The Auto Text Expander alternative that’s free forever and works beyond the browser.
Snippets in every app on Mac, Windows, Chrome, iPhone, and iPad, synced in real time. Share them with up to 5 teammates on the free plan, and use them for work from day one.
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The original open-source extension is no longer maintained, and its Chrome Web Store listing is now Magical (see TextExpander vs Magical). 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
- Original open-source version not updated since 2021
- Original listing is now Magical, with free-plan limits not published on its website
- Lookalike “Free Auto Text Expander” stores shortcuts in one browser, with no automatic sync
- Browser extension only: no desktop apps, no iPhone or iPad
- No team sharing in the original or the free lookalike
Auto Text Expander details from the Chrome Web Store listings, the original project’s GitHub repository, and getmagical.com, September 2026.
TextExpander vs Auto Text Expander, feature by feature.
Covers the original extension, its current form as Magical, and the Free Auto Text Expander lookalike. Checked against their Chrome Web Store listings and TextExpander’s latest releases, September 2026.
| Feature | TextExpander | Auto Text Expander |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ||
| Free forever plan | Free to installMagical plan limits not published | |
| Free for work use | Not clearly stated | |
| Share with a team on the free plan | ||
| Mobile access on the free plan | ||
| Works where you work | ||
| macOS app | ||
| Windows app | ||
| Chrome extension | ||
| iPhone and iPad app | ||
| Expands in desktop apps like Outlook, Slack, and Word | Browser only | |
| Sync across every device | Real time | Browser onlyNo automatic sync in the free lookalike |
| Actively developed | Original unmaintainedListing now Magical | |
| Built for teams | ||
| Shared Snippet libraries with permissions | Every plan | Magical paid tiers only |
| Snippet Requests with admin review and approval | Business | Not advertised |
| Limited role to control who adds to the shared library | Enterprise | Not advertised |
| Snippet version history, revert, and restore | Unlimited on Enterprise | Not advertised |
| Guest sharing outside your organization | Business | Not advertised |
| Organization usage statistics | Export on Business | Not advertised |
| Smart Snippets and AI | ||
| Fill-in fields and forms | Varies by versionOriginal: date and clipboard macros | |
| Conditional Sections with nested branches | Not advertised | |
| Delay macro for slow-loading forms and CRMs | Not advertised | |
| Publish a Snippet as a shareable link | Not advertised | |
| JavaScript, AppleScript, and shell script Snippets | Pro | Not advertised |
| AI features | AI Recommended Snippets | Magical onlyNone in the original |
| MCP access for AI agents | Not advertised | |
| Security and compliance | ||
| SOC 2 | SOC 2 and SOC 3 | Magical onlyNone stated for the original or lookalike |
| HIPAA compliance with a BAA | BAA available on request | Magical states HIPAABAA not stated |
Built for everywhere you type, not one browser tab.
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 in native apps on Mac and Windows, in Chrome, and on iPhone and iPad.
- Native apps for Mac, Windows, iPhone, and iPad
- Chrome extension for web apps
- The same Snippets work in every app you type in
- Inline search and hotkeys, not just abbreviations
Sync and sharing, included free.
The Free Auto Text Expander lookalike keeps shortcuts in local browser storage, with no automatic sync and 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 view and edit permissions
- Updates reach every teammate instantly
- Snippet Requests and guest sharing on Business
A text expander that keeps moving forward.
The original Auto Text Expander code hasn’t been updated since 2021, and its listing now belongs to a company that leads with healthcare AI agents. TextExpander is actively developed as a dedicated text expansion tool, with an iPhone and iPad app released in September 2026 and new team controls shipping 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
Why teams tell us they’re moving beyond the browser.
“Magical is extension based… you’ve got to be on Chrome. And if you want to update it, you’ve got to force quit Chrome and then reload it. Maybe TextExpander would be the way to go, because then we can run it as an app, push the updates, and it will work across all of our platforms.”
“You guys are kind of the only one that works both in Chrome and Outlook and then has an admin capability where we can… control the main messages.”
Your team started on a free extension. Now IT needs control.
Admin controls a browser extension was never built for.
Personal shortcuts in one browser are easy. Keeping thousands of shared Snippets on-brand, approved, and secure across a whole organization is the hard part. TextExpander ships the governance tools large teams ask for.
Approval workflows with Snippet Requests
Team members submit complete, formatted Snippets or edits. Assigned admins and editors review, approve, and publish from a dedicated Requests queue with filters and notification badges.
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 tracks every change to your Snippets. Revert to a previous version or restore a deleted Snippet in seconds, with unlimited history 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 every Snippet members share with each other, audit team membership, and track time saved and top Snippets with organization statistics, export, and customized reporting.
Move from Auto Text Expander in an afternoon.
There’s no direct import, so start with whatever your extension can export (the Free Auto Text Expander lookalike exports JSON), or copy your shortcuts from its options page. Put them in a spreadsheet with “abbreviation” and “snippet” columns, then 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.