Feature Comparison
| Feature | OmniSwitch | Raycast |
|---|---|---|
| Window switching | ✓ App → Window drill-down, no Enter, pick by letter/number | ✓ Available via extension or built-in |
| Two-level drill-down | ✓ Core design — app grid → window grid in two keystrokes | — Not built-in; relies on third-party window management extensions |
| Clipboard history | ✓ Persisted, 1–50 items, prefix access | ✓ Built-in clipboard history (Pro) |
| Quick snippets | ✓ Preset text/images, bind to keys, same-screen paste | ✓ Snippets (Pro) |
| Quick links | ✓ Web URLs & app deep-links, pick by number | ✓ Quicklinks feature |
| App launcher | — Focused on window switching, not launching | ✓ Core feature — launch apps, files, scripts |
| Extension ecosystem | — No extensions (intentionally simple) | ✓ 1,000+ extensions in marketplace |
| AI features | — Not available | ✓ AI chat, commands, and integration (Pro + AI plan) |
| Account required | ✓ None — install and go | Account required for Pro/AI, extensions, sync |
| Custom hotkeys | ✓ Any combo, double-tap modifier | ✓ Configurable |
| Technology | SwiftUI + AppKit, pure native, tiny footprint | Native macOS (Swift/SwiftUI) |
| Open source | ✓ GPL v3 | — Proprietary (source available for some parts) |
| Price model | One-time purchase — from $7.99 (launch) | Free (base) / Pro $8/mo / Pro + AI $16/mo |
| Platform | macOS 15+ | macOS 13+ |
| Free trial | ✓ 200 invocations, no time limit | ✓ Free tier (limited features) |
| Privacy | ✓ All data local — no account, no telemetry, no cloud | Local processing; Pro features may use cloud services |
Pricing reflects publicly available information as of June 2026. Raycast pricing may vary — check the Raycast website for current plans.
When to choose each
Choose OmniSwitch if…
- You primarily want fast, focused window switching with two-level drill-down
- You prefer a buy-once model — no monthly subscription
- Privacy matters — you want no account, no telemetry, data stays local
- You want a lightweight tool that does one job exceptionally well
- You value open source and the ability to inspect the code
Choose Raycast if…
- You want an all-in-one launcher — apps, files, calculations, scripts
- The extension ecosystem matters — 1,000+ integrations at your fingertips
- AI features (chat, commands, integration) are part of your workflow
- You're happy with a free tier and don't mind subscription for Pro features
- You need a launcher first, window management second
Try OmniSwitch free — 200 invocations
No account. No subscription. Just download and start switching windows faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — OmniSwitch is not a launcher. It doesn't launch apps, search files, run scripts, or provide an extension marketplace. OmniSwitch replaces Raycast's window switching and snippet features with a more focused experience, but you'd still need Raycast (or Spotlight/Alfred) for app launching and other workflows.
Yes — many users run both. Set OmniSwitch to a dedicated hotkey (e.g., double-⌘) for window switching and snippets, and keep Raycast on ⌘-Space for app launching and extensions. They complement each other without conflict.
Raycast's free tier covers basic launching and some extensions, but clipboard history and snippets require the Pro plan ($8/mo). OmniSwitch's one-time purchase from $7.99 includes both — plus two-level window switching that Raycast doesn't natively offer. If you'd otherwise pay for Raycast Pro, OmniSwitch pays for itself in a month.
No. OmniSwitch has no account system whatsoever — no sign-up, no login, no cloud sync, no telemetry. You download, install, and go. This is a deliberate design choice: your data stays on your Mac, period. Raycast requires an account for Pro features, extensions, and sync.
Yes. OmniSwitch is purpose-built for window switching and snippets — no extension runtime, no AI models, no cloud services. Its resource footprint is minimal. Raycast is also performant, but its extension ecosystem and AI features mean more background processes by design.