Raycast is a productivity launcher with AI chat. Nova is an autonomous agent with screen control and message automation. Both live on your Mac — but they work very differently.
Raycast is an excellent productivity launcher with a fast, keyboard-first interface, a rich extension ecosystem, clipboard history, and built-in AI chat. Raycast AI (part of Raycast Pro, $8/mo as of 2026) provides cloud-based AI conversations within the launcher. Nova is a different kind of tool — it's a full autonomous agent that observes your screen, reads and sends iMessages, controls Spotify, learns your preferences, and runs 50+ Mac automations locally. Raycast excels as a power-user launcher; Nova excels as an autonomous AI agent. Many users find value in running both.
| Feature | Nova | Raycast AI |
|---|---|---|
| Runs locally (no cloud)Raycast AI uses cloud models (requires Pro subscription) | ||
| Privacy — data stays on deviceRaycast AI sends queries to cloud for processing | ||
| Free tierRaycast is free; Raycast AI requires Pro at $8/mo (as of 2026) | ||
| Launcher / quick commandsRaycast is purpose-built as a launcher | ||
| Screen observer | ||
| iMessage integration | ||
| Spotify controlRaycast has a Spotify extension; Nova has deeper control | ||
| Automation marketplaceRaycast Store vs Nova Marketplace | ||
| Custom AI model (local)Raycast AI uses cloud models | ||
| Keyboard-first designRaycast is built around keyboard shortcuts | ||
| Extension ecosystemRaycast has a larger extension library as of 2026 | ||
| Voice activation |
Free download. No signup required. Runs locally on your Mac.
Download Nova FreemacOS 12+ · Apple Silicon · No cloud required
Absolutely. Many users run both. Raycast excels as a fast launcher, clipboard manager, and quick-action tool. Nova handles deeper automation — screen observation, iMessage management, Spotify control, and autonomous workflows. They don't conflict with each other.
Raycast itself is free. Raycast AI is part of Raycast Pro, which costs $8/month as of 2026. Nova is completely free — its local AI model requires no subscription or API keys.
Raycast has a strong developer focus with extensions for GitHub, Jira, Linear, and other dev tools, plus built-in snippet management. Nova is more focused on general Mac automation and daily life tasks. Developers who want a fast launcher and dev-tool integrations will appreciate Raycast; those who want an autonomous agent that controls their Mac will prefer Nova.
No. Raycast AI requires an internet connection to process queries through cloud AI models. Nova's local AI model works fully offline — in airplane mode, at a coffee shop without WiFi, or anywhere without internet access.