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Head-to-head · Menu Bar Apps

Raycast vs Ice

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Raycast #3 in Menu Bar Apps 8.7/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Raycast
Ice #8 in Menu Bar Apps 7.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Ice

Raycast leads on 0 checks, Ice on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreRaycast · 8.7/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly Raycast
  • Most featuresIce · 1 of 3

Raycast scores higher on our rubric for menu bar apps: 8.7 against 7.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #8.

Raycast is the better fit for cross-platform launcher and menu-bar productivity users. Ice is the better fit for solo Mac users wanting open-source menu-bar control.

  • Raycast fits best

    Cross-platform launcher and menu-bar productivity users

  • Ice fits best

    Solo Mac users wanting open-source menu-bar control

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Side by side

Feature Raycast 8.7/10 Visit ↗ Ice 7.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 7.8
Ranking #3 in Menu Bar Apps #8 in Menu Bar Apps
Best for Cross-platform launcher and menu-bar productivity users Solo Mac users wanting open-source menu-bar control
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price $10/mo Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial 7 days —
Deployment Desktop, Mobile Desktop
Platforms macOS, Windows, iOS macOS
Features Raycast 0/3 · Ice 1/3
Keyboard shortcuts Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Automation support Not checked yet —
Intel Mac support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
macOS versions Not checked yet macOS 14 and later
Primary function Not checked yet Other
Menu bar items Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Searches applications and files, and launches URLs and tools with Quicklinks.
  • Combines clipboard history, snippets, hotkeys, scripts, and window management.
  • Runs on macOS, Windows, and iOS, with thousands of extensions.
  • Hide and show menu bar items, with hidden items in a separate bar
  • Arrange items by drag and drop and adjust spacing and appearance
  • Search menu bar items and control them with keyboard hotkeys
Cons
  • Free has no AI features and limits Notes to five.
  • Cloud Sync is available only on paid plans.
  • Its broad launcher toolkit is less specialized as a menu-bar app.
  • Requires macOS 14 or later
  • Does not include automation support
  • Focused on menu bar management rather than integrations or broader workflows
Our verdict

Raycast is a keyboard-first productivity launcher for people who want to reach apps, files, commands, and tools from one place. It combines search and Quicklinks with snippets, clipboard history, window management, notes, hotkeys, command…

Read the review →

Ice is a macOS menu bar management app from Jordan Baird for solo Mac users who want control over which menu bar items stay visible. It can hide and show items, rearrange them with drag and drop, and display hidden items in a separate bar.…

Read the review →
  1. RaycastMenu Bar Apps 8.7Free plan · 7-day trial
  2. IceMenu Bar Apps 7.8Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Raycast — where it wins

    • Searches applications and files, and launches URLs and tools with Quicklinks.
    • Combines clipboard history, snippets, hotkeys, scripts, and window management.
    • Runs on macOS, Windows, and iOS, with thousands of extensions.

    Where it doesn't

    • Free has no AI features and limits Notes to five.
    • Cloud Sync is available only on paid plans.
    • Its broad launcher toolkit is less specialized as a menu-bar app.

  • Ice — where it wins

    • Hide and show menu bar items, with hidden items in a separate bar
    • Arrange items by drag and drop and adjust spacing and appearance
    • Search menu bar items and control them with keyboard hotkeys

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires macOS 14 or later
    • Does not include automation support
    • Focused on menu bar management rather than integrations or broader workflows
  • Raycast8.7/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial

    A broad launcher with search, commands, extensions, and optional AI and cloud sync.

    Visit RaycastFull verdict →
  • Ice7.8/10 · Free plan

    Free, open-source menu bar control for Mac users who want to organize visible items.

    Visit IceFull verdict →

More comparisons

All menu bar apps comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update