Raycast has become the developer-beloved alternative to Alfred. Pie Menu takes a completely different approach with visual gestures instead of keyboard search.
What is each tool?
- Raycast is a modern keyboard launcher with a powerful extensions ecosystem, team collaboration features, and deep integration with developer tools.
- Pie Menu is a radial gesture menu that gives you instant visual access to shortcuts without typing, context-aware to each app you're using.
Key Differences
| Feature | Raycast | Pie Menu |
|---|---|---|
| Primary interaction | Type to search | Gesture to reveal |
| Extensions ecosystem | ✅ Vast library | Focus on actions |
| Team features | ✅ Shared extensions | Personal use |
| Developer-focused | ✅ Deep integration | General purpose |
| Visual approach | List-based search | Radial menu |
Who should choose Pie Menu?
- You want instant visual access to shortcuts without typing anything
- You're a visual thinker who prefers gestures over search
- You work with design tools, video editors, or other apps where shortcuts vary by context
- You want muscle memory that doesn't require remembering keywords
- You prefer simplicity over an extensive extensions library
Who should choose Raycast?
- You want a powerful launcher with hundreds of extensions
- You're a developer who needs deep tool integration
- You work on a team and want shared extensions and configurations
- You love customizing your workflow with automation
- You prefer keyboard-first interactions
Can you use both?
Yes! Raycast excels at launching, searching, and extensions. Pie Menu excels at providing context-aware shortcuts within applications.
Use Raycast to launch apps, run commands, and search files. Use Pie Menu when you're already in an app and need quick access to app-specific actions like toggling panels, running builds, or formatting code.
