What is the best text expansion tool for Windows?

Question

5

Options
Considered

12

User
Recs.

Jun 13, 2021

Last
Updated

Here’s the Deal

5 Options Considered

Best text expansion tool for Windows	Price	Last Updated
-- espanso	-	Jun 13, 2021
-- Lintalist	Free	Apr 8, 2021
-- PhraseExpress	0	Nov 27, 2018
-- Office Lens	Free	May 16, 2021
-- Fastkeys	19	Jan 8, 2020

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score 1 · Answer 1

espanso

Top Pro

Open source

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score 6 · Answer 2

Lintalist

Top Pro

Lintalist is open source and developed in AutoHotkey

Yanis's Experience

Still trying this out, so far so good ! See More

Top Pro

You can use keyboard shortcuts or abbreviations to paste the text (or run the script)

Top Pro

You can use Lintalist with formatted text (html, markdown and rtf) and images

Top Pro

You can extend Lintalist by writing your own plugins

See All

score 1 · Answer 3

PhraseExpress

Top Pro

User access options

Phrases can be visible for all or for only selected users. Supports Active Directory. See More

Top Con

No Linux (only Windows, Mac OSX, iOS and Google Android)

If important to you, no Linux (afaik), There is "Autokey" which is a Linux mock of Phraser Express. See More

MSchleger's Experience

Powerful and easy-to-use text expander for all platforms See More

Top Pro

Freeware!

The freeware offers most of the normal features like text expansion, hotkeys, text shorts, portable edition. See More

Top Con

Higher editions are expensive

The top enterprise edition is targeted to just that. Enterprise customers. The Pro Edition seem to offer best value for the money but the Outlook add on of the enterprise edition should be included in Pro (it is not). See More

Top Pro

Performs calculations in-text

A math formula can be typed anywhere and PE can compute and insert the result into the text. Can replace simple calculator app. See More

Top Pro

Documents generator

You can create a "recipe" of phrase templates with simple drag and drop. PE then compiles this recipe and writes a finished Word document file. See More

Top Pro

SQL server support

Doesnt matter for home use but for company use, this is important and very well made in Phraser Express. See More

Top Pro

Powerful macro functions

Inserts date stamps, fill-in input, external data, launch programs, open documents, create emails. Havent counted, but has around 100 different functions that can be combined. See More

Top Pro

Portable Text Expander

Can run from portable thumb drives. Useful if you are not allowed to install on your computer. See More

Top Pro

Outlook Add on

One of the best features: Phraser Express can insert the name of an email sender automatically when you reply. See More

Top Pro

External data integration

Can import, embed and link data from external files or databases into the phrases. Can import text files line by line as phrases. Or insert individual cells of an Excel file into a phrase. Claims to insert Windows environment and Active directory vars. I have not been through all the options. See More

Top Pro

Fill-in forms

Has the most powerful fill-in options of all expanders I tried. Text input, radio buttons, checkboxes, drop downs, table styled grid inputs. See More

Top Pro

Clipboard Manager integrated

It also comes with a integrated clipboard manager. It plays well together with the phrase management. See More

Top Pro

Easy to use

It is really easy: Enter a phrase and an text short cut and that's it. Or just only enter a phrase and use the phrase menu. The manual is fantastic and one of the most comprehensive I have seen. Many tutorial vids. See More

See All

score 1 · Answer 4

Office Lens

Top Pro

OCR

Can convert images to text. See More

score 2 · Answer 5

Fastkeys

Top Pro

Very customizable text expansion

Top Con

Can be annoying having autocomplete on by default

If you're only using it for text expansion, the auto-complete can be annoying if you leave it on. I suggest turning it off if you're not using it, as well as the shortcuts. See More

Top Pro

Easy to add and update new phrases

See All

What is the best text expansion tool for Windows?

5 Options Considered

espanso

My Recommendation for espanso

My Recommendation for espanso

Open source

Lintalist

My Recommendation for Lintalist

My Recommendation for Lintalist

Lintalist is open source and developed in AutoHotkey

You can use keyboard shortcuts or abbreviations to paste the text (or run the script)

You can use Lintalist with formatted text (html, markdown and rtf) and images

You can extend Lintalist by writing your own plugins

PhraseExpress

My Recommendation for PhraseExpress

My Recommendation for PhraseExpress

User access options

No Linux (only Windows, Mac OSX, iOS and Google Android)

Freeware!

Higher editions are expensive

Performs calculations in-text

Documents generator

SQL server support

Powerful macro functions

Portable Text Expander

Outlook Add on

External data integration

Fill-in forms

Clipboard Manager integrated

Easy to use

Office Lens

My Recommendation for Office Lens

My Recommendation for Office Lens

OCR

Fastkeys

My Recommendation for Fastkeys

My Recommendation for Fastkeys

Very customizable text expansion

Can be annoying having autocomplete on by default

Easy to add and update new phrases

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