Raycast Pricing Explained: What You Get for Free, Pro vs. Plus vs. Max, and How AI Credits Work [Updated November 2026]

Hi, Hoda here.

If you’re wondering “Is Raycast free?” or “What actually changes if I upgrade to Pro?”, this guide is for you. I’ve put together a breakdown of Raycast’s pricing plans based on official information (as of November 2026).

The short answer: you can keep using Raycast’s core features for free. Clipboard history, snippets, window management, extensions, and many other features that make everyday work easier are included in the free plan. A paid plan is worth considering if you want to use the AI features, or if you start to need more advanced features such as cloud sync, dictation, and unlimited clipboard history.

Also, Raycast made major changes to its paid plans in September 2026, including a move to AI credits and the addition of new plans, so pricing information in older reviews may no longer match what you’ll see today. This article is based on the current official pricing page and documentation.

Quick Summary: Raycast Pricing and How to Choose

• Start with Free: You get the launcher, clipboard history (3 months), snippets, quick links, window management, Notes, extensions, and the iOS app. There’s no time limit
• Choose Pro if you want AI: $10/month ($8/month billed annually). Includes 500 AI credits per month, plus cloud sync, dictation, translation, unlimited clipboard history, custom themes, and more
• Choose Plus or Max if you want the latest, top-tier AI models: You get more credits and access to the most advanced models
• For teams, choose Teams: You can start with the free Teams Free plan

Individual Plans at a Glance

Paying annually saves you about 20% compared with paying monthly. Prices are listed in US dollars, and the amount you actually pay may vary depending on exchange rates and taxes. Before you buy, check the official pricing page (raycast.com/pricing) for the latest figures.

What You Can Do with the Free Plan (Raycast Free)

Raycast’s free plan isn’t a trial version. The official FAQ also states that the goal is to keep Raycast free for personal use. The free plan includes the following main features:

• Core features: App launcher, clipboard history, quick links, calculator, snippets, emoji picker, window management, and more
• Raycast Notes: A feature for jotting down quick notes while you work. Since October 2026, the free plan has no limit on the number of notes, and you can also paste images
• Raycast for iOS: An app for iPhone
• Extensions: Access to thousands of community-built extensions
• Building your own extensions and developer tools: You can create extensions for your own use

I also cover this in a video:

Free Plan Limitations

Here’s what the free plan can’t do, or where it has limits:

• No access to Raycast AI (Quick AI, AI Chat, AI Commands, and so on)
• Clipboard history is kept for 3 months (unlimited on Pro)
• No cloud sync
• No dictation or translation (Translator)
• No custom themes or custom window management commands

In other words, if you just want to bring the basic productivity tools together in one app without AI, the free plan is all you need.

Can You Use It for Work?

According to the official FAQ, the Free and Teams plans can be used by organizations as well as individuals, including in a company environment. You don’t need to switch to a paid plan just to use the free features for work.

Examples of Useful Free Features

• Clipboard history: Search and paste text, links, and images you copied earlier
• Snippets: Expand saved text with a short keyword
• Window management: Arrange windows into left half, right half, thirds, and more
• Extensions: Control external services like Notion, Slack, and Linear without opening a browser

What Raycast Pro Adds

The paid Pro plan includes everything in the free plan, plus the following features:

Note: There’s No “Pro Without AI”

According to the official FAQ, the Pro plan always includes AI. Even if you don’t need AI and only want cloud sync or dictation, you’ll pay the Pro price. If you don’t want to use AI, you can turn off the AI features completely in settings.

How AI Credits Work

Since September 2026, Raycast AI usage has been managed with AI credits. Understanding how they work will help you decide whether Pro is enough for you.

Basic Rules

• Paid plans include a set number of credits each month
• Credits are consumed based on the model you use and the amount of text read and written, not on the number of messages
• Long conversations, attached files, tool calls, and regenerating or editing messages also add to consumption
• Each model uses credits at a different rate, so cheaper models let you go further
• The model selection screen shows an approximate “Cost” so you can compare how quickly each model uses credits

Rollover and Expiration

• Unused monthly credits roll over to the following month, but they expire 60 days after they’re granted
• Free trial credits expire 7 days after they’re granted
• Credits you buy as a top-up are valid for 12 months from purchase. You need an active paid plan to use them
• Canceling doesn’t change when your credits expire. However, you can’t use AI without a paid plan (the free plan doesn’t include AI)

Checking Your Balance and What Happens When You Run Low

• You can check your balance on the “Account” screen in settings. You can also see usage by model and by day
• You can also check by typing /usage in AI Chat
• When you’re running low, a warning appears in the chat screen
• If you run out of both your monthly credits and any top-up credits, Raycast AI stops working until your next credit grant or until you buy more
• If you’ve connected your own AI, those models will keep working

Top-Ups (Buying Extra Credits)

If you run out, you can buy more credits. There are four packages: 500, 2,500, 5,000, and 10,000 credits, with prices shown on the purchase screen. You can’t buy top-ups during a free trial. On Teams plans, top-up credits are tied to each individual member and aren’t shared within the team.

Pro vs. Plus vs. Max

Put simply, the differences between the higher plans come down to which AI models you can use and how many credits you get each month.

According to the official documentation, the top-tier models include OpenAI’s GPT-6 family (Sol, Astra, and others) and Anthropic’s Claude Opus family and Fable. The models in this category will change as new models are released.

