LaunchHome vs Raycast: a Launchpad grid or a keyboard launcher?
LaunchHome and Raycast both open apps fast on macOS 26 and 27, in very different ways. How a Launchpad-style grid compares with Raycast’s keyboard search on price, workflow, folders and size, and why many people use both
The short answer
Disclosure: this comparison is written by the LaunchHome team. Raycast’s details come from its own website as of 2026-10-31.
They solve different problems. Raycast is a keyboard launcher: press a shortcut, type, press Return. LaunchHome brings back the full-screen Launchpad grid with pages and folders you arrange yourself.
Pick Raycast if you know what you want to open and like doing everything from the keyboard, including clipboard history, window management and extensions. Pick LaunchHome if you find apps by where they are, or miss Launchpad itself. Many people run both.
Side by side
Checked on 2026-10-31.
| LaunchHome | Raycast | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Full-screen app grid with pages and folders | Keyboard command bar with extensions |
| Price | Free; Pro is a one-time $9.9 for 3 Macs | Free for personal use; Pro is a subscription that includes AI |
| Opens with | F4 (free), any shortcut, pinch or hot corner (Pro) | A keyboard shortcut |
| Folders and your own order | Yes | No |
| Imports the old Launchpad layout | Yes, free | No |
| Search | By app name; initials and calculations in Pro | Apps, files, commands and extensions |
| Extras | Widgets: calculator, clipboard history, clock (Pro) | Clipboard history, window management, snippets, store of extensions |
Sources: Raycast pricing
When Raycast is the better fit
You remember apps by name and want to open them without leaving the keyboard.
You also want clipboard history, window snapping, quick calculations, snippets or hundreds of community extensions in one place.
You use AI features and are happy to pay a subscription for them.
When LaunchHome is the better fit
You remember apps by where they are, for example “second page, top left”, and want that layout back.
You want folders you make and name yourself, and pages you swipe between.
Your Mac used Launchpad before macOS 26 and you want to import those pages and folders.
You want something small: LaunchHome is about 4 MB, needs no account and collects no analytics.
Using both
They don’t conflict. A common setup is Raycast on ⌘Space or another shortcut, and LaunchHome on F4. Use Raycast when you know the name, and LaunchHome when you want to browse.
For more options, see Best app launchers for Mac.
FAQ
Can Raycast replace Launchpad?
Only if you open apps by typing. Raycast has no full-screen grid, no pages and no folders you arrange. To get those back, use a Launchpad replacement.
Do LaunchHome and Raycast work together?
Yes. Give each its own shortcut, for example ⌘Space for Raycast and F4 for LaunchHome.
Which is cheaper?
Both have free versions. LaunchHome Pro is a one-time $9.9; Raycast Pro is a subscription.