Consensus vs Raycast — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Consensus starts at $20/mo. Raycast starts at $10/mo. Raycast is $10/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Consensus.
AI research assistant for scientific literature — answers questions with citations from 200M+ academic papers. Pricing: Free (unlimited basic search), Premium $8.99/mo (Consensus Meter, GPT-4 summaries), Enterprise custom. Popular with academics, medical professionals, and researchers who need evidence-backed answers.
Mac productivity launcher positioned as the alternative to Spotlight and Alfred for power users who want extensibility + a great UX. Distinctive for its extensions store, AI features (Ask Raycast), and clipboard history. Priced free (personal) with Raycast Pro at $10/user/mo (annual) or $16/mo. Series B in 2023. Popular with developers, designers, and knowledge workers who spend their day in a Mac terminal + browser.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Consensus monthly | Consensus annual | Raycast monthly | Raycast annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Entry paid | Pro | $20 | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| Mid tier | — / Pro+ | — | — | $20 | $16 |
| Pro / power | Deep / Max | $65 | $45 | $50 | — |
| Enterprise | Team / Enterprise / — | Custom | Custom | — | — |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Consensus is worth it if… researchers, medical professionals, and analysts who need answers grounded in peer-reviewed literature with citations — not a general web AI. 99/mo is one of the cheapest AI research tools in market.
Raycast is worth it if… macOS power users (developers, designers, ops) who want Spotlight-on-steroids — launcher + snippets + calculator + AI assistant + 600+ extensions. Free covers core launcher forever; Pro adds cloud sync, unlimited AI, and custom themes; Pro + Advanced AI adds premium models.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Consensus over Raycast if…
Choose Consensus if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $20/mo).
- You match the profile Consensus is built for: researchers, medical professionals, and analysts who need answers grounded in peer-reviewed literature with citations — not a general web AI.
- You need a general-purpose productivity option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose Raycast if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $10/mo).
- You match the profile Raycast is built for: macOS power users (developers, designers, ops) who want Spotlight-on-steroids — launcher + snippets + calculator + AI assistant + 600+ extensions.
- You need a general-purpose productivity option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Consensus | Raycast | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Entry price | $20/mo | $10/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | No |
| Pricing model | Per Seat | Per Seat |
| Last verified | September 20, 2026 | September 12, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 20, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about Consensus and Raycast
- How much does Consensus cost in 2026?
- Does Consensus have a free plan?
- How often does Consensus change prices?
- What are the best Consensus alternatives in 2026?
- How much does Raycast cost in 2026?
- Does Raycast have a free plan?
- How often does Raycast change prices?
- What are the best Raycast alternatives in 2026?