A free, open-source Raycast alternative for Mac

Ferrocast is a free, open-source (MIT) launcher for Mac, written in Rust. It is one 8.5 MB app that is also a local file converter and a screen recorder with auto zoom. Apple Silicon only, no account.

Your Raycast Script Commands run as they are and your snippets import from JSON. Extensions you already installed with Raycast can run too, off by default and not in full. Sync between Macs is opt-in through iCloud Drive. Ferrocast has no extension store of its own.

Download the DMG Install with Homebrew Free · MIT · Apple Silicon · no account

In short: who Ferrocast is for, and who it is not for

Ferrocast fits if you…

want a launcher with no Pro plan and no subscription;
mostly use search, calculator, clipboard, snippets, window commands and Script Commands;
want AI with your own model (Ollama on your Mac) or your own key;
convert files often and would rather not upload them to a website;
want to read the code of the app that sees your keyboard.

Stay on Raycast if you…

rely on installing extensions from the Raycast Store;
need Raycast Cloud Sync, or sync with Windows or iOS;
use Search Menu Bar Items;
use AI with context from your selection or screen.

What you keep when you leave Raycast

Script Commands

They run as they are. Ferrocast reads the Raycast-compatible metadata and supports the full, compact, silent and inline modes. One limit: arguments are passed on the command line, as in Raycast, so they show up in ps while the script runs. See the migration guide.

Snippets

Import them from a Raycast JSON export, in Settings → backup and import.

Quicklinks

Recreate them by hand. It takes a minute.

Shortcuts and habits

The default hotkey is ⌥ Space and you can change it in Settings. Before you switch, write down the three or four commands you use every day and try those first.

What Ferrocast does not have (yet)

an extension store of its own;
full Raycast extension support (menu bar commands, OAuth sign-in, AI features, the file picker and the link accessory are not supported yet);
Search Menu Bar Items;
AI context from your selection or screen.

Ferrocast only runs extensions already in ~/.config/raycast/extensions. It does not install them and it does not contact Raycast’s Store. If you need a store without Raycast, Vicinae and Tinycast describe themselves as compatible with those extensions.

Three apps in one 8.5 MB launcher

A file converter that never uploads

275 conversions across 46 input formats, 26 file tools and 7 actions, from a drag-and-drop wheel. Everything runs on your Mac and the result lands next to the original without overwriting it. For example HEIC to JPG, MOV to GIF, PDF to DOCX or every conversion.

A screen recorder with auto zoom

Recordings follow your clicks with auto zoom, and the transcript is made on your Mac. Needs macOS 14 or later and the Screen Recording permission. How it works.

Ask AI with your own model

Ollama on your Mac by default. Also LM Studio and other OpenAI-compatible servers, the Anthropic API with your key, and Claude Code. Sign in with ChatGPT works, but OpenAI has not approved it for third-party apps; the sanctioned route is an API key. Keys are stored in the Keychain.

Windows, clipboard and notes

About 40 window commands. Clipboard history skips entries from password managers. And floating Markdown notes with images.

Ferrocast vs Raycast vs Alfred: an honest table

Ferrocast, Raycast and Alfred compared with facts from their official websites
Topic	Ferrocast	Raycast	Alfred
Base price	Free	Free plan for personal use	Free app
Paid	No paid plan	Pro: $10/month or $96/year. Pro+: $20/$192. Max: $50/$480	Powerpack, one-off payment (£34 single v5 licence)
Open source	Yes, MIT	No open licence stated on its website	No open licence stated on its website
Requirements	Apple Silicon. Screen recording: macOS 14 or later	Raycast 2: macOS Tahoe and Apple Silicon	Alfred 5: macOS 10.14 or later
AI	Included, with your provider. Local Ollama by default	Not in Free; in Pro, with monthly credits	No built-in AI stated on its website
Clipboard	Included; skips password managers	Included in Free; unlimited history on paid plans	With Powerpack; skips password apps by default
Snippets	Included; import from Raycast	Included in Free	With Powerpack
Extensions	Script Commands, plus extensions already installed with Raycast (partial, off by default); no store of its own	Extension Store and Script Commands	Workflows (Powerpack) and Alfred Gallery
Sync between Macs	Opt-in, through iCloud Drive (off by default)	Cloud Sync on paid plans	Through Dropbox or another file sync service (Powerpack)
Local file conversion	275 pairs, 46 formats	Not built in, per its website	Not built in, per its website
Interface language	English plus six more: Spanish, German, French, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese and Simplified Chinese. Per Mac, not synced	Not compared here	Not compared here
Platforms	macOS (Apple Silicon)	macOS, Windows (public beta) and iOS	macOS

Raycast and Alfred facts checked on 27 October 2026 on their official websites. “Not stated” means we did not find it on those pages, not that it does not exist. Ferrocast facts come from this project and its key facts.

