Microsoft PowerToys alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Microsoft PowerToys: windows only, and some modules are less capable than dedicated apps. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Microsoft PowerToys, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Flow Launcher currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Raycast	Free plan + paid	No	macOS, Windows, iOS	5 of 5	62.6
2	Wox	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux	4 of 4	55.3

1. RaycastTop pick
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 Microsoft PowerToys
Now on Windows too, with clipboard history, snippets and a polished 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 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 Microsoft PowerToys 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. Wox
Best for: People who want the same free launcher on Windows, macOS and Linux
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux
55.3
score / 100
Why switch from Microsoft PowerToys
Cross-platform launcher if you also want the same tool on macOS 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 ×0.363
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 Microsoft PowerToys 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)

The best Microsoft PowerToys alternative for…

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

Best Microsoft PowerToys alternative for most people

Flow Launcher

A dedicated Windows launcher with a bigger plugin store and Everything file search.

Best Microsoft PowerToys alternative for a free option

Wox

Cross-platform launcher if you also want the same tool on macOS or Linux.

Best Microsoft PowerToys alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Raycast

Now on Windows too, with clipboard history, snippets and a polished extension store.

Best Microsoft PowerToys alternative for open source

Ditto

A dedicated clipboard history manager for Windows, which PowerToys lacks.

Best Microsoft PowerToys alternative for Mac

Raycast

Now on Windows too, with clipboard history, snippets and a polished extension store.

Best Microsoft PowerToys alternative for Windows

Listary

Focused on very fast file search and quick switching in open and save dialogs.

Best Microsoft PowerToys alternative for Linux

Wox

Cross-platform launcher if you also want the same tool on macOS or Linux.

Microsoft PowerToys alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Microsoft PowerToys?

Flow Launcher ranks first right now. A dedicated Windows launcher with a bigger plugin store and Everything file search. Raycast and Listary follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Microsoft PowerToys?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Microsoft PowerToys?

Yes: Flow Launcher, Wox and Ditto.

Which Microsoft PowerToys alternatives work on Linux?

Wox runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Microsoft PowerToys?

The complaints we hear most: windows only; some modules are less capable than dedicated apps; many settings pages to wade through.

How is this list ranked?

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