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LaunchBar alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave LaunchBar: smaller community and fewer ready-made actions than Alfred or Raycast, and mac only. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces LaunchBar, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Alfred currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Alfred logoAlfredFree plan + paidNomacOS4 of 466.5
2Raycast logoRaycastFree plan + paidNomacOS, Windows, iOS5 of 562.6
3KeKeyboard MaestroPaidNomacOS4 of 450.3
4Hazel logoHazelPaidNomacOS4 of 448.9
  1. Alfred logo

    1. AlfredTop pick

    Best for: Mac users who want a powerful, local launcher with workflows and no subscription

    Free plan + paidmacOS

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from LaunchBar

    Similar depth with a bigger workflow library, sold as a one-off Powerpack.

    Pros

    • One-off Powerpack licence instead of a subscription
    • Visual workflow editor with thousands of community workflows
    • Fast, stable and keeps everything on your Mac

    Cons

    • Clipboard history and workflows need the paid Powerpack
    • Mac only
    • Major versions are paid upgrades unless you buy the lifetime licence
    Visit Alfred Details 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 Alfred a good LaunchBar alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Powerpack price
    £34 (single licence)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026alfredapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Lifetime licence
    £59 with free lifetime upgrades
    Checked Oct 25, 2026alfredapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Clipboard history
    Powerpack feature
    Checked Oct 25, 2026alfredapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Developer
    Running with Crayons Ltd
    Checked Oct 25, 2026alfredapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Raycast logo

    2. Raycast

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

    Free plan + paidmacOS, Windows, iOS

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from LaunchBar

    Modern launcher with a large free extension store and built-in window management.

    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 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 Raycast a good LaunchBar 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)
  3. Ke

    3. Keyboard Maestro

    Best for: Mac users who want to automate repetitive work across many apps without coding

    PaidmacOS

    50.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from LaunchBar

    Pairs with or replaces LaunchBar actions for heavier Mac automation.

    Pros

    • Hundreds of actions and many trigger types
    • No subscription; one-time purchase
    • Active community forum with shared macros

    Cons

    • Interface feels dated and dense
    • Major upgrades cost extra
    • Accessibility permission issues can need manual fixing after macOS updates
    Visit Keyboard Maestro Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.346
    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 Keyboard Maestro a good LaunchBar alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    US$36 one-time
    Checked Oct 25, 2026keyboardmaestro.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Upgrade price
    US$25
    Checked Oct 25, 2026keyboardmaestro.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Actions
    Hundreds built in
    Checked Oct 25, 2026keyboardmaestro.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Current version
    11
    Checked Oct 25, 2026keyboardmaestro.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Hazel logo

    4. Hazel

    Best for: Mac users who want downloads, scans and documents filed automatically

    PaidmacOS

    48.9

    score / 100

    Why switch from LaunchBar

    If you mostly used LaunchBar to file documents, Hazel does it automatically with rules.

    Pros

    • Runs quietly and files documents by rule
    • Pattern matching can rename files from their contents
    • App Sweep and Trash management
    • One-time purchase with a family pack

    Cons

    • Mac only
    • Building reliable rules takes some testing
    • Major versions are paid upgrades
    Visit Hazel Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.341
    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 Hazel a good LaunchBar alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    $42 (Hazel 6)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026noodlesoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Family pack
    $65 for up to 5 household members
    Checked Oct 25, 2026noodlesoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Upgrade price
    $20
    Checked Oct 25, 2026noodlesoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    App Sweep
    Removes leftover app support files
    Checked Oct 25, 2026noodlesoft.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best LaunchBar alternative for…

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

Alfred logo

Best LaunchBar alternative for most people

Alfred

Similar depth with a bigger workflow library, sold as a one-off Powerpack.

Raycast logo

Best LaunchBar alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Raycast

Modern launcher with a large free extension store and built-in window management.

Ke

Best LaunchBar alternative for Mac

Keyboard Maestro

Pairs with or replaces LaunchBar actions for heavier Mac automation.

Raycast logo

Best LaunchBar alternative for Windows

Raycast

Modern launcher with a large free extension store and built-in window management.

LaunchBar alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to LaunchBar?

Alfred ranks first right now. Similar depth with a bigger workflow library, sold as a one-off Powerpack. Raycast and Keyboard Maestro follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to LaunchBar?

Yes. Alfred (free plan + paid) and Raycast (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to LaunchBar?

None of the 4 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from LaunchBar?

The complaints we hear most: smaller community and fewer ready-made actions than Alfred or Raycast; mac only; unregistered copies pause occasionally.

How is this list ranked?

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