The Auto Text Expander alternative that’s free forever and works beyond the browser.
TextExpander is a free text expander for Google Chrome that also works in desktop programs on Mac and Windows and on iPhone and iPad. Create custom keyboard shortcuts for the text you type every day, and share them with up to 5 teammates on the free plan.
Free forever · No credit card required · 30-day preview of advanced features
Four reasons people switch from Auto Text Expander.
The original open-source extension’s Chrome Web Store listing is now Magical (see TextExpander vs Magical), and other free extensions now use the name. Every version still lives inside the browser. TextExpander goes wherever you type.
A free plan that doesn’t stop at the browser.
TextExpander’s free plan is built for how people really work: in desktop apps and web apps, on every device, with a small team, from day one. No trial clock and no credit card.
- Unlimited saved Snippets, 5 active at a time
- Works on Mac, Windows, Chrome, iPhone, and iPad
- Share Snippets with up to 5 team members
- AI Recommended Snippets and MCP access for AI agents
- Fill-ins, dates, date picker, and Snippet Groups
- Use it for work, no credit card required
- Newer free versions keep text shortcuts stored locally in your browser
- Original listing is now Magical, with free-plan limits not published on its website
- Moving shortcuts to another computer relies on Chrome sync or an export file
- Browser extension only: no desktop apps, no iPhone or iPad
- No team sharing in the free versions
Auto Text Expander details from the Chrome Web Store listings, the original project’s GitHub README, AlternativeTo, and getmagical.com, November 2026.
TextExpander vs Auto Text Expander, feature by feature.
Covers the original extension, its current form as Magical, and the free Auto Text Expander extensions. Checked against their Chrome Web Store listings and TextExpander’s current plans, November 2026.
| Feature | TextExpander | Auto Text Expander |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ||
| Free forever plan | Yes, free forever with no credit card | Free to installMagical plan limits not published |
| Free for work use | Yes, work use is allowed on the free plan | Not clearly stated |
| Share with a team on the free plan | Yes, with up to 5 teammates | No |
| Mobile access on the free plan | Yes, the iPhone and iPad app | No |
| Works where you work | ||
| macOS app | Yes, a native Mac app | No |
| Windows app | Yes, a native Windows app | No |
| Chrome extension | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone and iPad app | Yes, on the App Store | No |
| Expands in desktop apps like Outlook, Slack, and Word | Yes, on Mac and Windows | No. Browser only |
| Sync across every device | Yes. Real time | Browser onlyChrome sync or export file in free versions |
| Actively developed | Yes | Varies by versionListing now Magical |
| Built for teams | ||
| Shared Snippet libraries with permissions | Yes. Every plan | Magical paid tiers only |
| Snippet Requests with admin review and approval | Yes. Business | Not advertised |
| Limited role to control who adds to the shared library | Yes. Enterprise | Not advertised |
| Snippet version history, revert, and restore | Yes. Unlimited on Enterprise | Not advertised |
| Guest sharing outside your organization | Yes. Business | Not advertised |
| Organization usage statistics | Yes. Export from Pro | Not advertised |
| Smart Snippets and AI | ||
| Fill-in fields and forms | Yes | Varies by versionPlaceholders and date macros in some versions |
| Conditional Sections with nested branches | Yes | Not advertised |
| Delay macro for slow-loading forms and CRMs | Yes | Not advertised |
| Publish a Snippet as a shareable link | Yes | Not advertised |
| JavaScript, AppleScript, and shell script Snippets | Yes. Pro | Not advertised |
| AI features | Yes. AI Recommended Snippets | Magical onlyNone in the original |
| MCP access for AI agents | Yes | Not advertised |
| Security and compliance | ||
| SOC 2 | Yes. SOC 2 and SOC 3 | Magical onlyNone stated for the free versions |
| HIPAA compliance with a BAA | Yes. BAA available on request | Magical states HIPAABAA not stated |
Why people switch from Auto Text Expander to TextExpander.
Your Snippets work outside the browser too.
Every version of Auto Text Expander runs as a browser extension, so it can’t reach the messages you write in Outlook, Slack, Word, or a desktop EHR client. TextExpander expands text in Gmail, Google Docs, and desktop programs on Mac and Windows, and on iPhone and iPad.
- Native apps for Mac, Windows, iPhone, and iPad
- Chrome extension for web apps
- The same text shortcuts work in email, docs, chat, and web pages
- Quick search and keyboard shortcuts, not just abbreviations
Sync and sharing, included free.
Free Auto Text Expander extensions keep your shortcuts stored locally in your browser, so moving them to another computer means Chrome sync or an export file, and there is no team sharing. TextExpander syncs every Snippet across your devices in real time, and up to 5 people can share Snippets on the free plan.
- Real-time sync across every device and platform
- Shared Snippet Groups with expand, edit, and manage permissions
- Edit a Snippet once and everyone with access gets the update
- Snippet Requests and guest sharing on Business
A text expander that keeps moving forward.
As of November 2026, the original Auto Text Expander listing belongs to Magical, a company that now leads with healthcare AI agents. TextExpander is built around text expansion, with an iPhone and iPad app released in September 2026 and new team controls added regularly.
- AI Recommended Snippets and MCP access for AI agents
- SOC 2 and SOC 3 certified, HIPAA compliant
- Google SSO on Business; all providers and SCIM on Enterprise
- Every plan published on textexpander.com/pricing
What customers say about TextExpander.
“Being able to replace any string of text with whatever I need has been extremely helpful. Since I work in chat support, having quick access to my case notes and email templates really speeds up my workflow.”
“I really value the ability to customize snippets with dynamic fields, so I can personalize interactions without starting from scratch.”
Your team started on a free extension. Now IT needs control.
Admin controls a browser extension was never built for.
Text shortcuts saved in one browser work well for one person. When a team shares them, admins need to review changes, recover old versions, and control who has access. Here’s what TextExpander gives them.
Approval workflows with Snippet Requests
On Business and Enterprise, team members submit new Snippets or edits for review. Assigned admins and editors approve and publish them from one Requests queue, so the shared library changes only after someone checks it.
Limited role for a trusted library
On Enterprise, decide who can add to your shared library. Assign the Limited role to people or whole Teams, so new members can use approved content and submit ideas without publishing directly.
Official and shared content, clearly separated
Organization and Shared tabs show which Snippet Groups are admin-curated and which were shared between teammates. Admins can promote, move, or return any Group.
Version history, revert, and restore
Snippet Activity records each change to a Snippet, so you can revert to an earlier version or restore a deleted one. History covers 24 hours on Pro, 7 days on Business, and is unlimited on Enterprise.
SSO, SCIM, and domain controls
Google SSO on Business. All SSO providers, SCIM provisioning, and enforced email domains on Enterprise, plus sign-up by email domain and configurable session timeouts.
Visibility and reporting
See which Snippets members share, review who belongs to each team, and track time saved and most-used Snippets in organization statistics. Export is included from Pro up; customized reporting is on Enterprise.
Move from Auto Text Expander in an afternoon.
There’s no direct import, so start with whatever your extension can export (Free Auto Text Expander exports JSON; Auto Text Expander: Text Shortcuts & Snippets exports CSV), or copy your shortcuts from its options page. Put them in a spreadsheet with “abbreviation” and “snippet” columns, save it as a CSV, and upload it on the Import/Export page at textexpander.com. Plain text transfers cleanly. Swap date and clipboard macros for TextExpander fill-ins, then turn off the old extension.
Moving a whole team? Send us your export and our team will help convert it into a TextExpander import. Talk to us
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know before switching to TextExpander.