§ Comparison · Updated May 2026

Raycast vs Shortwave.

Raycast and Shortwave are frequently shortlisted together. Both compete in the productivity space, so the right pick comes down to pricing model, ecosystem, and the specific features you'll lean on. This page lays out the spec sheet, an editor verdict, and answers to the questions people search before choosing.

§ Verdict

Highest rated

Raycast

Editor score 4.5/5 — leads on overall quality across our evaluation.

Best value

Raycast

freemium with paid tiers pricing — the lowest-friction option of the group.

Broadest feature set

Raycast

5 headline features — the most all-in-one option.

§ Spec sheet

Rating

Raycast

4.5

Shortwave

4.2

Pricing

Raycast

Freemium

Shortwave

Freemium

Category

Raycast

Productivity

Shortwave

Productivity

Features

Raycast

• AI chat with multiple models
• Custom AI commands and prompts
• Blazing-fast app launcher
• Clipboard history and snippets
• Extension store with 1000+ extensions

Shortwave

• AI email summaries
• AI search
• Drafting assistance
• Inbox bundles
• Team inbox workflows

Pros

Raycast

+ Incredibly fast and responsive
+ AI integrated into everything
+ Massive extension ecosystem

Shortwave

+ Strong Gmail-native productivity layer
+ AI search is useful for buried context

Cons

Raycast

− Mac only
− AI features require Pro subscription
− Can be overwhelming with many extensions

Shortwave

− Gmail-focused
− Advanced AI and history features require paid plans

Use Cases

Raycast

Quick AI queries from anywhereApp and file launchingCode snippet managementCustom AI workflows

Shortwave

Email searchThread summariesInbox organizationDrafting replies

Visit

Raycast

Shortwave

	Raycast AI-powered launcher for Mac — Spotlight replacement with built-in AI, snippets, and automations.	Shortwave AI email app for summarizing, searching, drafting, and organizing Gmail-heavy workflows.
Rating	4.5	4.2
Pricing	Freemium	Freemium
Category	Productivity	Productivity
Features	• AI chat with multiple models • Custom AI commands and prompts • Blazing-fast app launcher • Clipboard history and snippets • Extension store with 1000+ extensions	• AI email summaries • AI search • Drafting assistance • Inbox bundles • Team inbox workflows
Pros	+ Incredibly fast and responsive + AI integrated into everything + Massive extension ecosystem	+ Strong Gmail-native productivity layer + AI search is useful for buried context
Cons	− Mac only − AI features require Pro subscription − Can be overwhelming with many extensions	− Gmail-focused − Advanced AI and history features require paid plans
Use Cases	Quick AI queries from anywhereApp and file launchingCode snippet managementCustom AI workflows	Email searchThread summariesInbox organizationDrafting replies
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§ Best for

Pick Raycast for

Mac developers who need quick ai queries from anywhere.

Read full review →

Pick Shortwave for

Gmail power users who need email search.

Read full review →

§ Common questions

Raycast vs Shortwave — which is better?

It depends on what you're optimizing for. Raycast edges Shortwave on our editor rating (4.5 vs 4.2), but ratings are a coarse signal. The verdict above breaks down which one wins for budget, feature breadth, and self-hosting.

Are these tools free?

Yes — every tool here has a free or freemium tier. The differences are in usage limits, advanced features, and how aggressive each free tier is.

When should I pick Raycast over Shortwave?

Pick Raycast when quick ai queries from anywhere matters more than Shortwave's strengths in email search. The "best for" callouts above translate this into concrete personas.

Are there other tools to consider?

Yes — every tool in this comparison has its own alternatives page that ranks the closest competitors. Click any tool name to drill into its full review and alternatives list.

Editorial verdicts, not algorithmicDisagree? Tell us →