Glimpse vs Raycast AI

Raycast is a launcher first: windows, snippets, clipboard, thousands of extensions, with AI on top for Pro subscribers. Glimpse is an assistant first: it answers from the window you are in and the tools behind it, names its sources, and asks before it writes.

How it opens
Glimpse⌃ Space from any app. Lives in the menu bar with no Dock icon.
Raycast AIThe Raycast launcher hotkey, with Quick AI and AI Chat inside it.
Reading the screen
GlimpseOpt-in. Lifts the focused document through the Accessibility API, including text scrolled out of view, with a screenshot as the fallback. Credentials are redacted before anything leaves the Mac.
Raycast AIScreen Awareness on Pro plans.
Your tools
GlimpseMail (read locally from Apple Mail), Google Calendar, to-dos, Slack, Linear, Notion, Obsidian, Granola and GitHub. Read at the same time, with each source named under the answer.
Raycast AIAI Extensions built on its extension store, covering many services.
Before it sends something
GlimpseEmails, Slack posts, issues, pull requests and deletions stop at a review card. What it carried out is kept in a ledger with its link.
Raycast AIDepends on the extension.
Meetings
GlimpseNever records or listens. Reads your Granola notes and, after a call, plans the follow-up.
Raycast AINot a focus.
Models
GlimpseGPT-5.6 Luna with no key, your own provider key, or frontier Claude, GPT and Gemini on Pro.
Raycast AISeveral providers on credits. Bring-your-own-key is part of Pro.
Runs on
GlimpsemacOS 15+, Apple silicon. Windows has a waitlist.
Raycast AImacOS. Windows is not listed on its pricing page.
Free to start
GlimpseYes, no card. 10 requests a day with no key, uncapped with your own.
Raycast AIThe launcher is free. AI is not included on the free plan.
Paid plan
GlimpsePro, $9.99/month introductory (rising to $16.99).
Raycast AIPro $10, Plus $20, Max $50 a month.

Pick Raycast AI if

  • You want one launcher for apps, windows, snippets and clipboard, with AI as one part.
  • You rely on its extension store or build your own extensions.

Pick Glimpse if

  • You want AI free, with no key and no card, or uncapped on your own key.
  • You want one question to read mail, Slack, Linear and Calendar at once, with the sources named.
  • You want every outgoing email, post or pull request held on a review card.

Raycast AI details checked in October 2026 against Raycast pricing. Prices and features change; check their site before deciding.

Other comparisons

Download

Ask your screen. And everything behind it.

Press ⌃Space anywhere in macOS. Glimpse reads the window you are in, searches the tools you already use, and stops at a review card before it writes anything.

Download for Mac
See what Pro adds
  • macOS 15+ · Apple silicon
  • Signed & notarized .dmg
  • Free to start, no card