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Raycast for Windows Public Beta Released! A Detailed Comparison with Flow Launcher and PowerToys (Discount Link Included)
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The launcher app "Raycast" was long considered a privilege for Mac users.
After a lengthy "Waitlist" period, the Windows version was finally officially released as a public beta on November 20, 2025 🎉
"Honestly, doesn't Windows already have Flow Launcher? Do we even need this?"
There was a time when I thought so too.
In this article, I will explain my experience with Raycast for Windows (Beta) and provide a technical comparison with Flow Launcher and PowerToys Run, which I have used for many years.
1. Current State of Raycast for Windows
According to official blog announcements and other sources, the Windows version is not just a simple Electron wrapper but is designed with performance in mind (with reports of it using proprietary rendering technologies such as Rust/Native in some parts).
My first impression after installing and using it was that the "UI is overwhelmingly beautiful."
- UI/UX: An experience almost identical to the Mac version. The level of detail in the settings screen and the quality of animations (like Confetti) are a step above typical Windows native apps.
- AI Integration: Raycast AI can be used on Windows as is. This is a powerful feature that saves you the trouble of calling external apps like ChatGPT.
- File Search: It seems to use Windows indexing and is fast, but it still falls slightly short of Flow Launcher (when integrated with Everything) in terms of search accuracy and flexibility.
2. Benchmarks: Flow Launcher vs Raycast
I compared the incumbent champion, Flow Launcher, with the newcomer, Raycast.
| Feature | Raycast (Beta) | Flow Launcher | PowerToys Run |
|---|---|---|---|
| Development Language | Undisclosed (Custom Renderer) | C# / .NET | C# / .NET |
| Extension Language | React / TypeScript | Python / C# | C# |
| Memory Usage | Heavy (approx. 300–500MB) | Lightweight (approx. 150MB) | Normal (Depends on overall PowerToys) |
| Extensibility | Powerful Store, great DX | Easy to build with Python | Slightly higher hurdle |
| Performance | Fluid (Focus on animations) | Snappy (Focus on response) | Normal |
Memory and Performance
As discussed in communities like Hacker News and Reddit, the current Raycast Beta consumes significant memory as a trade-off for its rich UI. Even at idle, it can consume 2 to 3 times the resources of Flow Launcher. Users with limited machine specs should be cautious.
Ecosystem (Extensions)
This is the biggest deciding factor for engineers.
- Raycast: The store ecosystem is well-established, offering beautiful extensions with unified UI components that can be used immediately. Building your own requires React/TypeScript.
-
Flow Launcher: Its strength lies in the ability to quickly write plugins in Python. For engineers with existing script assets using
pippackages, Flow Launcher may still feel more flexible in certain situations.
3. Who Should Switch to Raycast, and Who Shouldn't
Who should migrate to Raycast 🚀
- Dual Mac/Windows users: Those who want to sync settings, shortcuts, and AI history (including future planned implementations).
- Those who prioritize UI aesthetics: To be honest, Raycast is the one that gets you excited just by opening the screen.
- Web engineers: Those who are familiar with React and want to write their own extensions in TypeScript.
Who should stay with Flow Launcher 🛡️
- Those who need lightning-fast integration with "Everything": The file search speed of Flow Launcher + the Everything plugin is insane. Currently, Raycast doesn't seem to have reached that level of blazing-fast search.
- Power users of custom Python plugins: The cost of rewriting existing Python assets into React is high.
- Users of low-spec machines: Flow Launcher wins when it comes to memory efficiency.
4. Summary: The Windows Launcher Scene is Getting Interesting
Even though it is still in beta, the arrival of Raycast is a major stimulus for the Windows productivity tool scene. In particular, the fact that "extensions can be written in React" is a strong incentive for web engineers to join.
Personally, I'll likely stay with Flow Launcher as my main tool for a while while keeping an eye on Raycast's updates (especially memory optimization and enhanced Everything integration).
I hope you all give it a try while reviewing your development environment during the year-end and New Year holidays.
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