Compare
Shorthand and Text Blaze
Text Blaze, by Blaze Today, and Shorthand side by side: what each does, what it costs, and where it runs. Facts about Text Blaze come from its own website, checked on November 5, 2026.
Side by side
Feature
Shorthand
Text Blaze
Platforms
macOS 14 or later, Apple Silicon
Chrome extension, Windows app, macOS app
Price
Free download
Free; Pro $2.99/month billed yearly ($3.49 monthly); Business $6.99/user/month billed yearly; Enterprise custom
Native on Apple Silicon
yes
yes
Where it works
system-wide in all apps
Chrome extension; the Mac and Windows apps work system-wide
Fill-ins and forms
yes: fields, pop-up menus, optional sections, live preview
yes: fields, menus, dates, toggles (full forms need Pro)
Date math
yes
yes
Script snippets
AppleScript, shell, and JavaScript
its own formula language only; no JavaScript, AppleScript, or shell
AI
12 providers (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, local models, and more) with your own key and a fallback
AI Write in the editor; separate AI Blaze extension
Sync
your own folder (Dropbox, iCloud Drive), optionally encrypted
Text Blaze's cloud, account required
Team sharing
no
yes: limited on Free, unlimited on Business
Account required
no
yes
Encryption or app lock
yes: AES-256 encryption and a Touch ID or password lock
server-side encryption; no app lock
Per-app rules
yes, per group and per snippet, plus an app and website blocklist
partial: website conditions in the extension
Open source
no
no
Latest version
1.5.4, November 1, 2026
Chrome extension 3.3.20, 2026-10-13
Where Text Blaze shines
Forms, formulas, and conditional logic
Team sharing and admin tools
Free tier with browser and desktop apps
Where Shorthand is different
No account and no cloud of ours: your snippets stay on your Mac, or in a folder you choose.
Optional AES-256 encryption of your library and backups, and a Touch ID or password lock.
A privacy blocklist: Shorthand stops listening completely in password managers and on sites you block, and asks before working in a new app.
AppleScript, shell, and JavaScript snippets, run in the background with a time limit.
Shorthand’s limits, to be fair
Mac only, and only Macs with Apple Silicon (M1 or newer).
No iPhone or iPad app.
No team sharing: a synced folder works for one person’s Macs.
Sync uses a folder you provide (Dropbox or iCloud Drive), not a built-in cloud service.
Moving from Text Blaze
Directly: the dashboard’s folder export (.json), with forms, dates, and the clipboard converted. Choose File ▸ Import Snippets… in Shorthand. Step-by-step switching guide
Sources
Checked November 5, 2026. Prices and features change, so check Text Blaze’s website before you decide. Spotted a mistake? Email support@shorthandexpander.com and we’ll fix it.
Text Blaze is a trademark of its owner. Shorthand is an independent product, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Text Blaze or its owner.