10 Best Free TextExpander Alternatives in 2026

Being productive is important, but it can be hard sometimes, right?

In fact, according to TeamStage, work overload decreases productivity by up to 68%.

If you need to boost productivity, get things done faster, and decrease your workload, a text expander will be a game-changer for you.

Text expanders can help you get work done faster and more efficiently by using handy keyboard shortcuts to fill in phrases, dates, signatures, and more. There are a lot of extensions and apps available for free that can automate your workflows.

In this article, we’ll rank the 10 best free TextExpander alternatives in 2026. Let's dive in!

What is TextExpander?

TextExpander is a tool that lets you create keyboard shortcuts to automatically insert frequently used phrases, emails, signatures, and other text snippets. It helps users save time by reducing repetitive typing tasks in their daily workflows.

However, TextExpander requires a paid subscription with no free option available, which might not work for everyone's budget or needs.

Some users may also find that simpler, free alternatives provide enough functionality without the complexity or cost of a premium solution.

Is TextExpander Free? How Much Is It?

TextExpander does not offer a free plan. If you want to use it, you have to upgrade to a paid plan.

If you are looking for a text expander with a more generous free plan or just offers more features, there are plenty of other great options available. Check out the alternatives below to learn about these options.

How to Choose a TextExpander Alternative

With so many text expansion tools available, selecting the right one for your needs can feel overwhelming. The key is to focus on features that align with your specific workflow and productivity goals.

Here are a few things to keep in mind while looking for a TextExpander alternative:

• Platform compatibility - Ensure the tool works across all your devices and operating systems, whether you need Windows, MacOS, or Chrome support.

• How easy it is to use - Look for tools with intuitive interfaces that let you create shortcuts quickly without requiring technical knowledge or complex scripting.

• Advanced features - Choose text expanders that support advanced functionality like forms, dates, variables, and AI-powered content generation.

• Team collaboration - If you work with others, prioritize tools that offer snippet sharing, centralized management, and collaborative editing features.

• Pricing structure - Consider whether you need a free solution, are willing to pay for premium features, or require enterprise-level functionality.

• Import/export options - Look for tools that allow you to easily migrate your existing shortcuts from other text expanders to avoid starting from scratch.

The right text expander should feel like a natural extension of your workflow, saving you hours of repetitive typing each week.

10 Best Free TextExpander Alternatives

It's time to say goodbye to repetitive typing. Why type the same thing over and over when you can use a text expander to automate it for you and save hours each day? These tools will help you take control of your workflows once and for all.

Here's our list out the 10 best free TextExpander alternatives in 2026:

1. Text Blaze

Text Blaze is the #1 rated text expander that helps you automate repetitive typing, streamline workflows, and boost productivity with keyboard shortcuts.

With Text Blaze, you can create smart text templates and insert them anywhere you work using keyboard shortcuts.

Text Blaze Features

• Text Blaze is trusted by over 700,000+ users and is the #1 ranked productivity extension on the Chrome Web Store with a 4.9 rating and 1000+ reviews.

• Text Blaze shortcuts work absolutely everywhere via our Chrome Extension, Windows app, Mac app, and Edge extension.

• You can easily import snippets from other apps (TextExpander, Magical, oSlash, etc).

• Create dynamic templates with forms (placeholders), business rules, and many other dynamic commands.

• Teams love Text Blaze! Boost productivity and performance with powerful team snippet sharing, editing history, commenting, default folders, and more.

• Use AI on any website to generate content and improve your writing!

Text Blaze Pricing

• Text Blaze is free forever, which means you can use it to automate repetitive typing without EVER needing a 7-day trial.

2. Espanso

Espanso is code-based, open-source text expander for Mac, Windows and Linux.

Espanso Features

• It’s open-source - improvements and new features are community-driven.
• Espanso is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux.
• Shell & script support.
• Compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Espanso Pricing

• Free & open-source.

3. Magical Text Expander

Magical is another Chrome extension text expander that’s free and easy to use. It has a 4.4 rating on the Chrome Web Store and 300,000 users.

Magical Features

• Use AI to generate templates & automate workflows.
• Tools like Magical focus on automating workflows instead of just text expansion.
• Compatible with Chrome, as it is a Chrome Extension.

Magical Pricing

• Free plan + core plan for $6.50 /month/user.

4. PhraseExpress

PhraseExpress is a text expander app for Windows. It’s available in both free and paid versions.

PhraseExpress Features

• PhraseExpress allows you to use dynamic phrases, as well as date and time stamps to personalize your messages.
• You can share snippets with other members of your team.
• Compatible with Windows, Mac, and iOS.

PhraseExpress Pricing

• Standard 1 year license 75.59 USD per user.

