Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Raycast VS Microsoft Copilot

Compare Raycast VS Microsoft Copilot and see what are their differences

Raycast logo Raycast

Fastest way to control Jira, GitHub and other web apps

Microsoft Copilot logo Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft Copilot leverages the power of AI to boost productivity, unlock creativity, and helps you understand information better with a simple chat experience.
  • Raycast Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-24
  • Microsoft Copilot Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-04-23

Raycast features and specs

  • Speed
    Raycast is known for its blazing fast performance, allowing users to quickly access and execute commands without noticeable lag.
  • Customization
    Raycast offers extensive customization options, enabling users to tailor the tool to meet their specific workflow needs and preferences.
  • Integration
    Raycast integrates seamlessly with a variety of applications and tools, improving productivity by allowing users to perform tasks directly within the launcher.
  • User Interface
    Raycast features an intuitive and clean user interface, making it easy for both beginners and advanced users to navigate and utilize its features.
  • Community Support
    Raycast has an active community that contributes plugins, custom scripts, and support, enhancing the functionality of the tool and providing valuable resources.

Possible disadvantages of Raycast

  • Platform Limitation
    As of now, Raycast is only available for macOS, limiting its accessibility for users on other operating systems such as Windows and Linux.
  • Learning Curve
    New users might face a learning curve due to the number of features and customization options available, which might be overwhelming initially.
  • Dependency on Plugins
    While plugin support enhances functionality, dependency on third-party plugins can lead to stability issues or conflicts if those plugins are not well-maintained.
  • Cost
    Although Raycast offers a free version, some advanced features and integrations may require a subscription, which could be a consideration for budget-conscious users.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As with any tool that integrates deeply into your system and workflows, there can be concerns regarding data privacy and security, even though Raycast maintains strong privacy policies.

Microsoft Copilot features and specs

  • Integration with Microsoft Office Suite
    Copilot is seamlessly integrated into Microsoft Office applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, enhancing productivity by offering AI-powered suggestions and automation.
  • Improved Efficiency
    By automating routine tasks and providing smart recommendations, Copilot helps users complete their work faster and with greater accuracy.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Designed with ease of use in mind, Copilotโ€™s interface is intuitive, making it accessible even for users with limited technical expertise.
  • Advanced AI Capabilities
    Utilizing sophisticated machine learning models, Copilot delivers high-quality insights and suggestions, adapting to different user needs and contexts.
  • Customization Options
    Users can tailor Copilotโ€™s features and suggestions to better fit their workflows, enhancing personalization and relevance.

Possible disadvantages of Microsoft Copilot

  • Privacy Concerns
    The use of AI tools often raises privacy issues, particularly regarding how data is used and stored by Microsoft.
  • Dependence on Cloud Access
    Copilot relies heavily on cloud services, which can be a limitation for users without reliable internet connectivity or those in regions with restricted access.
  • Potential Over-reliance
    There's a risk that users might become overly dependent on Copilot, potentially stifling their own problem-solving skills and creativity.
  • Cost
    Access to advanced Copilot features might require additional subscriptions or fees, which could be a significant expense for some users or organizations.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There may be compatibility problems with older versions of Microsoft Office products, limiting Copilot's usability for some users.

Analysis of Raycast

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Raycast is considered a good tool, especially for macOS users who want to enhance productivity and optimize their desktop experience. Its balance of functionality, speed, and customization makes it a valuable asset.

Why this product is good

  • Raycast is praised for its efficiency in streamlining workflows on macOS. It acts as a powerful application launcher, offering features like quick access to apps, system commands, and a broad range of extensions. Users appreciate its speed, simplicity, and the ability to customize it to fit their specific needs.

Recommended for

  • MacOS users looking for a fast application launcher
  • Professionals who want to streamline their workflow
  • Developers and power users seeking customizable tools
  • Individuals interested in keyboard-driven productivity solutions

Raycast videos

Hands on - Increase your Mac Productivity with Raycast

Microsoft Copilot videos

Microsoft Copilot Full Review | AI in Word, PowerPoint, Excel and More!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Raycast and Microsoft Copilot)
Productivity
80 80%
20% 20
AI
41 41%
59% 59
AI Assistant
0 0%
100% 100
Mac
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Raycast and Microsoft Copilot

Raycast Reviews

Top 10 Productivity Apps for MacOSย 2025
Since my first Mac, Iโ€™ve always used Alfred, but Raycast has quickly stolen the crown when it comes to Spotlight search. Raycast is a powerful alternative that consolidates multiple functionalities into a single, sleek interface. It eliminates the need for separate apps like Rectangle for window management or Paste for clipboard history. Ideal for developers, it integrates...
Source: dev.to
4 Best Spotlight Alternatives to Increase Your Macโ€™s Functionality
Similar to Raycast, LaunchBar also shows you your reminders and lets you manage your events, so you never miss out on whatโ€™s on your agenda for the day. And, you get the ability to create or use custom scripts to extend Raycastโ€™s functionality and use it for automating repetitive tasks.
Source: techpp.com

