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Technology · head to head

Raycast vs Zeta

Raycast logo

Raycast

Technology

Blazingly fast, totally extendable launcher

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zeta logo

Zeta

Technology

Cloud native credit card processing and core banking from Bhavin Turakhia's Zeta

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Raycast has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Raycast the free plan includes 50 Raycast AI messages, 5 notes and 3 months of clipboard history; Zeta it competes against card processors with decades of production track record, and in card processing an outage is a public event, so a shorter operational history is a genuine risk factor rather than a technicality.
  • They diverge on capability: Raycast covers Application launcher, Zeta covers Tachyon card processing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Raycast and Zeta actually diverge.

Attributes where Raycast and Zeta differ
AttributeRaycastZeta
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsMacosWeb, API, Cloud, iOS, Android
Founded2020Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Technology).

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 Zeta

  • Tachyon card processing
  • Real time authorisation
  • Rewards and offers engine
  • Core banking modules
  • Programme configuration
  • Mobile and web SDKs
  • Fraud and controls
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

Raycast

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

Zeta

  • A United States bank whose card platform makes launching a new rewards product a multi quarter vendor projectnot Raycast
  • An issuer that wants authorisation level controls and real time data rather than end of day filesnot Raycast
  • A large fintech launching a credit card programme at scale with custom product logicnot Raycast
  • A bank consolidating card and deposit processing onto one modern platformnot 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

Zeta

  • It competes against card processors with decades of production track record, and in card processing an outage is a public event, so a shorter operational history is a genuine risk factor rather than a technicality.
  • Contracts are enterprise scale and quoted with volume minimums, which puts it out of reach of small issuers who would otherwise benefit most from modern tooling.
  • A card portfolio migration runs twelve to twenty four months at minimum, during which the issuer runs two platforms and pays for both.
  • Zeta is a processor rather than a licence holder, so network membership, BIN sponsorship and regulatory obligations remain entirely with the issuer.
  • Public references for large live United States production volumes are fewer than the announcements imply, so diligence should insist on active account counts and uptime history rather than partnership press releases.

Pricing, plan by plan

Raycast

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core features: Clipboard History, Quicklinks, Calculator, Snippets, Window Management
    • Thousands of community extensions
    • 3-month clipboard history
  • Pro$10/month
    • Raycast AI with advanced models
    • Unlimited clipboard history
    • Unlimited notes
  • Pro Annual$8/month
    • Same as Pro plan
    • Annual billing saves 20% compared to monthly
  • Teams FreeFree
    • No cost per user
    • Shared extensions, snippets, and quicklinks

Zeta

On request
  • Tachyon platform$undefined/year
    • Quoted per institution, commonly on active accounts or transaction volume
    • Implementation for a card portfolio migration measured in quarters to years
    • Minimum volume commitments typical on enterprise contracts

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 Zeta if

  • You need tachyon card processing.
  • You work on Web, API, Cloud, iOS, Android.
  • You also want real time authorisation.
Zeta review

Questions people ask

Is Raycast or Zeta better?
Neither clearly leads. Raycast starts at Free and Zeta at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Raycast or Zeta?
Raycast has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Raycast and On request for Zeta.
Does Raycast or Zeta run on more platforms?
Raycast runs on Macos. Zeta runs on Web, API, Cloud, iOS, Android.
Can I use Raycast for free?
Yes. Raycast has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zeta starts at On request.
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 Zeta is typically brought in for.
What can Raycast do that Zeta cannot?
Raycast covers Application launcher, File search, Clipboard history, Snippets. Zeta covers Tachyon card processing, Real time authorisation, Rewards and offers engine, Core banking modules.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Raycast: Does Raycast offer a free plan?

Yes. Raycast has a free plan with core features including clipboard history, quicklinks, calculator, snippets, window management, and access to thousands of community extensions.

Source
Zeta: Which Zeta is this?

The banking technology company founded by Bhavin Turakhia, which builds the Tachyon card processing and core banking platform. Not any similarly named payroll or accounting product.

Raycast: How much does Raycast Pro cost?

Raycast Pro costs $10 per month or $8 per month when billed annually, saving 20% with yearly subscription.

Source
Zeta: What is its strongest use case?

United States credit card issuing and processing, where legacy platforms make product changes slow and expensive.

Raycast: Does Raycast offer team plans?

Yes. Teams Free tier is available at no cost per user with shared extensions and snippets. Teams Pro costs $15 per user per month with unlimited team members.

Source
Zeta: Does Zeta provide the BIN or licence?

No. It processes. Network membership, BIN sponsorship and regulatory obligations stay with the issuer.

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