5. aText

aText is a text shortcut tool that accelerates your typing in any application by replacing abbreviations with frequently used phrases you define.

aText Features

• Accelerate typing with customizable keyboard shortcuts.
• aText doesn’t just let you add text to abbreviations, but also images and multimedia content.
• You can put your abbreviations into groups and subgroups.
• Compatible with Windows & Mac.

aText Pricing

• Personal 1 year license for $4.99 & lifetime license for $29.99.

6. Keysmith

Keysmith records and replicates your actions on a Mac computer. It's Chrome extension has a 3.9 rating and 5,000 users.

Keysmith Features

• Smart recording & hotkeys to help you save time and work faster.
• Hotkeys within Keysmith don’t just expand text – they also replicate what you were doing with your mouse during recording.
• You can limit Keysmith to work only on specific websites.
• Compatible with Mac.

Keysmith Pricing

• Single license for $54 per user.

7. Beeftext

Beeftext is another open-source text substitution tool for windows.

Beeftext Features

• Beeftext can be used in any application in Windows that supports copy/pasting.
• It’s open-source, which ensures security and reliability.
• Compatible with Windows.

Beeftext Pricing

• Free + open-source.

8. Power Text Expander

Power Text Expander for Chrome is a Chrome extension that allows users to define keyboard shortcuts and type them on any site to expand text and save time. It has a 3.7 rating and 40,000 users on the Chrome Web Store.

Power Text Expander Features

• Simple text expansion to boost productivity.
• Add HTML elements to snippets.
• Define & customize shortcuts easily.

Power Text Expander Pricing

• Free.

9. FlyMSG

FlyMSG is an AI-powered text extender that helps people work smarter and more efficient with the help of AI. It has a 4.8 rating and 5,000 users on the Chrome Web Store.

FlyMSG Features

• Use AI to streamline workflows & respond faster.
• Save 1hr/day by killing repetitive typing.
• Expand text quickly with custom shortcuts.
• Use FlyMSG on any site or app.

FlyMSG Pricing

• Free plan + individual plan for $3.50/mo.

10. AutoHotkey

AutoHotkey is an automation & scripting tool for Windows that helps users create scripts & macros to execute tasks and save time.

AutoHotkey Features

• Built-in commands for beginners.
• Open-source and easy to use.
• Key binds for autocorrect & text replacements.

AutoHotkey Pricing

• Free and open-source.

TextExpander FAQ

Are There TextExpanders Available For Windows?

Yes! There are text expanders available for Windows that help you save time in your favorite Windows apps.

Text expanders for Windows make it easy to automate work in apps like Word, Slack, Outlook, and more.

Here are the text expanders available for Windows:

1. Text Blaze

2. Espanso

3. PhraseExpress

4. aText

5. Beeftext

6. AutoHotKey

Are There TextExpanders Available For Mac?

Yep, there are text expanders available for macOS devices that make it easy to automate your work outside of the Chrome browser.

Text expanders for Mac make it easy to automate work in Mac apps like Apple Mail, notes, Slack, and more.

Here are the text expanders available for Mac:

1. Text Blaze

2. Espanso

3. Magical

4. Keysmith

Are There TextExpanders Available For Chrome?

Many text expanders are available primarily as Chrome Extensions.

Text expanders for Chrome allow you to automate work anywhere on Chrome, like Gmail, LinkedIn, Outlook, HubSpot, and more.

In fact, here are the text expanders available for Chrome:

1. Text Blaze

2. Magical

3. Power Text Expander

4. FlyMSG

How Do I Use a Text Expander?

Text expansion is simple: you create a shortcut, assign text to it, and type it to insert the text anywhere. These tools offer a multitude of benefits for both personal and professional use.

Here's a closer look at how text expander apps can help:

• Speed up your routine tasks: With text expansion tools, tasks like responding to emails or filling out forms become much quicker.

• Eliminate boring, repetitive typing: Consider how often you type your address, phone number, or common sentences. Text expanders significantly increase the speed of typing these frequently used phrases.

• Create efficient shortcuts & workflows: By setting up shortcuts for repetitive tasks, you not only save time but also reduce effort.

Additionally, AI text expanders offer the same features as normal text expanders but also provide the added benefit of AI-powered text expansion!

Text expansion apps are not just about typing less; they're about working smarter!

What is the Best Free Text Expander?

When repetitive typing tasks are a large part of your day, having a text expander app is a game-changer. Automating your commonly used phrases and messages is awesome because:

• It increases brand consistency in your messaging with customers and eliminates mistakes.
• It increases productivity by saving a lot of time.
• It increases profitability by allowing you to use that time you’ve saved on more important tasks.

There are a lot of text expanders out there, and to determine which one is truly the best, you have to decide what pricing you are okay with, what features you are looking for, and where you need it to work.

Once you evaluate those features, you should narrow down the list of which options work for you, and from there you can test them out to make your decision.

Our suggestion for the best overall free TextExpander alternative and text expansion tool is Text Blaze. Text Blaze is free forever, works anywhere, and is the most powerful text expander available.

Get Text Blaze for FREE today. It’s time to type better.