Happy Valley

Many Displays vs Raycast

Many Displays and Raycast are both personal productivity tools aimed at developers and freelancers. Both have a free plan.

Many Displays

Mac menu bar app that restores windows after sleep, unlock or replug

Raycast

Extensible launcher for macOS and Windows

PricingPaidFreemium · $10
Starting priceNot published$10/mo
Free planYesYes
Free trial14 days—
Built forDevelopers, Freelancers, Creators, Small businessesDevelopers, Freelancers
Platformsmacosmacos, windows, ios
Country—GB · 2020
Rating——

Choose Many Displays if

Mac users with docks or several external monitors, especially identical ones, who are tired of rearranging windows after every sleep.

  • Works with zero setup: no layouts to name, save or trigger
  • Built specifically for identical monitors that macOS swaps
  • No network access, analytics or account inside the app

Look elsewhere if: People who want keyboard tiling or saved workspace presets rather than automatic restore (Rectangle, Moom).

Choose Raycast if

Mac power users and developers who live on the keyboard.

  • Replaces several utilities in one hotkey
  • Huge extension ecosystem
  • Free tier covers most features

Look elsewhere if: Users content with Spotlight or who rarely use shortcuts.

Many Displays vs Raycast pricing

Many Displays

  • Free trial$014 days with every feature, no account or card
  • Licence$19One-time; 1 person, up to 3 Macs, 12 months of updates
  • BusinessCustomOne licence per employee; volume pricing by email

Raycast

  • Free$0Launcher, extensions, clipboard history, snippets; no AI
  • Pro$10/mo$96/yr; 500 AI credits/mo; team seat $15/user/mo
  • Pro+$20/mo$192/yr; 3,000 AI credits/mo, advanced models
  • Max$50/mo$480/yr; 7,500 AI credits/mo, advanced models

Many Displays · Key features

  • Automatic window restore after wake, unlock, login or monitor replug
  • Identical monitors told apart by system UUID and physical port
  • One remembered layout per combination of displays
  • Restores arrangement, resolution, refresh rate, rotation and HDR first
  • Reads the window server list in about 20 ms instead of polling apps
  • Remembers and restores windows on other Spaces, not just the visible one

Cons

  • macOS only, with no Windows or Linux version
  • Cannot move windows between Spaces on macOS 14.5 and later
  • Updates after the first year require buying a new licence

Raycast · Key features

  • Launcher with fuzzy search and aliases
  • Clipboard history, snippets and quicklinks
  • Window management and system commands
  • Extension store with 2,000+ integrations
  • Raycast AI chat, commands and model selection
  • Notes, focus sessions and cloud sync (Pro)

Cons

  • Mac-first; Windows still maturing
  • AI features require Pro
  • Some extensions depend on third-party APIs

Many Displays vs Raycast: FAQ

Do Many Displays and Raycast have a free plan?

Yes, both Many Displays and Raycast have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.

Which is better for small businesses, Many Displays or Raycast?

Many Displays lists small businesses as a core audience, while Raycast is aimed more at developers and freelancers.

Not sure yet?