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Merlin AI vs Raycast

Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.

AI assistant on every website

The productivity launcher for Mac.

The verdict

Both Merlin AI and Raycast are credible ai chatbots tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.

Merlin AI — AI assistant on every website

Choose Raycast if you'd rather have a higher overall rating (4.9/5). The productivity launcher for Mac.

Merlin AI vs Raycast: side by side

DimensionMerlin AIRaycast
Starting priceFree – $19/moFree – $8/mo
Free planYesYes
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Best forStudents, Knowledge WorkersDevelopers, Power Users
PlatformsWebMac
Rating4.3/54.9/5Winner

Merlin AI key facts

Vendor
Foyer
Pricing
Freemium — Free – $19/mo
Free tier
Yes
Platforms
Web
Best for
Students, Knowledge Workers
Editor rating
4.3 / 5
Founded
2022
Headquarters
Bengaluru, India

Raycast key facts

Vendor
Raycast
Pricing
Freemium — Free – $8/mo
Free tier
Yes
Platforms
Mac
Best for
Developers, Power Users
Editor rating
4.9 / 5
Founded
2020
Headquarters
Remote

Frequently asked questions

Is Merlin AI better than Raycast?

Neither is universally better — Raycast edges ahead on overall rating, but the best choice depends on price, platforms, and your use case. See the side-by-side table above.

Is Merlin AI or Raycast cheaper?

Merlin AI is the more affordable of the two to get started, at free – $19/mo. Merlin AI starts at free – $19/mo; Raycast starts at free – $8/mo.

Can Merlin AI replace Raycast?

Yes for most teams — both are ai chatbots tools with heavily overlapping features. The main trade-offs are pricing and platform support, covered in the comparison above.