Here’s a rough guide to choosing Plus or above:

• Pro: For people who mainly ask everyday questions, proofread or summarize text, and translate
• Plus: For people who want the most advanced models for complex reasoning or coding. You get 6 times the monthly credits
• Max: For heavy users who use AI in large volumes every day

There are no feature differences compared with Pro apart from AI (such as cloud sync and dictation). The difference lies entirely in the AI.

Using Your Own AI (Bring Your Own)

Raycast lets you connect AI services you already pay for. When you do, no Raycast credits are consumed.

• Bring Your Own Subscription: Connect your own Claude or ChatGPT subscription and use its usage allowance
• Bring Your Own Key (BYOK): Use your own API key and pay the AI provider directly (supports OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and others)
• Custom providers: Connect OpenAI-compatible services and similar
• Local models: Use models running on your own computer via Ollama

However, a paid plan (Pro or above) is required to use any of these. You can’t bring your own AI on the free plan. If you already have an AI subscription or API access, signing up for Pro lets you use it in Raycast without worrying about credits.

Free Trial and Student Discount

• Free trial: Eligible new accounts can start a free trial of Pro. The trial includes 500 credits’ worth of AI usage. Top-tier models on Plus and Max are not included, and you can’t buy top-ups during the trial
• Student discount: Verified students get 50% off Pro. You apply through a form. The discount applies to the Pro plan only, not Plus or Max

For Teams: Teams and Enterprise Pricing

Here’s a quick overview of the plans for teams and companies.

Teams Free

• Free, with no time limit (not a trial)
• No limit on the number of members
• You can share up to 30 snippets, 30 quick links, and 5 commands
• Includes access to a private extension store (Private Store) for your team

Teams Pro

In addition to all Pro features, you get unlimited shared commands, snippets, and quick links. There’s no minimum or maximum number of seats, and you pay based on the number of people.

Enterprise

Pricing is by custom quote (annual contracts only). It adds stronger security and administration features, including SOC 2 Type II compliance, SAML and SCIM, domain capture, enforced 2FA, allowlists for extensions and IPs, and organization-level control over AI features. It also supports bulk deployment to Macs via MDM.

Notes for Existing Users (Raycast v1 and Annual Subscribers)

• Paid users still on v1: New models and top-tier models are available only in Raycast v2. From December 17, 2026, AI will stop working once your credits run out. Note that Mac v2 requires macOS Tahoe and Apple Silicon
• Users with an annual subscription: In connection with the September 2026 changes, your monthly credits are increased by 50% until your subscription term ends (750 for Pro, 4,500 for Pro+)

Which Plan Should You Choose?

Raycast Pricing: Pros and Cons

FAQ

Is Raycast free to use?

Yes. The launcher, clipboard history (3 months), snippets, quick links, window management, Notes, extensions, the iOS app, and more are free to use with no time limit. AI, cloud sync, dictation, translation, and similar features require the paid Pro plan.

How much does Raycast Pro cost?

It costs $10 per month, or $96 per year ($8/month). You get 500 AI credits each month. Check the official pricing page for the latest figures.

Can I use AI on the free plan?

No. Raycast AI is a paid feature and isn’t included in the free plan. New accounts may be able to try AI through the Pro free trial.

What happens when I run out of AI credits?

When your monthly credits and any top-up credits run out, Raycast AI stops working until your next credit grant or until you buy more credits. If you’ve connected your own AI (a subscription, API key, or local model), you can keep using that.

Do credits roll over?

Monthly credits roll over to the next month, but they expire 60 days after they’re granted. Top-up credits are valid for 12 months from purchase.

If I don’t use AI on Pro, is the price any different?

No. Pro is priced with AI always included, so the price is the same even if you don’t use it. If you don’t want AI, you can turn off the AI features in settings.

Can I use my own ChatGPT or Claude subscription?

Yes. With Bring Your Own Subscription, you can connect your own Claude or ChatGPT account. However, you need a paid plan (Pro or above) to use it.

Which is the better deal, annual or monthly?

Annual billing is about 20% cheaper. For Pro, that’s $8 per month billed annually versus $10 per month billed monthly. If you think you might stop using it partway through the year, though, starting with monthly billing is a reasonable way to test it.

Is there a student discount?

Yes. Verified students get 50% off Pro. Plus and Max are not eligible.

Do I need a paid plan to use Raycast at work?

No. The Free and Teams plans can be used by organizations. If you want to share snippets and links across a team, or you want to use AI, consider Teams Pro or Enterprise.

Is pricing the same on Windows and iPhone?

The official pricing page doesn’t list any price differences by device. The free plan includes the iOS app, and with Pro’s cloud sync you can sync snippets, Notes, and chats across Mac, Windows, and iOS.

Summary: Start Free, and Upgrade to Pro When You Want AI or Sync

Here are the key points about Raycast’s pricing:

1. Core features are free, with no time limit. You can use them personally or at work
2. Paid Pro costs $10/month ($8/month billed annually). It adds AI, cloud sync, dictation, translation, unlimited clipboard history, and more
3. AI uses a credit system. You get 500 credits per month, and AI stops when they run out
4. If you need the top-tier models, choose Plus or Max. You also get many more credits
5. You can bring your own AI, but you need a paid plan to do so

Start with the free plan and try features like clipboard history and snippets to see whether they make your daily work easier. If you find yourself wanting to use AI from Raycast or to keep your setup consistent across multiple devices, that’s the time to consider Pro.