Sources

Price: what each one costs

Ferrocast: free. There is no Pro plan and no paid feature.
Raycast: a Free plan without AI. Pro is $10 a month or $96 a year (raycast.com/pricing).
Alfred: the app is free; the Powerpack is a one-off £34 for a single v5 licence (alfredapp.com/shop).

Install and migrate in five minutes

Download the DMG. Download the latest Ferrocast.dmg from GitHub.
Drag it to Applications. Open the DMG and drag Ferrocast to the Applications folder.
Open it. If macOS blocks it, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and choose “Open Anyway”. The app is ad-hoc signed and not notarized.
Grant Accessibility. It is needed to move windows, paste and expand snippets.
Bring your Script Commands. Point Ferrocast at your Script Commands folder; they run as they are.
Import your snippets. Export your Raycast snippets to JSON and import them in Settings.

With Homebrew it builds on your Mac (the first install takes a few minutes) and there is no “Open Anyway” prompt:

brew tap drumst0ck/ferrocast
brew install drumst0ck/ferrocast/ferrocast
ln -sfn "$(brew --prefix)/opt/ferrocast/Ferrocast.app" \
  /Applications/Ferrocast.app
open /Applications/Ferrocast.app

Related guides

Questions

Is there a free, open-source Raycast alternative for Mac?

Yes. Ferrocast is a free Mac launcher under the MIT licence, written in Rust. It has search, a calculator, clipboard history, snippets, about 40 window commands and Raycast-compatible Script Commands. It needs no account.

Can I use my Raycast extensions in Ferrocast?

Partly. Turn it on in Settings → Integrations → Raycast extensions. Ferrocast then runs extensions you already installed with Raycast, from ~/.config/raycast/extensions. It needs Node.js 22 or newer (it uses yours, or downloads the official one, about 26 MB, when you press the button). It does not contact Raycast’s Store, is not affiliated with Raycast, and has no store of its own. In a test of 40 view commands from 20 popular extensions, 34 worked. Menu bar commands, OAuth sign-in, AI features, the file picker and the link accessory are not supported yet. Script Commands still run as they are.

How do I move my Raycast snippets and quicklinks?

Snippets import from a Raycast JSON export. Quicklinks are recreated by hand.

Does Ferrocast work on Intel Macs?

No. Ferrocast runs only on Apple Silicon Macs. Raycast 2 also requires Apple Silicon and macOS Tahoe.

Does Ferrocast have free AI?

Ask AI uses Ollama on your own Mac by default, with no subscription. You can also connect LM Studio, the OpenAI or Anthropic API, or Claude Code. Keys are stored in the Keychain.

Does Ferrocast sync between Macs?

Yes, if you turn it on. Settings → Advanced → Sync with iCloud is off by default and needs iCloud Drive. It syncs settings (including hotkeys), snippets, quicklinks, notes, clipboard history with images, Ask AI chats and custom themes. Keychain API keys and per-Mac settings (script folders, the Obsidian vault, launch at login, camera and microphone, updates and macOS permissions) stay on each Mac. Local data still lives in ~/Library/Application Support/Ferrocast as JSON.

Why does macOS ask me to “Open Anyway” for Ferrocast?

The app is ad-hoc signed and not notarized, so the first launch has to be confirmed in System Settings → Privacy & Security. With Homebrew it builds on your Mac and the prompt does not appear.

Do I need ffmpeg?

Not for many conversions, because Ferrocast tries macOS tools first. ffmpeg, LibreOffice, Ghostscript, cwebp and unrar are optional: Ferrocast uses them only when they are installed, and the conversions that need them say so.

Is Raycast free?

Raycast has a Free plan for personal use without AI. Raycast Pro costs $10 a month or $96 a year, according to raycast.com/pricing (checked on 27 October 2026).

Is Ferrocast affiliated with Raycast?

No. Ferrocast is independent and not affiliated with Raycast or Alfred.

What languages is Ferrocast available in?

English, plus Spanish, German, French, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese and Simplified Chinese. It follows the macOS language order, or Settings → General → Language. The choice stays on that Mac and is not synced. Anything not translated yet shows in English. Names you type and what Raycast extensions show are never translated.

Try it

I built Ferrocast because I wanted a fast launcher I could read and change, one that also converts files without a website in the middle. If it saves you time, tell me.

Download the DMG If it is useful to you, star it on GitHub.

Ferrocast is independent and not affiliated with Raycast or Alfred.