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Ulauncher alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Ulauncher: linux only, and stable v5 gets no new features while v6 is rewritten. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Ulauncher, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Albert currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Albert logoAlbertFreeNoLinux, macOS4 of 466.5
2Wox logoWoxOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 462.6
3CopyQ logoCopyQOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 450.3
  1. Albert logo

    1. AlbertTop pick

    Best for: Linux users who want a very fast launcher with a curated plugin set

    FreeLinux, macOS

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Ulauncher

    Faster, plugin-based launcher with C++ and Python extensions, also on macOS.

    Pros

    • Very fast native C++ app
    • Curated, maintained plugins included
    • Extensions in C++ or Python

    Cons

    • Custom source-available licence, not a standard open-source one
    • No Windows version
    • macOS build is unsigned and installed via Homebrew
    Visit Albert 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 Albert a good Ulauncher alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    Albert license v1.1 (source-available)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Linux and macOS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026albertlauncher.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    macOS install
    Homebrew tap
    Checked Oct 25, 2026albertlauncher.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Linux packages
    Arch, Debian, Fedora, openSUSE, Ubuntu
    Checked Oct 25, 2026albertlauncher.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Wox logo

    2. Wox

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

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Ulauncher

    Cross-platform open-source launcher with clipboard history and a plugin store.

    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 ×0.387
    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 Wox a good Ulauncher 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)
  3. CopyQ logo

    3. CopyQ

    Best for: Power users who want a scriptable clipboard manager on any desktop OS

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    50.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Ulauncher

    Pair with or replace Ulauncher extensions for a full clipboard manager on Linux.

    Pros

    • Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
    • Tabs, tags and notes for organising clips
    • Command-line and scripting for automation
    • Free and open source

    Cons

    • Dated, busy interface
    • No built-in sync between computers
    • Scripting takes effort to learn
    Visit CopyQ 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 CopyQ a good Ulauncher alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Linux, Windows, macOS 10.15+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hluk.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Formats
    Text, HTML, images and custom
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hluk.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Scripting
    CLI and scripting API
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hluk.github.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best Ulauncher alternative for…

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

Albert logo

Best Ulauncher alternative for most people

Albert

Faster, plugin-based launcher with C++ and Python extensions, also on macOS.

Wox logo

Best Ulauncher alternative for a free option

Wox

Cross-platform open-source launcher with clipboard history and a plugin store.

CopyQ logo

Best Ulauncher alternative for open source

CopyQ

Pair with or replace Ulauncher extensions for a full clipboard manager on Linux.

Albert logo

Best Ulauncher alternative for Mac

Albert

Faster, plugin-based launcher with C++ and Python extensions, also on macOS.

Wox logo

Best Ulauncher alternative for Windows

Wox

Cross-platform open-source launcher with clipboard history and a plugin store.

Albert logo

Best Ulauncher alternative for Linux

Albert

Faster, plugin-based launcher with C++ and Python extensions, also on macOS.

Ulauncher alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Ulauncher?

Albert ranks first right now. Faster, plugin-based launcher with C++ and Python extensions, also on macOS. Wox and CopyQ follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Ulauncher?

Yes. Albert (free), Wox (open source) and CopyQ (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Ulauncher?

Yes: Wox and CopyQ.

Which Ulauncher alternatives work on Linux?

Albert, Wox and CopyQ run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Ulauncher?

The complaints we hear most: linux only; stable v5 gets no new features while v6 is rewritten; some extensions are unmaintained.

How is this list ranked?

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