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Apps
macOS
What are the best text expansion apps for macOS?
11
Options
Considered
185
User
Recs.
Feb 4, 2024
Last
Updated
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Options
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Best text expansion apps for macOS
Price
Price (Base Program)
Platforms
--
Alfred
-
Free
-
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TypeIt4Me
$19.99
-
-
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Typinator
24,99€
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-
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PhraseExpress
$49.95
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-
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espanso
-
-
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See Full List
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Alfred
My Rec
ommendation
for
Alfred
My Recommendation for
Alfred
All
12
Experiences
1
Pros
9
Cons
1
Specs
Top
Pro
•••
Text Expansion
Easily manage and use text expansion.
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Top
Con
•••
Many features require the $25 powerpack add-on
Features like custom workflows, clipboard history, 1Password integrations and others require the powerpack add-on.
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Joseph Murphy's Experience
Built-in clipboard and text expansion manager is very powerful and easy to use.
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Specs
Price (Base Program):
Free
Top
Pro
•••
Productivity booster
Helps speed up your working day one shortcut at a time.
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Top
Pro
•••
Allows theming
Alfred allows adjusting colors, fonts, sizes and more to create new themes.
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Clipboard history
Alfred offers a clipboard with an extensive history for quick access to your copied text, images and links.
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Lightweight and smooth
Alfred is a lightweight application for OS X and runs smoothly, even on older devices.
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Top
Pro
•••
Built-in calculator
Alfred is able to handle simple mathematical commands and more extensive expressions alike. Pressing Enter copies the result to the clipboard.
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Top
Pro
•••
Versatile search
Quickly search for files, applications and web services from the same input.
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Top
Pro
•••
Integrates with 1Password
Alfred allows getting secure and fast access to your 1Password 1Click bookmarks.
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Full keyboard controls
You can do everything using just the keyboard.
See More
Hide
See All
Get it
here
Recommend
16
3
--
TypeIt4Me
My Rec
ommendation
for
TypeIt4Me
My Recommendation for
TypeIt4Me
All
13
Experiences
4
Pros
6
Cons
3
Top
Pro
•••
Just right
Not too thin, not too bloat. Very approachable.
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Top
Con
•••
Less sophisticated feature set
If you're switching from TextExpander you may miss one or two power features like fill-ins that don't have direct equivalents. There's usually a workaround that achieves roughly the same outcome, though.
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SpontaneousLiberalitas's Experience
Simple, multi-functional, easy to use and navigate. Good features for low one-time price.
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Top
Pro
•••
No subscription
TypeIt4Me is relatively inexpensive. There's a $19.99 one-off payment and that's it. No recurring monthly fee after that (though they do charge an optional $8.99 fee to upgrade to a new version every few years).
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Top
Con
•••
Infrequent updates
It's a great app but there tend to be quite long intervals between major new versions.
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PopularHunBatz's Experience
Been using it for donkey years. I do like it. Simply, reliable, does what it's supposed to do
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Top
Pro
•••
Relatively easy to use
Other text expanders do the job but are really difficult to use, with complicated interfaces to learn. By contrast, TypeIt4Me is relatively simple and intuitive. It also has a detailed instruction manual for when you do want to get into the power features.
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Top
Con
•••
Language support
The TypeIt4Me app interface itself is available in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish but the Help / instructions are only available in English. If your English is not strong, this could be frustrating.
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SophisticatedShara's Experience
Not to bloated. Just right.
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Top
Pro
•••
Has been actively developed for decades
The developer has been supporting TypeIt4Me since the 1990s and clearly cares about maintaining the product.
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KindheartedHemithea's Experience
Great time saver. It just works. Customer support is great; when I do need help with something it's usually resolved within a day.
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Top
Pro
•••
Good support
First class customer care.
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Top
Pro
•••
Related notepad app for iPhone and iPad
The Mac version of TypeIt4Me can sync snippets via iCloud with TypeIt4Me Touch (an iOS note-taking app with built-in TypeIt4Me text expansion support, available as a separate purchase).
See More
Hide
See All
$19.99
Recommend
29
--
Typinator
My Rec
ommendation
for
Typinator
My Recommendation for
Typinator
All
12
Experiences
4
Pros
6
Cons
2
Top
Pro
•••
Extensive feature-set
Does almost everything you would need in a text expansion app.
See More
Top
Con
•••
No customer service
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ResponsibleAli-zu's Experience
Superb
See More
Top
Pro
•••
It's incredibly stable
Typinator very, very rarely crashes.
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Top
Con
•••
No periodic subscription
See More
AgreeableXpiacoc's Experience
Fast, Flawless, Fine
See More
Top
Pro
•••
No periodic subscription
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EnterprisingManawydan's Experience
The app stopped working after upgrading to Catalina, and the recommended workarounds on their website didn't work. So I contacted customer service for help. The email bounced back. I thought maybe they were having server problems, so I waited a week then emailed again. I did this 5 times over 6 weeks, and the email bounced back every time. I tried messaging them on Facebook, no answer. There is absolutely no way to get hold of them for support. After paying $30 for this software, this is unacceptable!
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Easy to use
See More
CleverMethe's Experience
I bought the v8.0 in November and in June when they launched a v8.1, they asked me to pay again and said all software are sold like this
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Publish and Subscribe for snippet sets
You're able to stay in sync with any changes that may happen.
See More
Top
Pro
•••
On sale very often
You can often catch Typinator for $10 or less.
