What to know

  • Raycast, a popular Mac productivity app, is now available on iOS.
  • The iOS app includes AI Chat, Notes, Quicklinks, and Snippets, all synced with Mac.
  • Due to iOS restrictions, Raycast cannot fully replace Spotlight or launch apps like on Mac.
  • More features, such as a custom keyboard and clipboard sync, are planned for future updates.

Raycast, known for its powerful launcher and productivity tools on Mac, has released its first iOS app. This marks the company’s initial expansion beyond the Mac platform. The new app brings several of Raycast’s core features to iPhone users, focusing on tools that work well within Apple’s mobile operating system.

On iOS, Raycast offers AI Chat, Notes, Quicklinks, and Snippets. The AI Chat feature lets you interact with dozens of models for quick answers to various tasks. Notes allow you to capture ideas on the go, with all content syncing seamlessly between your iPhone and Mac. Quicklinks provide one-tap access to important resources, while Snippets help you manage and use templates or frequently used text from anywhere.

However, the iOS version of Raycast does not replicate the full launcher experience available on Mac. This limitation is due to Apple’s sandboxing restrictions, which prevent third-party apps from launching other apps or changing system settings on iOS. As a result, Raycast for iOS cannot replace Spotlight or perform system-level actions like it does on macOS.

Despite these restrictions, the Raycast team believes the app still offers valuable utility for users who want access to their productivity tools across devices. The app’s cloud sync ensures that any changes or additions made on mobile are instantly available on desktop, and vice versa.

Looking ahead, Raycast plans to add more features to its iOS app. The roadmap includes a custom keyboard for accessing AI Commands and Snippets wherever you type, as well as support for additional AI features and clipboard history sync. These updates aim to bring the iOS experience closer to what users enjoy on Mac, within the limits set by Apple’s platform.

Raycast for iOS is available for download on the App Store. The company encourages feedback from users as it continues to develop and refine the app for mobile productivity.

Via: theverge