Help Center

Find answers to common questions about PhraseVault

All (53) Installation & Upgrades (4) Basic Usage (9) Purchase & Licensing (5) Guides & How-To (13) Comparisons (10) Industry Solutions (12)

Installation & Upgrades

Install PhraseVault® on Windows and macOS

PhraseVault® runs on Windows 10 or 11 on an x64 PC, and on macOS 13 (Ventura) or later with Apple Silicon.

How to Update PhraseVault® (Windows & macOS)

Updating PhraseVault® keeps your phrases, settings, and license.

Windows SmartScreen Blocked PhraseVault® — How to Install Safely

If Windows SmartScreen warns about the PhraseVault® installer, verify that you downloaded it from the…

Install PhraseVault® on Linux (Omarchy and Arch)

PhraseVault® on Linux runs on Omarchy and Arch Linux with Hyprland (x86_64).

Basic Usage

How do I use PhraseVault®?

To insert a saved phrase, click where the text should go, press Ctrl+. on Windows or Cmd+.

Paste Formatted Text (Bold, Links, and Tables)

PhraseVault® can paste formatted text with bold, lists, links, and tables when you save a phrase as Markdown…

Import Snippets from TextExpander® or Espanso (and Export Yours)

PhraseVault® imports snippets from TextExpander® CSV files, Espanso YAML files, and PhraseVault JSON exports.

In What Languages Is PhraseVault® Available?

PhraseVault® is available in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Japanese.

Placeholders: Insert Today's Date, Input Fields & Dropdowns

Placeholders in PhraseVault® fill in when you insert a phrase, so one phrase can drop in today's date, ask…

How to Change the PhraseVault® Summon Shortcut

To change the PhraseVault® summon shortcut, open Settings → Preferences, click Record next to Summon…

Hide Sensitive Phrases with a PIN

PhraseVault® protects selected phrase contents with a PIN, encrypting the text in the database while leaving…

PhraseVault® Command Line for Scripts and AI Agents

PhraseVault® includes a phrasevault command for scripts and for any AI agent that can run shell commands.

Organize Phrases with Labels and Filters

PhraseVault® keeps phrases in one flat list. When that library grows, labels and filters help you organize…

Purchase & Licensing

PhraseVault® Free Trial: What Happens After 14 Days?

PhraseVault® has a fully featured 14-day free trial, starting when you first use the app.

PhraseVault® Student and Educator Discount

PhraseVault® offers students and educators one lifetime license at half the Starter price.

PhraseVault® License Keys: How Activation Works

You don't need an internet connection to activate a PhraseVault® license key.

Bought PhraseVault® Before License Keys? Get Your Key

If you bought PhraseVault® before license keys existed, your purchase is still valid, and buyers of version…

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Every PhraseVault® purchase is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee, starting on the day you buy.

Guides & How-To

AI Prompt Manager and Local Prompt Library

PhraseVault® is a local AI prompt manager that stores your reusable prompts in a searchable library on…

Text Expander for Windows 11

A text expander for Windows 11 lets you save replies and insert them across apps.

Text Expander for Mac — Beyond macOS Text Replacements

A text expander for Mac lets you save replies, signatures, and other reusable text for insertion across apps.

Share a Team Phrase Library with PhraseVault®

Your team can share phrases in PhraseVault® by opening the same .sqlite database file on a shared network…

Email Templates for Gmail, Outlook, and Any Mail App

PhraseVault® lets you save email templates once and paste them into Gmail, Outlook, Thunderbird, or Apple…

What Is a Text Expander?

A text expander stores reusable text — replies, signatures, clauses, and code snippets — and inserts it…

How to Stop Typing the Same Thing Over and Over

To stop typing the same thing over and over, save your recurring messages in a text expander and insert them…

Windows Clipboard History (Win+V) vs a Text Expander

Windows clipboard history (Win+V) retrieves recent copies and keeps pinned clips for reuse; it may be enough…

Saved Replies and Quick Replies for Every Desktop App

Saved replies, canned responses, and quick replies let you reuse messages you send often.

