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Alfred alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Alfred: clipboard history and workflows need the paid Powerpack, and mac only. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Alfred, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Raycast currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Raycast logoRaycastFree plan + paidNomacOS, Windows, iOS5 of 566.5
2LaunchBar logoLaunchBarFree plan + paidNomacOS4 of 462.6
3Wox logoWoxOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 457.2
4Maccy logoMaccyOpen sourceYesmacOS4 of 447.8
  1. Raycast logo

    1. RaycastTop pick

    Best for: Mac or Windows users who want one launcher for apps, clipboard, snippets and windows

    Free plan + paidmacOS, Windows, iOS

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Alfred

    Free tier already includes clipboard history, snippets and window tiling, plus an extension store.

    Pros

    • Free tier includes clipboard history, snippets and window management
    • Large extension store for popular work tools
    • Extensions are easy to write in TypeScript and React
    • Fast, polished interface with good defaults

    Cons

    • AI features and sync are locked behind a subscription
    • Requires an account for sync and team features
    • Windows version is newer and has fewer extensions
    Visit Raycast Compare with AlfredDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Raycast a good Alfred alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, for personal and work use
    Checked Oct 25, 2026raycast.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro price
    From $8/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026raycast.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Teams Pro price
    $12 per user/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026raycast.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS, Windows, iOS and iPadOS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026raycast.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Student discount
    50% off Pro
    Checked Oct 25, 2026raycast.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. LaunchBar logo

    2. LaunchBar

    Best for: Mac users who want a deep keyboard file browser and launcher in one

    Free plan + paidmacOS

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Alfred

    Another veteran Mac launcher with strong file browsing and script-based actions.

    Pros

    • Excellent keyboard-driven file browsing and file operations
    • Adaptive abbreviations that learn your habits
    • Custom actions in many scripting languages
    • Usable indefinitely without paying

    Cons

    • Smaller community and fewer ready-made actions than Alfred or Raycast
    • Mac only
    • Unregistered copies pause occasionally
    Visit LaunchBar Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is LaunchBar a good Alfred alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free use
    Unlimited, with occasional pauses
    Checked Oct 25, 2026obdev.at(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    30 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026obdev.at(opens source in a new tab)
    Custom actions
    AppleScript, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP
    Checked Oct 25, 2026obdev.at(opens source in a new tab)
    Latest version
    6.24, runs on macOS Tahoe
    Checked Oct 25, 2026obdev.at(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Wox logo

    3. Wox

    Best for: People who want the same free launcher on Windows, macOS and Linux

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Alfred

    Open-source and cross-platform, useful if you also need the same launcher on Windows or Linux.

    Pros

    • Runs natively on Windows, macOS and Linux
    • Free and open source under GPL-3.0
    • Built-in clipboard history, notes and AI commands
    • Plugins in Node.js, Python or scripts

    Cons

    • v2 rewrite is young and still maturing
    • Smaller plugin library than Raycast or Alfred
    • Fewer ready-made integrations with popular work apps
    Visit Wox Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Wox a good Alfred alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Plugins
    Node.js, Python or scripts
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Memory use
    Around 150 MB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Maccy logo

    4. Maccy

    Best for: Mac users who want fast, private clipboard history without extras

    Open sourcemacOS

    47.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Alfred

    If clipboard history was the main reason for the Powerpack, Maccy does it free.

    Pros

    • Free and open source
    • Very fast keyboard search and paste
    • History stays on your Mac
    • Respects password managers clearing secrets

    Cons

    • No sync to iPhone or other Macs
    • Minimal features by design
    • Recent versions need macOS 14 or later
    Visit Maccy Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.338
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Maccy a good Alfred alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026maccy.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Requirements
    macOS Sonoma 14 or later
    Checked Oct 25, 2026maccy.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Data storage
    Local only
    Checked Oct 25, 2026maccy.app(opens source in a new tab)

The best Alfred alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Raycast logo

Best Alfred alternative for most people

Raycast

Free tier already includes clipboard history, snippets and window tiling, plus an extension store.

Wox logo

Best Alfred alternative for a free option

Wox

Open-source and cross-platform, useful if you also need the same launcher on Windows or Linux.

LaunchBar logo

Best Alfred alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

LaunchBar

Another veteran Mac launcher with strong file browsing and script-based actions.

Maccy logo

Best Alfred alternative for open source

Maccy

If clipboard history was the main reason for the Powerpack, Maccy does it free.

Ke

Best Alfred alternative for Mac

Keyboard Maestro

Goes further than Alfred workflows for macro-style automation of any Mac app.

Raycast logo

Best Alfred alternative for Windows

Raycast

Free tier already includes clipboard history, snippets and window tiling, plus an extension store.

Wox logo

Best Alfred alternative for Linux

Wox

Open-source and cross-platform, useful if you also need the same launcher on Windows or Linux.

Alfred alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Alfred?

Raycast ranks first right now. Free tier already includes clipboard history, snippets and window tiling, plus an extension store. LaunchBar and Wox follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Alfred?

Yes. Raycast (free plan + paid), LaunchBar (free plan + paid), Wox (open source) and Maccy (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Alfred?

Yes: Wox and Maccy.

Which Alfred alternatives work on Linux?

Wox runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Alfred?

The complaints we hear most: clipboard history and workflows need the paid Powerpack; mac only; major versions are paid upgrades unless you buy the lifetime licence.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Alfred, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.