 1 press.
Our verdicts
Raycast
The free plan of Raycast already covers a launcher, 3 months of clipboard history, snippets, window snapping and thousands of extensions, while Alfred keeps clipboard history and snippets in its paid Powerpack. You press 1 shortcut and type to open apps, find files or run commands for web services you use. Pro at $10 a month adds Raycast AI and sync, and none of it helps until calling it up becomes a habit.
rcmd
Most Macs have a Right Command key that almost nobody presses, and rcmd turns it into an app switcher: hold it, press S, and Safari jumps to the front or launches. The free version also replaces Command-Tab and jumps to Spaces by number. Pro is €15 once for fuzzy search and Stages, which restores a saved set of windows, and AltTab is the better pick if you switch windows, not apps.
What each one helps you do
Raycast
- Open any app or file from the keyboard
- Find something you copied last week
- Snap windows into place without the mouse
- Type long replies from short keywords
rcmd
- Jump to any app with 1 key combo
- Open an app that isn't running yet
- Move to a Space by its number
- Save and restore sets of apps
Where to get them
Raycast
Free. Pro is $10 a month or $96 a year
rcmd
Free. Pro is €15 once
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From the developerIncludes a 14-day trial of Pro, no card neededFree downloadGet it
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Neither one quite right?
The other picks in our guide to the best Spotlight replacements for Mac.
Read the full guideAll Raycast alternativesAll rcmd alternatives