Step Up From Auto Text Expander
Auto Text Expander does the basics well. If you want rich text, Markdown, AI tokens, dynamic data, and a Spotlight-style launcher, TypeFire is the natural next step. Same $0 cost, modern feature set.
What TypeFire adds over Auto Text Expander
Auto Text Expander handles basic abbreviation expansion well. Here is what TypeFire adds without changing the $0 price tag.
Rich text and Markdown
Auto Text Expander is plain text only. TypeFire adds rich text via TipTap (fonts, colors, lists, links, images) and Markdown source that expands as formatted HTML.
AI tokens
Drop {{ai:rewrite}}, {{ai:summarize}}, or {{ai:translate}} into any snippet. Five provider options including free Apple Intelligence (macOS 26+), Gemini free tier, and local Ollama.
Dynamic tokens
{{date}}, {{time}}, {{datetime}} with format strings, {{clipboard}} for current clipboard, {{cursor}} for caret positioning, {{snippet:abbr}} for nested templates.
Spotlight-style launcher
Cmd+Ctrl+T opens a fuzzy search modal. Type a few letters, pick a snippet, paste. Useful when you don't remember the abbreviation but remember the snippet name.
Side panel + popup modes
Quick popup for fast hits, or maximize into Chrome's native side panel for a full workspace when editing rich-text snippets. TypeFire remembers your preferred surface.
Free companion Mac app
If you're on a Mac, the native app handles non-browser apps (Slack desktop, Mail, Notes, Xcode, Terminal). Same email login, JSON-portable library between the two.
TypeFire's Chrome popup. A real editor and library, not just an options page.
TypeFire vs Auto Text Expander
Both free. Auto Text Expander focuses on the basics. TypeFire adds the modern feature set without changing the price.
| Feature | TypeFire | Auto Text Expander |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Basic abbreviation expansion | Yes | Yes |
| Rich text | Yes | No |
| Markdown source expansion | Yes | No |
| AI tokens | Yes - 5 providers | No |
| Dynamic tokens ({{date}}, {{clipboard}}, etc.) | Yes - full set | Limited |
| Spotlight-style launcher | Yes | No |
| Clipboard history | Yes - last 20 items | No |
| Side panel mode | Yes | No |
| Collections and tags | Nested + tags | Flat list |
| Free Mac app companion | Yes | No |
| Multi-language UI | 8 languages | English only |
| Snippet import format | JSON, CSV, .textexpander | JSON |
Frequently asked questions
Same $0, more features
Try TypeFire alongside Auto Text Expander. Keep whichever fits your workflow better, or use TypeFire as the upgrade once you outgrow basic expansion.
Free forever · works on every Chromium browser