Productivity Tools

9 Best Text Expansion Apps in 2023 (Free & Paid)

By Alex · Updated June 25, 2023

Best for: Overall | Windows | Mac | Chrome

Do you find yourself typing the same phrases, addresses, or expressions repeatedly? If so, you should consider using a text expansion app to save time and effort.

We compiled a list of the best text expansion apps available today. These will help you increase your productivity by minimizing repetitive typing. Let’s dive in!

The best text expansion apps

1. TextExpander
2. Text Blaze
3. AutoHotkey
4. Raycast
5. Magical
6. Espanso
7. Afred
8. MacOS settings
9. OSlash

How to choose

There are a lot of different text expanders on the market, so how do you choose the right one for you? The best way to decide is to think about what features are important to you. Here are some things we considered:

• Is it easy to use?
• How much does it cost?
• Those it come with a pre-built library of snippets?
• Does it work across all of your devices?

1. TextExpander

• Pricing: $4.16/month (or $3.33/month billed annually)
• Available on: Windows, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Chrome
• Extra features: Cross-platform sync and extensive snippet library

Our Take: TextExpander is a popular and comprehensive text expansion solution with a user-friendly interface and powerful customization features.

It offers excellent cross-platform support, making it a top choice for individuals and teams.

2. Text Blaze

• Price: Free plan available
• Available on: Chrome, Windows
• Extra features: Dynamic templates and sharing

Our Take: Text Blaze is a powerful text expansion tool that operates as a Chrome extension or Windows app.

It offers dynamic snippets, forms, and scheduling features, giving users excellent flexibility and customization options.

3. AutoHotkey

• Price: Free
• Available on: Windows
• Extra features: Advanced scripting features

Our Take: AutoHotkey is a versatile, open-source tool for Windows users that offers more than just text expansion.

It's perfect for users who want to create custom hotkeys, automation scripts, and macros, but it might have a steeper learning curve for those unfamiliar with scripting.

4. Raycast

• Price: Free plan available
• Available on: Mac
• Advanced features: Command bar, integrations, extensions

Our Take: Raycast is a powerful Mac-only tool that combines text expansion with a command bar and various integrations, streamlining your workflow across multiple apps.

Although text expansion is just one of its features, it's an excellent choice for Mac users who want an all-in-one productivity solution.

5. Magical

• Price: Free plan available
• Available on: Chrome
• Advanced features: Clipboard history, snippets, quick actions

Our Take: Magical is a relatively new text expansion app that operates as a Chrome extension, making it a browser-based solution. It also includes clipboard history and quick actions for increased productivity.

While it's limited to the Chrome browser, it's a great option for users who primarily work within web-based applications.

6. Espanso

• Price: Free (open-source)
• Available on: Windows, Mac, Linux
• Advanced features: Regex triggers, scripting, package manager

Our Take: Espanso is an open-source text expansion app available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

With features like regex triggers, scripting, and a package manager, it provides a high level of customization for tech-savvy users.

7. Alfred

• Price: $42 for Single Powerpack License
• Available on: Mac
• Advanced features: Custom workflows, clipboard history, quick search

Our Take: Alfred is a well-known productivity app for Mac users that includes text expansion among its many features.

With custom workflows, clipboard history, and quick search, Alfred offers a robust solution for Mac users who want to optimize their workflow.

Text expansion is available with the Powerpack.

8. MacOS settings

• Price: Free (built-in feature)
• Available on: Mac
• Advanced features: System-wide text shortcuts

Our Take: MacOS has a built-in text expansion feature available in the keyboard settings, allowing you to create system-wide text shortcuts.

While it doesn't have advanced features like some of the other apps on this list, it's a free and convenient option for Mac users who need basic text expansion functionality.

9. OSlash

• Price: Free plan available
• Available on: Chrome
• Advanced features: URL shortcuts and management

Our Take: OSlash is a time-saving text expansion and URL management tool, especially for Gmail users.

Although occasional bugs and spacing issues may occur, the OSlash team is proactive in resolving them.

With these text expansion apps, you're sure to find the right tool to save time and improve your typing efficiency.

Whether you need a simple, built-in solution or a feature-rich app, there's an option available to suit your needs.

Give them a try and find the perfect fit for your workflow!

All text expanders