TextExpander
TextExpander, Inc. (formerly SmileOnMyMac, LLC)
TextExpander is a productivity tool for Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and Chrome that lets you create shortcuts for frequently used text snippets, emails, code, and more. Type abbreviations, and TextExpander expands them into full text, saving you time and effort across all applications.
User Sentiments
Top Likes
- Saves significant typing time and boosts productivity
- Easy to set up and use, highly customizable snippets
- Works system-wide across various apps and platforms
- Team sharing and synchronization of snippets
- Helpful for customer support, coding, and repetitive tasks
Top Dislikes
- Subscription pricing model may be costly for some users
- Occasional glitches or incompatibility with certain apps (like Terminal)
- No free version, only a 30-day free trial
Popular Comments
G2 - Victor F.
2024-11-09
Easy to create my texts and use them at all platforms.
Capterra - Kimberly C.
2025
TextExpander saves me hours every week! It's so easy to set up and use. I can use it on all my devices. It even has groups of shortcuts set up that you can add, such as French language, etc. It costs so little - the return on investment is amazing.
G2 - Aldo V.
2024-10-31
The easiness we have to create snippets and templates. Is really easy to implement and helps a lot on my daily routines as customer support, I'd easily say I use it every 5-10 minutes.
MacUpdate User - larrymcj
2018-01-02
I have used TextExpander since 2008 and every so often I try one of its competitors... But when it comes to overall features and functionality of TextExpander (both on Mac and iOS), it simply has too many great things the others simply don't offer. I use a text expansion app dozens of times a day, so for the price of $20/yr, the subscription is well worth it for me.
Reddit User - EthanDMatthews
2024-07-15
Alfred has an excellent text expander... Although Raycast is my preferred Spotlight substitute, I still use Alfred for snippets [instead of TextExpander due to subscription].
MacUpdate User - GymW
2018-03-20
A major concern for all subscription models... You must continually maintain the subscription to access your own data and all the work you have put into it. That means that a subscription that involves user data requires you to keep the subscription for life in order to be able to retrieve your own data. This is a great model for developers but poor for users.
Detailed Review
TextExpander is a versatile productivity application designed for Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and Chrome, aimed at reducing repetitive typing and boosting efficiency. It allows users to create custom shortcuts, or "snippets," for frequently used phrases, email addresses, code blocks, and more. By typing a short abbreviation, TextExpander instantly expands it into the full text, saving users considerable time and effort across virtually any application they use. Originally named TextPander, it has evolved over years to become a subscription-based service offering cloud-based snippet syncing across devices.
Standout Features
- Text Expansion: Create snippets for frequently used text, images, and even formatted content, triggered by custom abbreviations.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: Works seamlessly across macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and Chrome, keeping snippets synchronized across all devices.
- Snippet Sharing and Team Collaboration: Business and team plans allow sharing snippet groups, ensuring consistent communication and resources across teams.
- Customizable Snippets: Supports dynamic content within snippets, including fill-in fields, dropdown menus, dates, times, and clipboard content.
- Snippet Suggestions: The app can suggest new snippets based on your typing habits, helping you identify further automation opportunities.
- Analytics: Tracks time saved and snippet usage, providing insights into productivity gains.
- Security: SOC 2, GDPR, and CCPA compliant, ensuring data safety and encryption.
Conclusion
TextExpander is a powerful and highly recommended tool for Mac users and others in the Apple ecosystem who frequently find themselves typing repetitive text. Its system-wide functionality, ease of use, and time-saving capabilities make it a valuable asset for individuals and teams alike. While the subscription model might be a consideration for some, the productivity gains and features often justify the cost for professionals, customer support teams, writers, developers, and anyone looking to streamline their workflow and reduce typing fatigue. Alternatives exist, some even free, but TextExpander's comprehensive feature set, reliability, and cross-platform support establish it as a leading text expansion solution.
