---
title: "Espanso Alternative with a Snippet Editor — Type Shortcut"
description: "Type Shortcut reads Espanso YAML files and adds a snippet editor, search and fill-in forms. Free for Mac and Windows, with no terminal needed."
url: "https://www.typeshortcut.com/espanso-alternative"
site: "Type Shortcut"
updated: "2026-11-09"
---

# Espanso, with an app to manage it.

Type Shortcut is free like Espanso and reads the same YAML files. Point it at your Espanso folder and manage your snippets in a window, with no terminal needed.

[Download for Mac](https://github.com/danielxli/typeshortcut-releases/releases/latest/download/TypeShortcut-macos.zip)[Download for Windows](https://github.com/danielxli/typeshortcut-releases/releases/latest/download/typeshortcut.exe)

## What Type Shortcut adds

### A snippet manager window

Create, edit and group snippets in an app instead of a text file.

### Search from the keyboard

Press Option+Space on a Mac or Alt+Space on Windows, search by name or text, and press Enter.

### Fill-in forms

Add blanks for a name, a date or a list of choices, and fill them in before the text goes in.

### Insights

See how much time your snippets have saved you.

### Starter packs

Turn on packs for typo fixes, symbols, emoji and dates.

### One-click sync

Move your snippet folder into Dropbox, iCloud Drive or OneDrive to use the same snippets on every computer.

## Type Shortcut and Espanso

|  | Type Shortcut | Espanso |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Snippets | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Fill-in fields and date pickers | Yes | Yes, in config files |
| Snippet editor app | Yes | No (edit text files) |
| Account needed | No | No |

### Type Shortcut

Price

Free

Snippets

Unlimited

Fill-in fields and date pickers

Yes

Snippet editor app

Yes

Account needed

No

### Espanso

Price

Free

Snippets

Unlimited

Fill-in fields and date pickers

Yes, in config files

Snippet editor app

No (edit text files)

Account needed

No

`;` `g` `o`

## Free for Mac and Windows.

[Download for Mac](https://github.com/danielxli/typeshortcut-releases/releases/latest/download/TypeShortcut-macos.zip)[Download for Windows](https://github.com/danielxli/typeshortcut-releases/releases/latest/download/typeshortcut.exe)

[TextExpander alternative](https://www.typeshortcut.com/textexpander-alternative)[Text Blaze alternative](https://www.typeshortcut.com/text-blaze-alternative)