Facet — browse
A full visual grid of your apps with folders, pages, and Launchpad layout import. Open it, scan, click. Best when you recognize an app by icon, category, or where you put it — not its exact name.
Facet vs Raycast.
They look like competitors, but they solve different problems. Facet is a visual Launchpad-style app grid you browse and click. Raycast is a keyboard command palette you type into. The honest answer to “which one” depends on whether you want to browse your apps or command them.
The core difference.
Raycast — command
A keyboard-first launcher and extension platform: type to search, run scripts, manage windows, use AI. Best when you already know what you want and prefer to type a command rather than browse.
Feature comparison.
| Need | Facet | Raycast |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Visual app grid (Launchpad-style) | Command palette + extensions |
| Visual app grid | Yes — the core of the app | No — search-first only |
| Folders & pages | Yes, with Launchpad import | No spatial layout |
| Keyboard search | Yes, search and launch | Yes — very strong |
| Extensions & automation | Not the focus | Extensive ecosystem |
| Pricing | $14.99 one-time | Free tier; Pro/AI by subscription |
| Privacy posture | Local-first, no telemetry growth loops | Cloud sync & AI features on paid tiers |
| Best fit | People who want Launchpad back | People who want a typed command center |
Pricing reflects each vendor’s published model at time of writing: Raycast offers a free tier with paid Pro and Advanced AI subscriptions (raycast.com/pricing); Facet is a single $14.99 purchase. Check the vendor sites for current pricing.
Pricing: one-time vs subscription.
This is the clearest practical difference. Facet is $14.99 once, activating up to three Macs, with no recurring cost. Raycast is free to start, but its Pro and AI capabilities are a monthly or annual subscription. If you want a launcher you buy and forget, Facet fits that model; if you want an evolving productivity platform and don’t mind a subscription, Raycast does.
Which should you choose?
Choose Facet if
You miss the Launchpad grid, organize apps into folders, and want a private, paid-once launcher you can open and browse.
Choose Raycast if
You launch by typing, want clipboard history, window management, scripts, and AI, and are fine with a subscription for the advanced features.
Use both if
Plenty of people do — Raycast for typed commands and automation, Facet for the visual app grid Raycast doesn’t provide.