Microsoft 365 vs Raycast
Microsoft 365 and Raycast are both personal productivity tools. Microsoft 365 is aimed at small businesses and enterprise, while Raycast is aimed at developers and freelancers. Microsoft 365 costs less, from $1.99/mo versus $10/mo for Raycast. Both have a free plan.
Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams and OneDrive in one subscription
Extensible launcher for macOS and Windows
| Pricing | Freemium · $2 | Freemium · $10 |
| Starting price | $1.99/mo | $10/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | 30 days | — |
| Built for | Small businesses, Enterprise, Freelancers | Developers, Freelancers |
| Platforms | web, windows, macos, ios, android | macos, windows, ios |
| Country | US · 2011 | GB · 2020 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Microsoft 365 if
Businesses and households that depend on Word, Excel and Outlook and want email, storage, security and AI under one Microsoft account.
- Industry-standard file formats and the most capable spreadsheet in Excel
- Desktop apps remain more powerful than any browser-based rival
- Business Premium bundles security and device management at a fair price
Look elsewhere if: Browser-first teams that prefer lightweight docs and chat (Google Workspace, Notion or Slack fit better).
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.
Microsoft 365 vs Raycast pricing
Microsoft 365
- Microsoft 365 Basic$1.99/mo100 GB OneDrive and ad-free Outlook; no desktop apps or AI
- Personal$9.99/mo$99.99/year; 1 person, 1 TB, desktop apps with Copilot
- Family$12.99/mo$129.99/year; up to 6 people, 2 TB shared, Copilot for owner
- Premium$19.99/mo$199.99/year; Family plus extensive Copilot usage
- Business Basic$7/user/moAnnual commitment; web and mobile apps, Teams, 1 TB, 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
Microsoft 365 · Key features
- Desktop, web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
- Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook on paid home plans
- OneDrive cloud storage from 100 GB up to 2 TB on home plans
- Teams chat, meetings and webinars on Business plans
- Exchange business email with custom domains and 50 GB mailboxes
- SharePoint intranet sites and document libraries for teams
Cons
- Plan and add-on licensing is confusing for small buyers
- July 2026 increase raised Business Basic and Standard prices
- Copilot usage limits and features vary by plan and region
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
Microsoft 365 vs Raycast: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Microsoft 365 or Raycast?
Microsoft 365 starts at $1.99/mo and Raycast at $10/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Microsoft 365 and Raycast have a free plan?
Yes, both Microsoft 365 and Raycast have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.
Which is better for small businesses, Microsoft 365 or Raycast?
Microsoft 365 lists small businesses as a core audience, while Raycast is aimed more at developers and freelancers.