The Best Alfred AlternativesTop Application Launchers & File Search Utilities like Alfred

Alfred is described as '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' and is a very popular application launcher in the os & utilities category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Alfred for a variety of platforms, including Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and iPad apps. The best Alfred alternative is Wox Launcher, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Alfred are Microsoft PowerToys, Listary, Keypirinha and Flow Launcher.

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Alternatives list

  1. Wox Launcher icon

    Wox Launcher

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

    57 Wox Launcher alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Homebrew
    Wox Launcher screenshot 1
     
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    2
    84
    Comments about Wox Launcher as an Alternative to Alfred
    Guest
    Negative
    3

    The polish isn't there, looks like it was made 10 years ago. Kinda slow.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    -54

    Windows exclusively. Alfred is a Mac-only program.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Alfred Icon
    Wox Launcher icon

    • Most users think Wox Launcher is a great Alfred alternative.

    • Wox Launcher is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Alfred.

    • Wox Launcher is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Alfred.

    • Wox Launcher is Free and Open SourceAlfred is Freemium and Proprietary
  2. Microsoft PowerToys icon

    Microsoft PowerToys

     274 likes
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    Open-source utilities for Windows include FancyZones for window management, PowerRename for bulk renaming, and Keyboard Manager for custom shortcuts. Ad-free, supports multi-monitor setups, no registration needed, lightweight resource usage, and works offline.

    64 Microsoft PowerToys alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Microsoft PowerToys screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about Microsoft PowerToys as an Alternative to Alfred
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    It's great. but it isn't relevant to Alfred. Plus, it's Michaelsoft Windo*s exclusive.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Alfred Icon
    Microsoft PowerToys icon

    • Most users think Microsoft PowerToys is a great Alfred alternative.

    • Microsoft PowerToys is Free and Open SourceAlfred is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Microsoft PowerToys is LightweightAlfred is not according to our users
  4. Listary icon

    Listary

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

    116 Listary alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    • File Explorer
    Global Search
     
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    3
    51
    Comments about Listary as an Alternative to Alfred
    ProfessionalGeek
    Negative
    0

    Missing lots of critical features.

    Guest
    Positive
    3

    Fast and extensive configuration making it easy to find and use it everywhere.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    -4

    Support for app switching via switcheroo is terrible.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Alfred Icon
    Listary icon

    • Most users think Listary is a great Alfred alternative.

    • Listary is Freemium and ProprietaryAlfred is also Freemium and Proprietary
    • Listary is LightweightAlfred is not according to our users
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Raycast icon
    Raycast

    Raycast revolutionizes Mac productivity with AI-driven task automation, command shortcuts, and customizable workflows. Create snippets, manage clipboard history, translate text, and maintain sync across devices. Discover day plan...

    https://raycast.com
    Learn More
  7. Flow Launcher icon

    Flow Launcher

     85 likes
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    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.

    44 Flow Launcher alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Chocolatey
    Flow Launcher screenshot 1
     
  8. Vicinae icon

    Vicinae

     31 likes
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    High-performance native launcher for Linux built with C++ and Qt delivers fast keyboard-driven system access, an efficient modular core, built-in modules, support for server-side React or TypeScript extensions, and reuse of Raycast extensions with minimal changes.

    51 Vicinae alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Arch Linux
    Vicinae screenshot 1
     
  10. Raycast icon

    Raycast

     62 likes
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    Raycast revolutionizes Mac productivity with AI-driven task automation, command shortcuts, and customizable workflows. Create snippets, manage clipboard history, translate text, and maintain sync across devices. Discover day planning, distraction-free focus, and versatile virtual assistance.

    72 Raycast alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Safari
    Raycast screenshot 1
     
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    8
    Comments about Raycast as an Alternative to Alfred
    Mauricio B. Holguin
    Positive
    0

    Raycast’s biggest advantage over Alfred has to be its super extensive and powerful marketplace of third-party plugins that integrate directly into the launcher, letting you do things like manage your Notion notebooks. Plus, its AI features are really well done. In my opinion, it’s not just the best alternative to Alfred—it actually beats it in many ways.

    Alfred Icon
    Raycast icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Raycast is a great Alfred alternative.

    • Raycast is the most popular iPhone & iPad alternative to Alfred.

    • Raycast is Freemium and ProprietaryAlfred is also Freemium and Proprietary
    • Raycast is Lightweight and Privacy focusedAlfred is not according to our users
  11. Cerebro icon

    Cerebro

     59 likes
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    Cerebro is an open source and free electron-based productivity software alternative to Alfred and Spotlight. It is focused on speed and good UI and UX. In most cases you don't even need to open another application, because you can see results right in Cerebro, like google...

    63 Cerebro alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Cerebro screenshot 1
     
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    1
    35
    Comments about Cerebro as an Alternative to Alfred
    jtflynnz
    Positive
    0

    Customizable, nice collection of plugins, and cross platform. Some rough edges, but has advanced nicely onward.

    Alfred Icon
    Cerebro icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Cerebro is a great Alfred alternative.

    • Cerebro is Free and Open SourceAlfred is Freemium and Proprietary
  12. ueli icon

    ueli

     71 likes
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    Developed with the Electron framework, ueli is the type of tool that adopts simplicity, leaving out any unnecessary options and configuration settings. It creates an icon in the system tray at startup, where it sits silently throughout its runtime, without disturbing you with...

    83 ueli alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    ueli screenshot 1
     
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    19
  13. Albert icon

    Albert

     70 likes
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    Albert is a C++/Qt based desktop agnostic keyboard launcher that helps you to accomplish your workflows in a breeze. Its goals are usability and beauty, performance and extensibility.

    62 Albert alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Mac
    chromium triggered
     
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    26
  14. Ulauncher icon

    Ulauncher

     54 likes
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    • Ulauncher provides instant search results. It also remembers your previous choices and automatically selects the best option for you.
    64 Ulauncher alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Dark theme
     
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    1
    8
    Comments about Ulauncher as an Alternative to Alfred
    Guest
    Positive
    -1

    Nice tool, love it! Perfect for Fedora users.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Alfred Icon
    Ulauncher icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Ulauncher is a great Alfred alternative.

    • Ulauncher is Free and Open SourceAlfred is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Ulauncher is Lightweight and Privacy focusedAlfred is not according to our users
  15. Fluent Search icon

    Fluent Search

     43 likes
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    Fluent Search is a fast and easy-to-use search application that lets you search for running applications, browser tabs, bookmarks, files, and more. Unlike Windows Start Menu, Fluent Search focuses on continuing existing work, it let you jump easily between running application...

    123 Fluent Search alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Search for browser tabs
     
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    2
    Comments about Fluent Search as an Alternative to Alfred
    ProfessionalGeek
    Positive
    0

    Probably the most fully featured alternative to Alfred for Windows users. Doesn't require additional software like Wox and has a clean UI.

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Feature-rich and extremely good-looking

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Alfred Icon
    Fluent Search icon
    • Fluent Search is Free and ProprietaryAlfred is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Fluent Search is LightweightAlfred is not according to our users
12 of 131 Alfred alternatives