PortlivoCompared
Snipora vs Espanso
Espanso is free, open source and runs everywhere, and you configure it in text files. Snipora is a Mac app with an editor. Both are good; they suit different people.
By Anmol Sethi · Checked
Quick answer
Pick Espanso if you want free and open source, use Linux or Windows too, or like keeping snippets in YAML under version control. Pick Snipora if you want a native Mac app with an editor, suggestions, Secure Input help and per-website rules; it reads your Espanso match files on first launch.
At a glance
| Snipora | Espanso | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free for 15 snippets; $2.99/month, $24.99/year, or $29.99 once | Free, open source (GPL-3) |
| Editing snippets | An editor in the app | YAML files; no editor yet |
| Forms | Yes | Yes |
| Search and paste | ⌃⌥Space | ⌥Space search bar |
| Per-app rules | Yes, and per website | Yes, per app |
| Suggestions from what you type | Yes, on-device | No |
| Secure Input | Names the app holding it | Stops |
| Platforms | Mac | Mac, Windows, Linux |
Where Snipora pulls ahead
- A real editor. Abbreviation, text, rules and a preview, with a warning when an abbreviation hides inside common words.
- Website rules through a Safari or Chrome extension, not just apps.
- Suggestions for what you keep retyping.
- It tells you about Secure Input instead of stopping without a word.
Where Espanso is the better pick
- You want it free and open source.
- You use Windows or Linux as well as a Mac.
- You want your snippets in YAML in a Git repository, reviewed like code.
Moving from Espanso
- Open Snipora. On first launch it finds Espanso’s match folder and offers Bring them over.
- Triggers, replacements and forms come over; anything it can’t convert is named in the report.
- Stop Espanso (
espanso stop) so both don’t expand the same trigger.
Snipora is free for up to 15 snippets, suggestions included. Unlimited is $2.99 a month, $24.99 a year, or a lifetime licence: $29.99 for the first 50 buyers (25% off), then $39.99.
Questions people ask
- Does Snipora read Espanso’s YAML?
- Yes, its match files:
trigger,triggers,replaceand forms. Espanso extensions such as shell commands stay as text and are named in the report.
Snipora is free for up to 15 snippets. No account.
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