Application Launchers

Are Windows desktop shortcuts not versatile enough? Is the Dock in macOS not functioning the way you want it to? That’s where the custom program launchers on this page come in. From Linux-based launchers such as Docky, to keystroke-based launches for Windows like Keypirinha, there are several program launching options for you regardless of what type of operating system you prefer.

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  1. Microsoft PowerToys icon
    Microsoft PowerToys icon

    Microsoft PowerToys

     214 likes

    Set of open-source tools enhancing Windows with features like FancyZones, PowerRename, and Keyboard Manager. Lightweight and ad-free.

    57 Microsoft PowerToys alternatives
    Microsoft PowerToys screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Microsoft PowerToys screenshot 1
    Microsoft PowerToys screenshot 2
    +4
    Microsoft PowerToys screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Tiling Window Manager
    2.  SVG Preview
    3. File Explorer icon  Windows Explorer Extension
    4.  Batch Rename Files
    5.  On top
    6.  Snap windows
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  OCR
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  No registration required
    11.  Support for Multiple Monitors
    12.  Dark Mode
  2. PortableApps.com icon
    PortableApps.com icon

    PortableApps.com

     605 likes

    PortableApps.com is a website offering many free, commonly used Windows applications that have been specially packaged for portability. These portable applications can be used from removable media such as USB flash drives.

    35 PortableApps.com alternatives
    PortableApps.com screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD
    • PlayOnLinux (PlayOnMac)
    • Wine
    Portable Apps on Windows 7
    PortableApps.com screenshot 2

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Auto Update
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Software Management
    6.  Auto-installer
    7.  Update Notifier
    8.  Launcher
  4. Flow Launcher icon
    Flow Launcher icon

    Flow Launcher

     62 likes

    Dedicated to make your workflow flow more seamlessly. Aimed at being more than an app launcher, it searches, integrates and expands on functionalities. Flow will continue to evolve, designed to be open and built with the community at heart.

    37 Flow Launcher alternatives
    Flow Launcher screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Flow Launcher screenshot 1
    Flow Launcher screenshot 2
    +2
    Flow Launcher screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Indexed search
    3.  Portable
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  No registration required
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Built-in viewer
  5. Launchy icon
    Launchy icon

    Launchy

     646 likes

    Launchy is a free Windows and Linux utility designed to help you forget about your start menu, the icons on your desktop, and even your file manager. Launchy indexes the programs in your start menu and can launch your documents, project files, folders, and bookmarks with just a...

    112 Launchy alternatives
    Launchy screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Launchy screenshot 1

    Launchy Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Indexed search
    4.  Skinnable
    5.  Relative Paths
    Discontinued

    The project seems to be no longer maintained: last stable version, 2.5, and beta version, 2.6 beta2, were released in 2010. The program works anyway and can be still downloaded from the official website.

  6. Kvæsitso icon
    Kvæsitso icon

    Kvæsitso

     53 likes

    Kvæsitso is a launcher application for Android which replaces the device's default home screen. It has been built from scratch, meaning it is not based on the AOSP launcher (like many other third party launchers) nor does it try to recreate this launcher.

    59 Kvæsitso alternatives
    Kvæsitso screenshot 1
    Kvæsitso screenshot 2
    +3
    Kvæsitso screenshot 3

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  Launcher
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Support for Gestures
    7.  No Tracking
  7. Ad
    Screenshot
    Winstep Nexus icon

    Winstep Nexus

    Enhance Windows with a free, customizable dock for quick access to applications, featuring live reflections and dynamic animations.

    Learn More
  8. Listary icon
    Listary icon

    Listary

     276 likes

    Listary is a revolutionary search utility for Windows that makes finding your files and launching applications blazing fast, for casual and power users alike!.