Where Are Quick Parts in the New Outlook?

Quick Parts are available in the new Outlook and Outlook on the web: open a message, choose Insert, then…

How to Save Prompts for ChatGPT, Claude, and Copilot

To save ChatGPT prompts for reuse, keep ongoing preferences in custom instructions or project instructions…

Text Replacement in Windows 11

Windows 11 has no built-in text replacement like macOS, so you'll need an app to turn typed abbreviations…

Thunderbird Templates and Saved Snippets

To reuse a whole email in Thunderbird, save it as a template and open a copy for the next message.

Comparisons

TextExpander® Alternative Without a Subscription

PhraseVault® is a TextExpander® alternative for Windows and macOS that you buy once, with no subscription.

PhraseExpress® Alternative for Windows and Mac

PhraseVault® is a PhraseExpress® alternative for Windows and Mac if you want a one-time license, local…

Text Expander Without Subscription — One-Time License

PhraseVault® is a text expander without a subscription: as of October 2026, Starter costs $29 or €29 once…

Offline, GDPR-Friendly Text Expander — No Cloud, No Account

PhraseVault® is an offline text expander that stores your phrases in a database you control, without…

Open-Source Text Expander? PhraseVault® Is Source-Available

If you're looking for an open-source text expander, Espanso is a free GPL-3.0 option for Windows, Mac, and…

Offline Text Expander — No Internet Required

PhraseVault® is an offline text expander for Windows and Mac: you can create, search, and insert phrases…

Text Blaze Alternative Without a Subscription — PhraseVault®

PhraseVault® is a Text Blaze alternative for Windows and Mac that stores phrases locally, works offline, and…

Best Text Expanders for Windows & Mac (2026)

The best text expander for Windows and Mac depends on your workflow: PhraseVault® suits a one-time purchase…

Quick Parts in Outlook and Word — Cross-App Alternative

In Word and classic Outlook on Windows, save a Quick Part by selecting text and choosing Insert → Quick…

Espanso and Beeftext Alternatives for Windows and Mac

PhraseVault® is an alternative to Espanso and Beeftext if you'd rather search for a saved phrase than expand…

Industry Solutions

Canned Responses for Customer Support — in Every App

Canned responses let support teams reuse greetings, troubleshooting steps, and policy answers across…

Code Snippet Manager for Developers

A local code snippet manager lets you reuse boilerplate, CLI commands, review comments, and AI prompts…

Medical Text Templates — Text Expander for Healthcare

A medical text expander such as PhraseVault® lets you reuse clinical notes, referral letters, and patient…

Text Expander for Law Firms & Legal Teams

PhraseVault® is a text expander for law firms that stores reusable clauses and letter templates offline, in…

Text Expander for Freelancers and Solo Professionals

A text expander for freelancers turns recurring proposals, payment reminders, and project updates into…

Sales Email Templates & Follow-Ups — Text Expander for Sales

PhraseVault® lets sales reps reuse sales email templates and follow-ups in Gmail, Outlook, LinkedIn, and…

Text Expander for Pharmacy Labels and Counseling

A text expander for pharmacies lets you reuse prescription label directions, counseling notes, and…

E-Commerce Replies: Shipping, Returns, and Listings

A text expander for e-commerce helps you reuse shipping updates, return instructions, and product…

Recruiter Email Templates for Rejections and Interviews

PhraseVault® helps HR teams keep recruiter email templates for rejections, interview invitations, and…

Text Expander for Social Media Replies and Captions

A text expander for social media lets you reuse replies, captions, and hashtag bundles across desktop tools.

Medical Letter Templates for Referrals and Discharge Summaries

Medical letter templates give referral letters and discharge summaries a reusable structure for the reason…

Employment Reference Letter Phrases and Verification Templates

Employment reference letter templates let you reuse an opening, a description of duties, and a closing while…

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