Comparison
A macOS Text Replacements alternative with dates and fill-ins
Every Mac comes with Text Replacements. Type a shortcut, and macOS swaps in your phrase. It’s free and it’s already there. This page covers when that’s enough, and when you’ll want more.
We make TypeSeer, so read this with that in mind. Text Replacements is free, and for some people it’s all they need. We say who those people are below.
The short answer
Text Replacements is enough for a few short, fixed phrases, especially if you need them on your iPhone. Choose TypeSeer if you want dates, fill-in fields, snippets that work in more apps, or the same snippets on Windows.
Try TypeSeer free for 14 days, with no account and no card.
At a glance
Scroll sideways to compare the options.
| What you need | Text Replacements | TypeSeer |
|---|---|---|
| Type a shortcut, get your text | Yes | Yes |
| Today’s date, the time or what you copied | No | Yes |
| Ask for a name before typing | No | Yes |
| Put the cursor in the middle | No | Yes |
| Text over one line | Hard to enter in Settings | Yes |
| Works in | Apps that use Apple’s own text fields. Not every app | Most apps, including browsers, Slack and Word |
| Sync | Through iCloud, to your Macs, iPhone and iPad | Through a folder you choose, to your Macs and Windows PCs |
| AI suggestions as you type | No | Yes, from a model on your Mac |
| Price | Free, built in | 14-day trial, then $3.99 a month, $34.99 a year or $79.99 once |
Where Text Replacements falls short
- Every replacement is fixed text. There’s no date, no clipboard and no blank to fill in.
- It doesn’t work everywhere. Apps that draw their own text fields often ignore it. In some apps you have to turn it on from Edit → Substitutions.
- Long text is awkward. The Settings field is built for a short phrase, not a paragraph.
- Sync is out of your hands. If replacements stop appearing on another device, there’s no setting to fix it.
What TypeSeer adds
- Placeholders. {date} and {time} in any format, {clipboard}, and {cursor} for where you keep typing.
- Fill-in fields. {input:Name} asks for a name before the snippet is typed.
- No shortcut needed. Start typing a snippet’s own text and TypeSeer offers the rest.
- Snippets you didn’t know you needed. Text you type often is offered as a new snippet.
- Windows too. Sync keeps your snippets the same on your Macs and PCs. Everything is encrypted on your computer first.
- Suggestions for the rest of your writing. Grey text at your cursor shows how your sentence could go on. Press Tab to take it.
When Text Replacements is enough
- You have a handful of short, fixed phrases, like an email address or “omw”.
- You need them on your iPhone and iPad. TypeSeer runs on Mac and Windows only.
- You don’t want to pay. Text Replacements is free. TypeSeer is paid after 14 days.
- Your Mac has an Intel processor. TypeSeer needs Apple Silicon.
Moving your replacements to TypeSeer
- Open System Settings → Keyboard and click Text Replacements….
- Select all the rows and drag them to your desktop. macOS saves them as a file.
- In TypeSeer, open Settings → Snippets, click Import Snippets…, and choose that file.
A shortcut you already have in TypeSeer is left alone. A shortcut with a space in it is skipped. Your Text Replacements stay where they are, so your iPhone keeps them.
Questions
Why don’t my text replacements work in some apps?
Text Replacements works in apps that use Apple’s own text fields. Many apps draw their own text fields and ignore it. TypeSeer works in most of them.
Can a macOS text replacement include today’s date?
No. Every text replacement is fixed text. In TypeSeer, {date} types today’s date in any format you choose.
Will importing into TypeSeer remove my text replacements?
No. Import copies them. Your Text Replacements stay in macOS, and on your iPhone and iPad.
Does TypeSeer sync snippets to my iPhone?
No. TypeSeer syncs between Macs and Windows PCs. It doesn’t run on iPhone or iPad.
More comparisons
- TypeSeer and TextExpander, compared
- TypeSeer, Text Blaze and Magical, compared
- TypeSeer and PhraseExpress, compared
- TypeSeer and Cotypist, compared
Every snippet feature is on the features page, and the plans are on our pricing page.
Bring your replacements and try it
14 days, every feature, no account and no card.