See More
Hide
See All
24,99€
Recommend
28
8
--
PhraseExpress
My Rec
ommendation
for
PhraseExpress
My Recommendation for
PhraseExpress
All
18
Experiences
3
Pros
14
Cons
1
Top
Pro
•••
Easy to use
Very clear and thoughtful user interface.
See More
Top
Con
•••
No Linux version
Some people might want it.
See More
AdventurousKupala's Experience
I like the unique popup menu with the search feature.
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Flexible shortcut system
Offers many options for autotext.
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MSchleger's Experience
I tried several but this one works best. Very flexible. Love the phrase menu.
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Top
Pro
•••
No subscription, perpetual license
Unlike other text expanders, PhraseExpress is a one time purchase.
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FascinatingTilla's Experience
Powerful and easy to use
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Top
Pro
•••
Versions for Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Phrase menu
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Document generator
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Portable option
Can run from a USB device.
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Works with Mac and Windows and iPhone
There are versions for all platforms, that can synchronize snippets.
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Sophisticated macro language
It has many macro functions. Macros can be combined and nested.
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Supports RTF formatting and Word documents
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Does not force to use a cloud service
It can run standalone without the need to connect to the Internet.
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Fill-In forms with may options
You cannot only add simple text input but also radio buttons, check boxes, etc.
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Top
Pro
•••
Includes Outlook addon to automate email replies
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Clipboard Manager with cool extra features
If email addresses or URL are part of the clipboard contents, PE offers you to send an email to that address or to open the web site.
See More
Hide
See All
$49.95
Recommend
36
3
--
espanso
My Rec
ommendation
for
espanso
My Recommendation for
espanso
All
5
Experiences
2
Pros
3
Top
Pro
•••
Open Source
See More
PerseveringTelipinu's Experience
Does all I need, really great app
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Command line based
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Jon Leibowitz's Experience
I first started out with aText years ago, but after finding espanso I'm not looking back. This app hits all the right notes.
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Cross platform
See More
Hide
See All
Get it
here
Recommend
6
--
aText
My Rec
ommendation
for
aText
My Recommendation for
aText
All
17
Experiences
3
Pros
11
Cons
3
Top
Con
•••
Frequent crashes in MacOS Sierra
aText crashes frequently, and the developer is unresponsive. Not clear if app is supported or under current development: last update was in 11/15; last post to aText Facebook page 10/15.
See More
Top
Pro
•••
No Update
See More
TruthfulVulturnus's Experience
Developer is AWOL. Doesn't work in Mojave at all. Don't pay for this app.
See More
Top
Con
•••
Doesn't work in Mojave
The current version, with no issues. In fact, I've never had any issue with it with Mojave, so I assume when Mojave was released, aText was already up to date for it.
See More
Top
Pro
•••
A snippet can be expanded to plain or styled text and include pictures
See More
InventiveAsag's Experience
So many capabilities, but no manual. Works really well in Windows.
See More
Top
Con
•••
Long time no update
Seems to be abandoned.
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Has built-in snippets for common typos
See More
FascinatingTilla's Experience
Long time no update
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Cheaper than competition
$4.99, cheaper than textExpander ($35)
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Compatible with TextExpander snippets
TextExpander snippets can be imported into aText
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Works with VMs
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Imports from most alternative text expansion apps
aText can import data from TextExpander, TypeIt4Me, SpellCatcherX, Automaton and CSV file.
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Has common HTML & JS snippets built-in
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Snippets can include editable fields
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Data can be synced through cloud storage services
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Snippets can include a wide variety of variables
Possible variables include date, time, other snippets, clipboard content, etc.
See More
Hide
See All
Get it
here
Recommend
9
8
--
FontBase
My Rec
ommendation
for
FontBase
My Recommendation for
FontBase
All
6
Experiences
1
Pros
4
Cons
1
Top
Pro
•••
Wonderful minimalist interface with good choice of controls
See More
Top
Con
•••
For more features, you have to suscribe to a monthly fee ($3)
See More
RealisticAdephagia's Experience
It is not a text expansion tool but a font utility
See More
Top
Pro
•••
It syncs with your Folder
Manage your font in specific folders and not inside the app. Perfect for managing fonts on multiple devices.
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Free to use
FontBase is free.
See More
Top
Pro
•••
It saves you from having to install fonts
See More
Hide
See All
Free
Recommend
6
4
--
TextExpander
My Rec
ommendation
for
TextExpander
My Recommendation for
TextExpander
All
6
Pros
2
Cons
4
Top
Con
•••
Latest version only available on a monthly subscription
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Cross-platform
See More
Top
Con
•••
Naggy
TextExpander nags about subscribing to their mailing list, and giving it more access to private information such as Contacts.
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Has an iOS app
See More
Top
Con
•••
Expensive
Currently a TextExpander license costs $35.
See More
Top
Con
•••
Limited iOS app
See More
Hide
See All
Get it
here
Recommend
9
8
--
DashExpander
My Rec
ommendation
for
DashExpander
My Recommendation for
DashExpander
Hide
Get it
here
Recommend
7
2
Don't see your favorite option? Add it.
--
Gedit
My Rec
ommendation
for
Gedit
My Recommendation for
Gedit
Get it
here
Recommend
1
--
CodeExpander
My Rec
ommendation
for
CodeExpander
My Recommendation for
CodeExpander
Get it
here
Recommend
2
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