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Software · head to head

Raycast vs Envoy

Raycast logo

Raycast

Software

Blazingly fast, totally extendable launcher

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
E

Envoy

Software

An open source edge and service proxy, designed for cloud-native and AI-native applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Envoy licensed under Apache License 2.0 per the project's GitHub repository (envoyproxy/envoy LICENSE); as a CNCF graduated project it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Raycast and Envoy actually diverge.

Attributes where Raycast and Envoy differ
AttributeRaycastEnvoy
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
PlatformsMacosWeb
Founded2020Unknown

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 Envoy

Nothing recorded that Raycast does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Raycast

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

Envoy

No use cases recorded yet. See the Envoy review.

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

Envoy

  • Licensed under Apache License 2.0 per the project's GitHub repository (envoyproxy/envoy LICENSE); as a CNCF graduated project it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare
  • Envoy is a proxy that runs alongside each application instance, per envoyproxy.io, requiring a sidecar or edge deployment model rather than a single centralized install

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

Envoy

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Envoy review.

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.
Raycast review

Choose Envoy if

  • You want to start without paying.
Envoy review

Questions people ask

Is Raycast or Envoy better?
Neither clearly leads. Raycast starts at Free and Envoy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Raycast or Envoy?
Raycast starts at Free and Envoy at Free.
Does Raycast or Envoy run on more platforms?
Raycast runs on Macos. Envoy runs on Web.
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 Envoy is typically brought in for.
What can Raycast do that Envoy cannot?
Raycast covers Application launcher, File search, Clipboard history, Snippets.
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