Snip-Its vs the Competition: The Best Value in Text Expansion

There are several text expansion tools on the market. We built Snip-Its because none of them offered the combination of features, privacy, and price we wanted. Here is a factual comparison so you can decide for yourself.

For the full side-by-side feature table, visit our comparison page.

The Landscape

The main text expansion tools available today are:

• TextExpander — ~$40/year, cloud-based, macOS and Windows, JavaScript scripting
• Alfred — $34 one-time, macOS only, no scripting in snippets
• Espanso — Free and open-source, cross-platform, config-file-based, no GUI
• PhraseExpress — Free tier / ~$50/year, macOS and Windows, no scripting
• aText — $4.99/year, macOS and Windows, no scripting
• Snip-Its — Free / $24/year, Windows, macOS, and Linux, Python and JavaScript scripting

Where Snip-Its Wins

1. Scripting: Python and JavaScript

Snip-Its is the only text expander that supports both Python and JavaScript custom variables. Write real scripts that execute at expansion time — generate dynamic content, perform calculations, format dates, even call APIs.

TextExpander supports JavaScript but not Python. Alfred, Espanso, PhraseExpress, and aText support neither. If you need programmable snippets, Snip-Its is the only option with both languages.

2. Privacy: Local-Only Storage with Encryption

Every snip-it is stored locally on your device with encryption. No cloud servers, no remote storage, no account required. Your text never leaves your machine.

TextExpander requires cloud sync and an account — your snippets are stored on their servers. Espanso and Alfred store locally but do not encrypt. PhraseExpress offers local encryption but requires an account for their paid tier. Only Snip-Its combines local storage, encryption, and zero account requirements.

3. Price: $24/Year with a Real Free Tier

Snip-Its Premium costs $24/year ($2/month billed annually). The free tier includes every feature with a 5 snip-it limit — no time restriction, no credit card, no account.

Here is how the pricing compares:

• Snip-Its: Free (all features, 5 snip-its) / $24/year unlimited
• TextExpander: ~$40/year, no free tier
• Alfred: $34 one-time (snippets only in Powerpack), no free snippet support
• Espanso: Free (open-source), but no GUI, no encryption, config-file-only
• PhraseExpress: Free (limited) / ~$50/year
• aText: $4.99/year, no free tier

For $24/year you get Python scripting, JavaScript scripting, Fill Form variables, local encryption, a GUI snippet manager, and support for Windows, macOS, and Linux. No other tool at any price offers all of these together.

4. Cross-Platform: Windows, macOS, and Linux

Snip-Its runs on all three major desktop platforms. Alfred is macOS-only. TextExpander, PhraseExpress, and aText skip Linux entirely. Only Snip-Its and Espanso support all three — but Espanso has no GUI and requires editing YAML config files.

5. Fill Form Variables

Snip-Its supports interactive fill-in-the-blank fields using {{input:field_name}} syntax. A form appears at expansion time so you can enter dynamic values. TextExpander and Espanso have similar features. Alfred and aText do not.

6. No Account Required

Download Snip-Its and start using it immediately. No sign-up, no email verification, no cloud dependency. TextExpander and PhraseExpress both require account creation before you can use them.

Where Others Win

We believe in honest comparisons. Here is where other tools have advantages:

• TextExpander has team sharing and cloud sync for organizations. If you need to share snippets across a team via cloud, TextExpander is built for that. Snip-Its is local-only by design.
• Espanso is free and open-source with no limits. If you are comfortable with YAML config files and do not need a GUI, Espanso is a solid choice.
• aText is the cheapest paid option at $4.99/year. If you just need basic text expansion without scripting, Fill Form, or Linux support, aText is very affordable.
• Alfred is more than a text expander — it is a full productivity launcher for macOS. If you want an all-in-one macOS tool, Alfred's Powerpack is worth considering.

The Bottom Line

If you want the most capable text expansion tool at a fair price with strong privacy, Snip-Its is the best value on the market. For $24/year — or free with 5 snip-its — you get:

• Python and JavaScript scripting (only tool with both)
• Fill Form interactive variables
• Local encryption (no cloud, no accounts)
• Windows, macOS, and Linux support
• A clean GUI snippet manager
• Advanced built-in variables
• Priority support (Premium)

No other text expander combines all of these features. See the full comparison table or download Snip-Its free and try it yourself.