1MachineTool vs Raycast
A launcher that grew an extension store and AI, or a launcher that also knows what your machine is doing.
Checked against Raycast’s own site, 18 October 2026
Short answer
If you want a launcher alone, Raycast's free tier is hard to beat. 1MachineTool is for when you also want the machine kept fast, tidy and healthy.
- Both have a launcher, clipboard history, window snapping and snippets. Raycast's free tier is more generous there, and it has a large extension store.
- Ask 1MachineTool's launcher "why is it slow?" and it answers with the cause and a fix. Raycast doesn't monitor, clean or manage the battery.
- Raycast Pro is $10 a month for AI and sync. 1MachineTool works without AI; bring your own key if you want it.
Two ways to do the job.
1MachineTool
The launcher opens on ⌥Space: apps, recent files, commands with arguments, calculator, units, snippets and a window switcher. The same palette asks the diagnosis question and runs every module's actions.
Raycast
A free launcher with extensions, snippets, Quicklinks, clipboard history (3 months), window management and Notes. Pro ($10/month or $96/year) adds Raycast AI, Cloud Sync, unlimited clipboard history and custom themes. On macOS, Windows (still being ported) and iOS.
www.raycast.comSide by side.
| Feature | 1MachineTool | Raycast |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Price | Free, or Pro $29 once (one year of updates) | Free; Pro $10/month or $96/year |
| Runs on | macOS now; Windows (v1.1) and Linux (v1.3) on the same licence | macOS, Windows (port in progress), iOS |
| What it covers | Eleven tools: launcher, clipboard, windows, monitor, clean, power, battery, menu bar, network, security, VMs (when shipped) | Launcher, extensions, clipboard, windows, snippets, notes, AI (Pro) |
| Tells you why the machine is slow, hot, full or draining | Yes: one sentence, the evidence, the fix and an undo | No |
| Launcher | ||
| Apps, files, calculator, snippets | Yes | Yes |
| Extension store | No | Yes |
| Clipboard history | 7 days free, unlimited in Pro | 3 months free, unlimited in Pro |
| Window snapping | Halves free; thirds, corners and saved layouts in Pro | Free; custom commands in Pro |
| AI | Bring your own AI, off by default; only facts are sent | Raycast AI in Pro (500 credits a month), or bring your own key |
| Cloud sync | Plus: setup carried across machines | Pro |
| The machine itself | ||
| System monitor and hogs | Yes | No |
| Disk cleanup with undo | Pro | No |
| Battery health and charge limit | Pro | No |
| Menu bar organiser, keep-awake | Pro | No |
| Account needed | No account for Free and Pro | Not stated for the free tier; needed for sync and AI |
Scroll the table sideways.
Which one is for you.
Choose 1MachineTool if
- You want the launcher to answer "why is my Mac slow?" and fix it.
- You'd pay once for cleaning, battery and menu bar tools rather than collect separate apps.
- You don't want an AI subscription.
Choose Raycast if
- You live in extensions: GitHub, Linear, Jira and the rest.
- You want built-in AI chat.
- You only need a launcher, clipboard and windows, and want them free.
Questions.
Can I use both?
Yes. Give them different hotkeys, or turn off 1MachineTool's launcher and use it for the monitor, cleaning, battery and menu bar. Each module can be switched off.
Does 1MachineTool have extensions like Raycast?
No extension store. You can add your own commands, and it picks up the MCP tools of the StoicSoft apps you have set up for your AI agents.
How much is Raycast Pro?
$10 a month or $96 a year on Raycast's pricing page in October 2026. Teams Pro is $15 per user per month.
Raycast’s column comes from its own site on 18 October 2026. Prices and plans change; if something here is out of date, tell us and we will fix it.
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