5 Best Espanso Alternatives (Free and Paid)
If you’ve used Espanso, you already know how powerful text expansion can be. It helps you save time by turning short keywords into longer text snippets, like typing :addr and instantly getting your full address.
But while Espanso is used by developers for being open-source and script-friendly, it’s not for everyone.
Setting it up requires a bit of technical know-how, and the YAML-based configuration can feel complicated if you just want something quick and visual.
But there are plenty of Espanso alternatives that offer similar or even better functionality, some with cleaner interfaces, cross-platform sync, or extra features like clipboard management, mobile access, and AI-powered snippets.
In this guide, we’ll look at 5 of the best Espanso alternatives (a mix of open-source and paid options) so you can find the right one for your workflow. For each tool, you’ll see:
- Key features
- Pricing
- Best suited for
TL;DR: 5 Best Espanso Alternatives
1. Clipboard History Pro – Best for Chrome users who want both clipboard management and text expansion in one tool.
2. Text Blaze – Best for browser-based professionals who want dynamic, no-code snippets for emails and web apps.
3. TextExpander – Best for teams that need shared snippets, analytics, and cross-platform access.
4. aText – Best for individuals who prefer a lightweight, one-time-purchase text expander.
5. Magical – Best for web-based users and teams who want AI-powered automation and text expansion across Gmail, LinkedIn, and other apps.
5 Best Espanso Alternatives in 2026
1. Clipboard History Pro
Clipboard History Pro is a two-in-one Chrome extension that works as both a clipboard manager and a text expander, helping you organize everything you copy and automate repetitive typing.
With over 100,000 users on the Chrome Web Store, it’s one of the most complete browser-based productivity tools available.
Key Features
- Unlimited Clipboard History: You can automatically save every piece of text, image, or link you copy and keep a searchable record. You can also revisit, reuse, or favorite snippets any time — even days later.
- Powerful Text Expander: The tool lets you create shortcuts (like ;addr or ;email) that instantly expand into full sentences, templates, or code blocks on any webpage.
- Smart Organization & Search: With Clipboard History Pro, you can tag favorite items or search for any copied items in seconds to speed up repetitive tasks.
- Mobile Cloud Sync: The app syncs your clipboard history and snippets between Chrome, Android, and iOS to stay productive across devices.
- Password Lock: It adds an extra layer of privacy by protecting your clipboard data with a password, keeping sensitive information safe.
- Floating Mode: It keeps your clipboard always accessible in a small, movable window, which is great for multitasking or dual monitors.
- Clipboard Widget: You can paste multiple items directly from any webpage without opening the main extension.
- Custom Shortcuts: Clipboard History Pro also allows you to assign hotkeys for your favorite snippets (e.g., Shift + Alt + 1) for lightning-fast pasting.
Pricing: Clipboard History Pro has a forever-free plan, and the paid plan starts at $6/month (or $5/month billed annually) unlocks unlimited history, mobile sync, floating mode, and password lock.
Best For: The app is perfect for anyone who spends most of their day in Chrome, from writers and customer support agents to marketers and developers. It’s especially useful if you need both clipboard management and text expansion in one simple, browser-based tool.
Try Clipboard History Pro for free today!
2. Text Blaze
Text Blaze is another known text expander tool that helps you create reusable snippets and templates that work anywhere you type online.
It’s available as a Chrome extension and desktop app, making it a suitable choice for both browser-based and system-wide productivity.
Unlike Espanso, Text Blaze doesn’t require any coding or YAML configuration. Instead, it offers an intuitive dashboard where you can create, organize, and share snippets in minutes.
Key Features
- Easy Snippet Creation: The app allows you to build text snippets with placeholders, dropdown menus, and dynamic fields such as dates or times.
- Formulas and Automation: Text Blaze lets you add formulas, variables, and conditional rules to automate responses and create smart, personalized templates.
- Team Sharing: The tool makes it easy to share and manage snippets across your team, helping maintain consistent communication in customer support, marketing, and sales.
- Cross-Platform Support: You can use Text Blaze on Chrome and Edge, as well as through its Windows and Mac beta apps for system-wide text expansion.
- Dynamic Commands: It can automate repetitive actions like filling forms, updating spreadsheets, or sending standardized messages in CRMs and email platforms.
- Cloud Sync & Real-Time Updates: Your snippets stay up to date and accessible across all your devices, with changes synced instantly.
Pricing: Free Plan: Up to 20 snippets, and Pro Plan starts at $2.99/month.
