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Software · head to head

Raycast vs ClickUp

Raycast logo

Raycast

Software

Blazingly fast, totally extendable launcher

From
Free
Rated
-
ClickUp logo

ClickUp

Software

One app to replace them all

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Raycast the free plan includes 50 Raycast AI messages, 5 notes and 3 months of clipboard history; ClickUp the free plan is capped at 60MB of storage, 5 spaces, 1 form and 3 whiteboards, so the limits are structural rather than just a seat count
  • They diverge on capability: Raycast covers Application launcher, ClickUp covers Multiple view types.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Raycast and ClickUp actually diverge.

Attributes where Raycast and ClickUp differ
AttributeRaycastClickUp
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsMacosWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows
Founded20202017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Raycast

  • Application launcher
  • File search
  • Clipboard history
  • Snippets
  • Window management
  • Calculator
  • System commands
  • Extension ecosystem

Only in ClickUp

  • Multiple view types
  • Custom fields
  • Automation
  • Time tracking
  • Goal tracking
  • Document collaboration
  • Whiteboards
  • Mind maps

Both cover

  • GitHub
  • Slack
  • Zoom

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Raycast

  • App launchingnot ClickUp
  • Quick calculationsnot ClickUp
  • File navigationnot ClickUp
  • Snippet expansionnot ClickUp
  • Workflow automationnot ClickUp

ClickUp

  • Project managementnot Raycast
  • Software developmentnot Raycast
  • Marketing campaignsnot Raycast
  • Product roadmapsnot Raycast
  • Client managementnot Raycast

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Raycast

  • The free plan includes 50 Raycast AI messages, 5 notes and 3 months of clipboard history
  • Advanced AI models are sold only as an add-on to the paid Pro plan at a further $8 per month on top of the $10 subscription
  • Free team workspaces cap sharing at 30 snippets, 30 quicklinks and 5 commands across all extensions
  • Teams Pro is $15 per user per month, billed per seat rather than per workspace

ClickUp

  • The free plan is capped at 60MB of storage, 5 spaces, 1 form and 3 whiteboards, so the limits are structural rather than just a seat count
  • Gantt charts, time tracking and goals require Unlimited at $7 per user per month billed yearly
  • Automations are rationed by tier, at 5,000 a month on Business and 250,000 on Enterprise
  • SAML SSO, custom roles and HIPAA compliance are Enterprise only
  • AI is charged separately, at $9 per user per month for Brain and $28 for Everything AI
  • Monthly billing is substantially dearer, at $10 and $19 against the yearly rates

Pricing, plan by plan

Raycast

Free
  • PersonalFree
    • Core launcher features
    • All built-in extensions
    • Extension store access
  • Pro$8/month
    • Everything in Personal
    • AI commands
    • Cloud sync
  • Team$12/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • Shared extensions
    • Team snippets

ClickUp

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited tasks
    • 60 MB storage
    • Collaborative docs
  • Unlimited$7/user/month
    • Unlimited storage
    • All views
    • Time tracking
  • Business$12/user/month
    • Sprint reporting
    • Private docs
    • All Unlimited features
  • Business Plus$null/custom
    • Advanced features

Which should you pick?

Choose Raycast if

  • You need application launcher.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Macos.
  • You also want file search.

Choose ClickUp if

  • You need multiple view types.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want custom fields.

Questions people ask

Is Raycast or ClickUp better?
Neither clearly leads. Raycast starts at Free and ClickUp at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Raycast or ClickUp?
Raycast starts at Free and ClickUp at Free.
Does Raycast or ClickUp run on more platforms?
Raycast runs on Macos. ClickUp runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Raycast for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Raycast best used for?
Raycast is most often used for app launching, quick calculations, file navigation, snippet expansion. Of those, app launching and quick calculations are not what ClickUp is typically brought in for.
What can Raycast do that ClickUp cannot?
Raycast covers Application launcher, File search, Clipboard history, Snippets. ClickUp covers Multiple view types, Custom fields, Automation, Time tracking. Both handle GitHub, Slack, Zoom.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ClickUp: How many views does ClickUp support?

ClickUp includes List, Table, Board, Calendar, Gantt, and Inbox views, plus Whiteboards for collaboration and multiple specialized views for different workflows.

Source
ClickUp: What is ClickUp Brain?

ClickUp Brain is the AI feature providing workspace Q&A, task summaries, and AI-powered automation available as an add-on at $9 or $28/user/month depending on usage.

Source
ClickUp: How long does it take to set up ClickUp?

Initial setup typically takes 2-4 weeks depending on team size and complexity needs, which is longer than Monday.com (1-2 days) but necessary for ClickUp's flexibility.

Source
ClickUp: Does ClickUp have built-in time tracking?

Yes, time tracking is included in the first paid plan (Unlimited) at $7/user/month, allowing teams to track project hours without additional tools.

Source

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