    112 Listary alternatives
    Global Search

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    • File Explorer
    Web Search
    Listary screenshot 2
    +1
    General Settings

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Fast file and folder search
    2. File Explorer icon  Windows Explorer Extension
    3.  Integrated Search
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Full-Text Search
    7.  Portable
    8.  Quick Switch
    9.  Content Searching
    10.  Fuzzy Finder
    11. Microsoft Excel icon  Export to Excel
  9. Keypirinha icon
    Keypirinha icon

    Keypirinha

     212 likes

    A lightning fast and flexible keystroke launcher for Windows. No installation required (portable). Extensible with Python3 plugins.

    154 Keypirinha alternatives
    smart search

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    customizable interface
    math expressions evaluator
    +2
    base converter

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Launcher
    3.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Support for scripting
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Calculus solving
  10. Nova Launcher icon
    Nova Launcher icon

    Nova Launcher

     169 likes

    Nova Launcher is an highly customizable, performance driven, home screen replacement for Android 4.0+

    68 Nova Launcher alternatives
    Nova Launcher screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    Nova Launcher screenshot 1
    Nova Launcher screenshot 2
    +8
    Nova Launcher screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Launcher
    2.  Home Screen
    3.  Material design
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Support for Gestures
    6.  Swipe dock
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Works Offline
  12. Alfred icon
    Alfred icon

    Alfred

     294 likes

    Alfred is a productivity application for macOS, which boosts your efficiency with hotkeys, keywords and text expansion. Search your Mac and the web, and control your Mac using custom actions with the Powerpack.

    120 Alfred alternatives
    Alfred screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Alfred screenshot 1
    Alfred screenshot 2
    +1
    Alfred screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Launcher
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Full-Text Search
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Cloud Sync
  13. Station icon
    Station icon

    Station

     100 likes

    Station is the first open-source smart browser for busy people. A single place for all of your web applications.

    27 Station alternatives
    Station screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Brave
    Station screenshot 1
    Station screenshot 2
    +1
    Station screenshot 3

    Station Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  App integration
    3.  Slack client
    4.  Integrated Search
    5.  Open API
    6.  Knowledge Management
    7.  Live Push Notifications
    8.  Team Messaging
  14. Lawnchair icon
    Lawnchair icon

    Lawnchair

     65 likes

    Lawnchair is an open-source Android home application based on Launcher3 from the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).

    69 Lawnchair alternatives
    Lawnchair screenshot 1
    Lawnchair screenshot 2
    Lawnchair screenshot 3

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  App listing
    3.  Home Screen
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Launcher
    6.  Integrated Search
    7.  No Root Required
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  No registration required
    10.  No Tracking
    11.  Support for Gestures
  15. Raycast icon
    Raycast icon

    Raycast

     46 likes

    Raycast lets you control your tools with a few keystrokes. It’s designed to keep you focused.

    63 Raycast alternatives
    Raycast screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Google Chrome
    • Safari
    Raycast screenshot 1
    Raycast screenshot 2
    +1
    Raycast screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Keyboard Shortcuts
    3.  Support for scripting
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  Built-in viewer
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  No registration required
    9.  AI-Powered
    10.  Focus Mode
    11.  Natural Language Processing
  16. Stario icon
    Stario icon

    Stario

     16 likes

    Experience a minimalist launcher with features like a media player, note-taking, widgets, and personalized theming, all while keeping your privacy secure.

    51 Stario alternatives
    Stario screenshot 1
    Stario screenshot 2
    +4
    Stario screenshot 3

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Support for Gestures
    7.  Launcher
    8.  Built-in media player
    9.  Integrated Search
    10.  Built-in RSS reader
  17. Wox icon
    Wox icon

    Wox

     191 likes

    Wox is a full-featured plugin-powered launcher that supports file and web searching.

    49 Wox alternatives
    Wox screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Wox screenshot 1
    Wox screenshot 2
    +1
    Wox screenshot 3

    Wox Features

    1.  Integrated Search
  18. Ulauncher icon
    Ulauncher icon

    Ulauncher

     51 likes
    • Ulauncher provides instant search results. It also remembers your previous choices and automatically selects the best option for you.
    57 Ulauncher alternatives
    Dark theme

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    File browser
    White theme

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Integrated Search
    3.  Launcher
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Smooth
    10.  Legacy addons support