The Free Text Expander for Mac
Most text expanders for Mac cost between $5 and $40 per year. TypeFire is free forever with no paid tier and no feature gates. Type abbreviations that auto-expand, assign keyboard shortcuts, run AI on your selection, and sync across Macs through iCloud. All at zero cost.
What text expanders for Mac actually cost
Almost every text expander for Mac is paid. Here is the actual price tag on the major ones, and how TypeFire compares.
Espanso is also free but uses YAML config files and a terminal-based workflow. TypeFire is a native Mac app with a visual editor.
What you get for $0
Every feature is included. There is no premium tier holding any of this back.
Abbreviation expansion
Type a short trigger like "zem" and it expands into your full email address. Works in every Mac app: Safari, Chrome, Mail, Slack, VS Code, Terminal, and more.
Global keyboard shortcuts
Assign a hotkey like Cmd+Shift+E to any snippet. Press it from any app and the snippet pastes instantly. No typing required.
Spotlight-style launcher
Press Cmd+Shift+P to open a fuzzy search overlay. Type a few letters, find any snippet, paste it. Find what you need in under two seconds.
Rich text and Markdown
Snippets can be plain text, rich text with fonts and colors, or Markdown that expands as formatted HTML. The built-in TipTap editor handles everything visually.
AI tokens
Drop {{ai:rewrite}}, {{ai:summarize}}, or {{ai:translate}} into any snippet. Works with Apple Intelligence (free, on-device), Claude, OpenAI, Gemini, or local Ollama. Your API keys, your usage costs (often $0).
iCloud Sync
Sync your entire snippet library across Macs through your own iCloud Drive. Edit on your desktop, expand on your laptop. Encrypted by Apple end-to-end.
JavaScript and AppleScript
Snippets can run scripts when triggered. Use JavaScript to transform clipboard contents, AppleScript to control other apps, or shell scripts for anything else.
Active development
Regular updates with new features, bug fixes, and macOS compatibility. The roadmap is public on GitHub. This is not abandoned shareware.
The fine print, written plainly
Free software usually has a catch somewhere. Here is exactly what TypeFire does and does not do.
Snippet content stays on your Mac
Snippets are stored as plain Markdown files in a folder you choose. They never leave your device unless you enable iCloud Sync, in which case they go through your own iCloud Drive.
No ads, no upsells
The app has no advertising surface, no "upgrade for more" buttons, and no annoying prompts. The free version is the full version.
Anonymous analytics only
TypeFire uses Aptabase to count active installs and expansion totals. No personal data, no snippet content, no email addresses (except the one you use to verify your install).
No future paywall
The project is built to stay free. There is no investor pressure, no growth target, and no plan to introduce a Pro tier. If that ever changed, existing users would not be charged retroactively.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about whether TypeFire is really free.
Stop paying for a text expander
TypeFire is the free option that does not feel free. Native Mac app, every feature included, no account required to download.
Free forever · macOS 12+ · Apple Silicon native