Best For: Text Blaze is suitable for professionals who spend most of their time working in the browser (like sales teams, recruiters, and support reps) and need quick, dynamic templates for Gmail, CRMs, or web apps. It’s also suitable for non-technical users who want Espanso-level automation but with a friendly, no-code interface.
3. TextExpander
TextExpander is a premium, cross-platform text automation tool trusted by professionals and teams who want to save time and ensure message consistency.
It works seamlessly across macOS, Windows, iOS, and Chrome, syncing your snippets through the cloud so you can use them anywhere.
Compared to Espanso, TextExpander focuses heavily on collaboration and advanced customization.
You can create shared snippet libraries, add fill-in fields for personalization, and track usage analytics to see how much time your team saves.
Key Features
- Cross-Platform Sync: The app allows you to access and expand your snippets across desktop and mobile, with real-time cloud synchronization.
- Shared Snippet Libraries: Teams can collaborate more efficiently by creating shared folders and centralized snippet updates, ensuring message consistency across departments.
- Advanced Snippet Editing: TextExpander supports dynamic fields, custom variables, and optional text sections, giving you more flexibility in how snippets are used.
- Usage Reports: You can track how often snippets are used and identify time savings or productivity trends across your team.
- App Integrations: The tool integrates with popular apps like Gmail, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Help Scout, so you can use your snippets anywhere.
Pricing starts at $3.33/month (billed annually), with a free trial available.
Best For: Remote teams and professionals who want a polished, cloud-synced text expander with analytics, collaboration tools, and cross-device access. It’s especially valuable for teams that need to share standardized replies, onboarding messages, or documentation across different platforms.
4. aText
aText is another affordable text expansion tool built for macOS and Windows. It focuses on speed and simplicity, letting you automate repetitive typing without the complexity of cloud setups or heavy apps.
Unlike Espanso, which requires command-line configuration, aText offers a straightforward interface where you can quickly create snippets, set triggers, and organize them into folders.
It’s suitable for users who want efficiency without overcomplicating their workflow.
Key Features
- Simple Snippet Setup: The app lets you create abbreviations that instantly expand into full sentences, email signatures, or even code snippets.
- Rich Text Support: You can include formatted text, images, and links within your snippets for more flexible and visually rich outputs.
- Dynamic Fields: aText supports variables like date, time, and clipboard content, allowing you to automate routine inputs with precision.
- App Exclusions: You can choose which applications aText runs in, which is particularly helpful for developers who want to avoid unwanted expansions in code editors or terminals.
- Cloud Backup: The tool supports syncing through Dropbox, iCloud, or Google Drive, so you can easily back up and restore your snippets anytime.
Pricing: Starts at a one-time payment of $4.99, with a free trial available.
Best For: aText is ideal for individual users, freelancers, and developers who want a fast text expander that works offline and doesn’t rely on subscriptions.
5. Magical
Magical is a text expansion and automation tool built for the web. Unlike traditional desktop apps, it runs directly in your browser, making it suitable for users who spend most of their time in Gmail, LinkedIn, Salesforce, or other web-based tools.
Unlike Espanso, Magical focuses on simplicity and speed. You can save text snippets (called “magics”) and insert them anywhere online without complex setup.
It also lets you automate repetitive workflows like form-filling, outreach messages, and follow-ups, all without writing a single line of code.
Key Features
- Web-Based Snippet Expansion: The app lets you create and use shortcuts across any website or web app, including emails, CRMs, and chat platforms.
- AI-Powered Automation: Magical uses AI to help you complete repetitive tasks faster — whether that’s personalizing outreach messages or transferring data between tools.
- Team Collaboration: You can share snippets and templates with your teammates to keep messaging consistent and speed up shared workflows.
- Form Autofill: The tool automatically fills repetitive forms and fields in just a few clicks, saving time during data entry.
- Multi-App Support: Magical works across multiple platforms, including Chrome, Gmail, LinkedIn, HubSpot, Salesforce, and more.
Pricing: Free for personal use; paid plans start at $6.50/month with advanced automation and team collaboration features.
Best For: Magical is best suited for sales, marketing, and customer support teams who work primarily in web-based applications and want an AI-powered way to automate typing, data entry, and outreach workflows.
Try Clipboard History Pro and Simplify Your Workflow
If you’re ready to replace Espanso with something faster, easier, and built for everyday use, Clipboard History Pro is the perfect place to start.
It combines a powerful clipboard manager with a smart text expander in one simple Chrome extension.
No coding, no complex setup, just instant access to your copy-paste history, reusable snippets, and cloud sync across devices.
With over 100,000 users, Clipboard History Pro is trusted by professionals who write, code, research, and communicate daily. It helps you save time, stay organized, and never lose another copied item again.
