Best app launchers
Keyboard launchers that open apps, find files and run commands, plus all-in-one desktop power-user suites.
9 apps, ordered by visits from AppBreakup and how often our research lists each one as an alternative. Open any app to see its alternatives.
All app launchers
- Alternatives to Raycast
A keyboard launcher for Mac and Windows with built-in clipboard history, snippets, window tiling and an extension store.
Free plan + paidmacOS, Windows, iOS - Alternatives to Alfred
A long-running Mac launcher and productivity app, extended by the paid Powerpack with workflows and clipboard history.
Free plan + paidmacOS - Alternatives to Wox
An open-source, native launcher for Windows, macOS and Linux with plugins, clipboard history and AI commands.
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux - Alternatives to Microsoft PowerToys
Microsoft's free, open-source set of Windows utilities, including a command launcher, window zones and key remapping.
Open sourceWindows - Alternatives to Flow Launcher
A free, open-source app launcher and file search tool for Windows with a community plugin store.
Open sourceWindows - Alternatives to Albert
A fast, plugin-based keyboard launcher for Linux and macOS, written in C++ with Python extensions.
FreeLinux, macOS - Alternatives to LaunchBar
A veteran Mac launcher that learns your abbreviations and doubles as a file browser and script runner.
Free plan + paidmacOS - Alternatives to Ulauncher
A themeable application launcher for Linux with fuzzy search, a file browser and Python extensions.
Open sourceLinux - Alternatives to Listary
A Windows file search tool and minimal app launcher that also speeds up open and save dialogs.
Free plan + paidWindows
Our picks by need
Best for most people
RaycastBest for a free option
WoxBest for open source
Microsoft PowerToysBest for Mac
AlfredBest for Windows
Flow LauncherBest for Linux
AlbertPopular comparisons
Common questions
What are the best app launchers?
Based on how often our research lists them as alternatives and visits from AppBreakup, the leading app launchers right now are Raycast, Alfred, Wox, Microsoft PowerToys and Flow Launcher.
Are there free app launchers?
Yes. Raycast (free plan + paid), Alfred (free plan + paid), Wox (open source), Microsoft PowerToys (open source) and Flow Launcher (open source) have a free option, out of 9 free or freemium apps we track.
Which app launchers are open source?
Wox, Microsoft PowerToys, Flow Launcher and Ulauncher.