Glaze by Raycast
Build real Mac apps by chatting with AI, no code needed
Overview
Glaze is Raycast's answer to "why do I need a browser tab pretending to be an app." You describe what you want and it builds a real, native Mac app on the spot, one that can sit in your menu bar, register keyboard shortcuts, and read and write files, things a web app can't do. The live editing is the standout part: you can circle something on screen while the app is open and ask for a change, and it updates immediately, which reviewers say makes the whole vibe-coding process feel more interactive than typical AI app builders.
It's aimed at people who want quick personal utilities or internal team tools without setting up a real dev environment, spreadsheet replacements, small dashboards, one-off automations. The honest catch, per early reviewers, is that most apps people are actually building with it right now are novelty projects, and the public Glaze Store is thin on genuinely useful apps so far. It's also Mac-only for now, and free credits run out fast, so budget for the $20/month Pro tier if you're going to use it beyond a toy project.
Key Features
Native, Local-First Apps: Built apps run entirely on your machine, not in a browser tab, with real system access.
Live Visual Editing: Circle an element or describe a change while the app is running and Glaze updates it in real time.
OS-Level Integration: Apps can register keyboard shortcuts, sit in the menu bar, read/write files, and run background processes.
Built-In Image Generation: Calls image models natively so apps can include AI-generated illustrations without extra tools.
Glaze Store: Publish apps privately, to your team, or publicly for others to install.
No Coding Required: Built for both non-technical users and developers who want to skip boilerplate.
Pricing
Starting price
$20/mo
Free: $0. One-time bundle of credits, enough to build roughly one or two apps.
Pro: $20/month at launch. Refreshes with 200 credits monthly, with the option to buy more if you run out.
Team: Mentioned on the site for team publishing and shared apps, exact pricing not published.
Disclaimer: this is a very new, fast-moving launch. Confirm current pricing and platform support on Glaze's own site before buying.
Pros
Real Native Apps, Not Web Wrappers: Apps get actual OS-level access, menu bar presence, and file system permissions.
Live Visual Feedback: Editing a running app by pointing at what you want changed is genuinely smoother than typical prompt-and-wait AI builders.
Backed By Raycast: Built by a company with an established productivity-tool track record, not an unknown startup.
Strong Product Hunt Launch: 4.8 rating from 368+ votes at launch.
Cons
Mac Only: Requires macOS Tahoe and Apple Silicon; no Windows or Linux support yet.
Store Quality Is Thin: Early reviewers found the public app store mostly novelty projects rather than genuinely useful apps.
Free Credits Run Out Fast: The free tier covers maybe one or two apps before you need the $20/month Pro plan.
Very New: Publicly shipped July 1, 2026, so long-term reliability, security implications of AI-generated apps with file access, and store moderation are all unproven.
What Makes It Unique
Real Native Apps From Chat: Unlike most AI app builders that output web apps, Glaze generates true local Mac apps with system-level access, menu bar presence, and file permissions.
Kay Score
6.9
/ 10
Tool Information
Pricing
$20/mo
Category
Coding & Development
Platform
Web / iOS / Android
Last Updated
