Espanso
Federico Terzi
Espanso is a privacy-first, cross-platform text expander. It helps you type faster by replacing abbreviations with frequently-used phrases, sentences, code snippets, emojis, and more, system-wide across macOS, Windows, and Linux.
User Sentiments
Top Likes
- Cross-platform compatibility (macOS, Windows, Linux)
- Open source and privacy-focused
- Highly customizable and extensible
- Works in almost any application
- Supports advanced features like scripts and shell commands
Top Dislikes
- Configuration via YAML files can be less user-friendly for non-technical users
- No official GUI for configuration (though planned)
- Can have a learning curve for new users
Popular Comments
Product Hunt - Duarte Martins
2 years ago
Espanso is useful for anything from customer support replies, to sales pitches, or medical reports - basically anything you find yourself typing out repetitively... Having quick access to templates has made writing queries and managing databases much smoother, and I'd recommend it to any of my fellow SQL enthusiasts out there...One of the standout features of Espanso is its search bar...Espanso is a pretty solid tool. It's open-source, and makes repetitive typing tasks a whole lot easier.
Reddit User - n8henrie
2023-08-30
Love espanso, I use it in Mac, Linux, and Windows! The creator is also incredibly nice, one of those rare open source devs that seems to go out of his way to validate concerns and make PRs truly feel welcome. Great project.
AlternativeTo - BeSublime
2019-10-21
Fast and reliable, easy to configure, and with text-based configuration files that you can easily share between computers and keep in source control.
AlternativeTo - AJS-Caticorn
2025-01-10
Not user-friendly at all. No interface; you have to access codes and scripts. I'll keep searching for a PC replacement to my beloved Typinator, which I use on my Mac...
Reddit User - replwoacause
2023-08-31
WOW! I use Espanso and love it - this will send me off into new rabbitholes!
Reddit User - [deleted]
3 years ago
I think it's mostly SEO. For months I was using other tools because that's what you see when you google text expanders on mac. I only accidentally found Espanso yesterday, and I'm blown away by the quality of the product and the documentation.
Detailed Review
Espanso is a free, open-source, and cross-platform text expander application available for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Written in Rust, it prioritizes privacy and efficiency, allowing users to create custom shortcuts that expand into frequently used text, code snippets, emojis, or even the output of scripts and shell commands. Unlike some text expanders, Espanso adopts a file-based configuration using YAML files, which, while powerful and flexible for technical users, may present a steeper learning curve for those less comfortable with configuration files. Espanso integrates system-wide, working within almost any application on macOS, making it a versatile tool for boosting productivity in various workflows.
Standout Features
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: Works seamlessly on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
- Open Source & Privacy-Focused: Users benefit from a transparent, community-driven project with a focus on data privacy.
- Highly Customizable: Offers extensive customization through YAML configuration files, allowing for simple text expansion to complex dynamic expansions using scripts and shell commands.
- Extensibility: Expand functionality with community-contributed packages from the Espanso Hub.
- Search Bar: Includes a built-in search bar (accessible via Option+Space on macOS) for quickly finding and using snippets when you can't recall the trigger.
- Advanced Features: Supports date expansion, clipboard content insertion, app-specific configurations, and regular expression triggers.
Conclusion
Espanso is a powerful and versatile text expander, particularly well-suited for developers, writers, and anyone who frequently types repetitive text. Its open-source nature, cross-platform support, and advanced features make it a compelling alternative to subscription-based or proprietary text expanders. While the YAML configuration might be initially daunting for some users, it provides immense flexibility and control. For users who value customization, privacy, and cross-platform functionality, Espanso is an excellent choice. Users seeking a more graphical, out-of-the-box experience may find alternatives with GUI configuration more immediately accessible, but Espanso's power and community support make it worth considering, especially for those comfortable with or willing to learn file-based configuration.