Microsoft Copilot Reviews

Microsoft Copilot Vs Claude
Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant integrated within Microsoft 365 applications. It leverages AI to enhance productivity by automating repetitive tasks, providing intelligent suggestions, and improving overall workflow. Copilot is designed to work seamlessly within apps like Word, Excel, and Teams, making it an ideal tool for users deeply embedded in the Microsoft...
Best 5 AI Chatbots of 2024
What distinguishes Microsoft Copilot is its unique operational methodology. While ChatGPT predominantly relies on its expansive GPT-based knowledge repository, Copilot takes a novel approach by seamlessly integrating real-time internet data into its decision-making process. This dual-layered response mechanism ensures that Copilot not only leverages the wealth of information...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Raycast should be more popular than Microsoft Copilot. It has been mentiond 38 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Raycast mentions (38)

  • Raycast, Warp, Tmux?! My terminal stack after 30 dev experiments
    Raycast โ€” The launcher with extensions, scripts, and fast everything. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • ๐ŸคฏPowerful AI Tools You Should Know v2๐Ÿซต
    Raycast: Your Shortcut to Everything. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Tools that keep me productive
    Raycast is my go-to replacement for macOS' spotlight. It's like Spotlight on steroids. I previously used Alfred, another outstanding Spotlight alternative, but for some reason Raycast grew on me. I also use it for window management. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • A collection of useful Mac Apps
    Raycast - Price: Free Spotlight-like app for macOS that allows you to quickly access and execute commands, access apps, hotkeys, text expansion, clipboard manager and more. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Everything I Installed on My New Mac
    Raycast is a productivity tool that lets you search apps and do things just with a single keystroke. It's like Spotlight on steroids. I've been using it for a while now and it's been a game-changer. I can't imagine using my Mac without it. I use it to open apps, search files, run scripts, and so much more. It has a vibrant ecosystem of extensions that you can install to do even more. I highly recommend checking it... - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
View more

Microsoft Copilot mentions (15)

  • Windows 10 resists its end: usage share climbs while Windows 11's falls
    Just want to remind everyone, if they haven't realized it yet, that Microsoft will help you switch to Linux for free. They have this site (https://copilot.microsoft.com) that will gently walk you though any problems that you may run into. Afraid of the command line? They'll give you the commands to copy and paste. - Source: Hacker News / 24 days ago
  • Do you really need the Cloud to work with AI?
    Gemini, OpenAI, Copilot, Deepseek, Llama, and many others enable AI in your applications or help you write code, but they all need an internet connection to be accessible. You need the Cloud or to connect to a managed service to get an answer from the model. In some scenarios, this approach exposes you to security issues or the risk of sharing data with another service, and you may want to avoid it. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • ChatGPT's enterprise success against Copilot fuels OpenAI/Microsoft rivalry
    I see. Still worked for me. Opening https://copilot.microsoft.com Endering prompt: ffmpeg command to convert movie.mov into a reasonably sized mp4 https://i.imgur.com/CuaxIlL.png. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Microsoft will kill Remote Desktop soon, insists you'll love replacement
    Maybe when they introduce their version of Claudeโ€™s Computer Use [1] theyโ€™ll call it โ€œMicrosoft Windows Copilotโ€ Not to be confused with Microsoft Copilot, which is not to be confused with Microsoft 365 Copilot, which is not to be confused with Github Copilotโ€ฆ [1] https://www.anthropic.com/news/3-5-models-and-computer-use [2] https://copilot.microsoft.com [3]... - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • Microsoft announces a revolutionary keyboard designed for vibe coding!
    The TabBoard is a masterpiece of engineering. Encased in an stainless steel frame with a premium, touch-sensitive Tab key. This keyboard is designed for efficiency, style, and maximum vibes. Microsoftโ€™s engineers have spent years perfecting the keyโ€™s tactile response, ensuring the ultimate tabbing experience while vibe coding with Copilot. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Raycast and Microsoft Copilot, you can also consider the following products

Alfred - Alfred is an award-winning app for macOS which boosts your efficiency with hotkeys, keywords, text expansion and more. Search your Mac and the web, and be more productive with custom actions to control your Mac.

ChatGPT - ChatGPT is a powerful, open-source language model.

Slapdash - Fastest way to work across your cloud apps โšก๏ธ

Gemini - Gemini, formerly known as Bard, is a generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by Google. Based on the large language model (LLM) of the same name, it was launched in 2023 in response to the rise of OpenAI's ChatGPT.

Keypirinha - A lightning fast and flexible keystroke launcher for Windows. No installation required (portable).

Claude AI - Claude is a next generation AI assistant built for work and trained to be safe, accurate, and secure. An AI assistant from Anthropic.