# smolcast vs Tinycast

Tinycast is Mac only. smolcast is the same idea for Windows 11, its own project, and it does less.

Updated 23 Oct 2026. Checked against [tinycast.dev](https://tinycast.dev) (v0.12.1). [Sources](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/tinycast#sources)

## smolcast

Open source

- Windows 11
- Open source
- 7 MB
- No account

**Best for** the Tinycast feel on Windows

## Tinycast

Open-source project

- macOS
- Open source
- No account
- Optional AI

**Best for** everything, on a Mac

[Get Tinycast](https://tinycast.dev/?ref=smolcast)

## Feature by feature

Bold marks where smolcast comes out ahead, and only where the other side publishes the fact.

|  | smolcast | Tinycast |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **The basics** |  |  |
| Price | Free | Free; tips welcome |
| Source | Open source (MIT) | Open source (AGPL-3.0) |
| Runs on | Windows 11 | macOS 26+ |
| Account | None | None |
| Default hotkey | `Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Space` | Configurable |
| **Features** |  |  |
| Clipboard history | Built in (Text and images. Encrypted on disk) | Built in (Also files and colors) |
| Snippets | Built in (Find by name or keyword. No auto-expand) | Built in (Markdown and placeholders) |
| Emoji picker | Built in (Every emoji, in color) | Built in (Plus symbols) |
| File search | Built in (Through Windows Search) | Built in |
| Calculator | Built in (Units too. Enter pastes) | Built in (Plus currency and time zones) |
| Quicklinks | Built in (Keywords with {query}) | Built in |
| Extensions | No (Scripts and quicklinks instead) | Raycast extensions (Off by default) |
| AI | No | Optional (Off by default) |
| Window management | No | Built in (35 commands, saved layouts) |
| **Under the hood** |  |  |
| Download | 7 MB, one .exe (No installer) | Mac app |
| Idle | 0% CPU while hidden | Under 100 MB of memory |
| Privacy | No telemetry ([One daily update check](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/privacy), can be turned off) | No telemetry |

## Pick the one that fits

### Go with smolcast if

- You’re on Windows 11
- You use Tinycast on a Mac and want the same feel on your PC
- You prefer the MIT license
- You want something tiny with fewer moving parts

### Go with Tinycast if

- You’re on a Mac (smolcast isn’t)
- You want window management, notes or calendar
- You want optional AI or Raycast extensions

[Get Tinycast](https://tinycast.dev/?ref=smolcast)

Tinycast borrows from Raycast, which now runs on Windows too: [smolcast vs Raycast for Windows](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/raycast). On the Mac, Alfred is the long-standing favorite: [smolcast vs Alfred](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/alfred).

## Coming from Tinycast

- Quicklinks`[quicklinks.<keyword>]` with `{query}`, the same idea
- Snippets`[snippets.<id>]` with a keyword (no placeholders yet)
- Hotkey`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Space`, the Windows reach of `⌥` `Space`

## Try smolcast

- Windows 11, x64
- 7 MB
- Free and open source

[Download](https://github.com/Archetypically/smolcast/releases/latest)

## More comparisons

- [All the launchers, side by sideCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/)
- [smolcast vs Raycast for WindowsCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/raycast)
- [smolcast vs PowerToys Command PaletteCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/powertoys-command-palette)
- [smolcast vs Flow LauncherCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/flow-launcher)
- [smolcast vs Fluent SearchCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/fluent-search)
- [smolcast vs ListaryCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/listary)
- [smolcast vs WoxCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/wox)
- [smolcast vs AlfredCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/alfred)
- [smolcast vs KeypirinhaCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/keypirinha)
- [smolcast vs UeliCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/ueli)
- [What smolcast keeps on your PCPrivacy](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/privacy)

## Sources

1.  smolcast, main branch: [github.com/Archetypically/smolcast](https://github.com/Archetypically/smolcast)
2.  Tinycast 0.12.1: [tinycast.dev](https://tinycast.dev)

Checked against these versions on 23 Oct 2026, which is also when this page was last updated. Found something stale? [Open an issue](https://github.com/Archetypically/smolcast/issues).

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The markdown version of https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/tinycast