TypeSnap vs TypeIt4Me
Comparing TypeSnap and TypeIt4Me 7. Both are one-time purchase, both respect your privacy. Here's how to choose between them.
TypeSnap
$17.99
one-time
The Quick Version
| TypeSnap | TypeIt4Me 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $17.99 once | $19.99 once |
| TextExpander Import | Yes, full | No |
| TypeIt4Me Import | Yes, full | N/A |
| Privacy | Local-only, explicit | Local + iCloud option |
| Mac App Store | Yes | Yes |
| Fill-in Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Date Math | Yes | Yes |
| Nested Snippets | Yes | Yes |
| Analytics | None | Unclear |
| Years Active | New (2026) | 35+ years (1989) |
Two Good Options
Let’s be clear upfront: TypeIt4Me is a good app. It’s been around since 1989 -that’s older than the World Wide Web. The founder, Ricardo Ettore, still personally answers support emails and has been known to offer FaceTime calls to help users.
This isn’t a comparison where one app is clearly bad. It’s about which app better fits your needs.
What TypeSnap Does Better
1. Full Import from Both TextExpander and TypeIt4Me
This is our biggest differentiator. TypeSnap imports from:
- TextExpander: Full import with automatic macro conversion
- TypeIt4Me: Full import with automatic macro conversion
If you’re currently using TypeIt4Me and want to try TypeSnap, you can import all your clippings with one click. All your sets, abbreviations, and macros come over automatically.
TypeIt4Me doesn’t import from TextExpander, so if you’re switching from TE, you’d need to recreate your snippets manually.
See the complete import guide →
2. Explicit Privacy Architecture
TypeSnap was built from day one with privacy as a core feature:
- Zero analytics: We don’t track anything
- Zero telemetry: No data leaves your Mac
- No account required: No email, no password
- Local storage: Standard JSON files on your Mac
- Optional iCloud: Your iCloud storage, not ours
TypeIt4Me is also privacy-respecting -your data stays local or in your iCloud. But their privacy stance isn’t as explicitly documented. TypeSnap’s privacy approach is a core part of our identity.
3. Modern Interface
TypeSnap has a fresh, modern design built for current macOS. The interface is clean, uncluttered, and follows Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines.
TypeIt4Me has evolved over 35 years, and while functional, the interface shows its age in places.
4. Slightly Lower Price
$17.99 vs $19.99. It’s a small difference, but we believe in competing on value.
What TypeIt4Me Does Better
1. 35 Years of Refinement
TypeIt4Me has been around since 1989. That’s an incredible track record. They’ve seen every edge case, every macOS update, every weird text field behavior. This experience matters.
TypeSnap is new. We’ve built on modern foundations and learned from others’ experiences, but we don’t have 35 years of real-world testing.
2. Exceptional Personal Support
Ricardo Ettore, the founder, personally responds to support emails. He’s been known to offer FaceTime calls to help users with complex setups. That level of personal attention is rare.
3. Proven Stability
TypeIt4Me 7 is battle-tested across millions of expansions. When you’re typing important documents, that reliability matters.
TypeSnap is thoroughly tested, but newer software always carries some inherent uncertainty.
4. Rich Feature Set
TypeIt4Me has accumulated features over three decades:
- Multiple expansion triggers
- Abbreviation suggestions
- Statistics tracking
- Comprehensive macro system
- Clipboard history integration
Feature Comparison
Core Text Expansion
| Feature | TypeSnap | TypeIt4Me |
|---|---|---|
| Abbreviation expansion | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple trigger modes | ✓ | ✓ |
| Case sensitivity options | ✓ | ✓ |
| Works in all apps | ✓ | ✓ |
Dynamic Content
| Feature | TypeSnap | TypeIt4Me |
|---|---|---|
| Fill-in text fields | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dropdown menus | ✓ | ✓ |
| Optional sections | ✓ | ✓ |
| Date/time insertion | ✓ | ✓ |
| Date math | ✓ | ✓ |
| Clipboard content | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cursor positioning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nested snippets | ✓ | ✓ |
| Random numbers/UUID | ✓ | ✗ |
| Rich text formatting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Regex triggers | ✓ | ✗ |
| Image expansion | ✓ | ✗ |
| App-specific snippets | ✓ | ✗ |
| JavaScript | ✓ | ✗ |
Organization & Access
| Feature | TypeSnap | TypeIt4Me |
|---|---|---|
| Groups/Sets | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tags | ✓ | ✗ |
| Smart views | ✓ | ✗ |
| Quick search | ✓ | ✓ |
| Menu bar access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Per-snippet hotkeys | ✓ | ✓ |
| Clipboard history | ✓ | ✓ |
| Version history | ✓ (50 versions) | ✗ |
| Usage statistics | ✓ | ✓ |
Import & Export
| Feature | TypeSnap | TypeIt4Me |
|---|---|---|
| TextExpander import | ✓ Full | ✗ |
| TypeIt4Me import | ✓ Full | N/A |
| CSV import | ✓ | ✓ |
| Data export | ✓ JSON | ✓ |
Making the Switch
If you’re considering moving from TypeIt4Me to TypeSnap:
- Export your TypeIt4Me data - Use File → Export Clippings
- Download TypeSnap - Available on the Mac App Store
- Import your clippings - File → Import → From TypeIt4Me
- Test your most-used snippets - Make sure everything works
- Run both apps side by side - TypeIt4Me doesn’t require a subscription, so there’s no rush
Take your time. Both apps can coexist on your Mac while you evaluate.
The Bottom Line
Choose TypeSnap if:
- You’re switching from TextExpander and want easy import
- You want the option to try TypeSnap with your existing TypeIt4Me snippets
- Privacy transparency is important to you
- You prefer modern interfaces
- You want to save $2
Choose TypeIt4Me if:
- You value 35 years of proven reliability
- Personal support from the developer matters to you
- You’re already happy with TypeIt4Me (if it ain’t broke…)
- You want features that have been refined over decades
Both are good choices. Both are one-time purchases. Both respect your data. You can’t go wrong with either.