Text expanders for MacHead to head
TextExpander vs Espanso
TextExpander ranks #1 and Espanso ranks #2 in our guide to the best text expanders for Mac. TextExpander is our pick for most people, and Espanso is the best free option.
TextExpanderPick TextExpander if you need the same snippets on your Mac, iPhone and a Windows PC, or share them with a team.Free to startBest free
EspansoPick Espanso if you're happy editing config files and want snippets without paying anything.Free, open sourceWhat decides it
- Espanso costs less over 3 years: Free, against $180 for TextExpander.
- Both run on Mac. Only TextExpander runs on iPhone and iPad.
Side by side
Prices are checked every day.
| At a glance | TextExpander | Espanso |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free for 5 snippets. Pro is $6 a month or $60 a year | Free and open source |
| How you pay | Free, with paid upgrades | Free |
| 3 years of use | $180 Yearly plan | Free Cheaper |
| Free trial | Free to start | Free to start |
| Runs on | Mac, iPhone, iPad | Mac |
| Where to buy | Developer, App Store | Developer |
| Features | Free trial | Open source |
| Last updated | 23 Oct 2026 | Not tracked |
Who should get which
Get TextExpander if
You type the same replies or details every day and want them in a few keystrokes on every device.
Get Espanso if
You type the same replies, addresses or emails all day and won't pay for a text expander.
Skip TextExpander if
You only work on a Mac and would rather pay once for Typinator or use the free espanso.
Skip Espanso if
You want a settings window rather than config files; macOS text replacements cover simple snippets free.
Our verdicts
TextExpander
If you type the same replies, addresses and links on a Mac, a Windows PC and your iPhone, TextExpander keeps 1 snippet library on all of them and in Chrome. Snippets can ask for a name or detail before they paste, and teams share one library so everyone sends the same wording. The free plan holds 5 snippets, and Typinator at $49.99 once or the free espanso suit Mac-only users better.
Espanso
Typing the same replies, addresses and sign-offs all day adds up, and TextExpander charges $60 a year to fix it. Espanso does it free on Mac, Windows and Linux: type a short keyword and it swaps in the full snippet, a date, a script's output or a small form to fill in. The catch is setup, which happens in plain text files, so Typinator suits people who want a settings window.
What each one helps you do
TextExpander
- Type full replies from a short abbreviation
- Fill in a name before a template pastes
- Share the same snippets with your team
- Use your snippets on Mac and iPhone
Espanso
- Type a long email reply from 3 letters
- Insert today's date in any format
- Fill in a reply template with a form
- Search your snippets when you forget a keyword
Where to get them
TextExpander
Free for 5 snippets. Pro is $6 a month or $60 a year
Neither one quite right?
The other picks in our guide to the best text expanders for Mac.
Read the full guideAll TextExpander alternativesAll Espanso alternatives