dmenu Alternatives

dmenu is described as 'Dynamic menu for X, originally designed for dwm. It manages large numbers of user-defined menu items efficiently' and is a application launcher in the file management category. There are more than 50 alternatives to dmenu for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, File Explorer and Wayland apps. The best dmenu alternative is Vicinae, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like dmenu are Raycast, Listary, Alfred and Keypirinha.

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Alternatives list

  1. AddToRun icon
     1 like

    AddToRun is a small utility that will allow you to open any file or application from the Start Menu's Run Command dialog box (WIN+R). It has a very simple interface which will allow you to select a file and assign it an alias or friendly name.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  2. Launch Box is generally an application launcher. It's very influenced by Quicksilver for Mac OSX. Remember that this is only a first release so don't get your hopes up too much. Launch Box is written for the GNOME 2.10 platform and depends on GTK+ 2.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  3. Mini Run icon
     1 like

    A handy tool to start application by keyboard.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  4.  3 likes

    Tired of digging into crowded Start Menu? JetStart offers you a quick access to categorized Start Menu shortcuts, recently launched programs and system commands.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  5. EasyShell icon
     1 like

    A  user-friendly graphical shell  with tons of features that empowers non-technical people to do complicated stuff  faster than ever before with simple, natural commands. Opening, Quiting, Installing or Uninstalling apps is now a breeze.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  6.  1 like

    create a menu to run commands.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  7.  Like

    Launcher that uses a terminal with a modified bash session.

    Bashrun2 is the second generation version of bashrun, an application launcher running a modified bash session in a small terminal window, providing all the well known bash features like tab-completion and history. Addi.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  8. Anyrun icon
     Like

    A wayland native, highly customizable runner.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Rust
     
  9. Promptzy icon
     Like

    Every AI tool you use (ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, Windsurf) has its own prompt and skill management. But they're completely siloed. Your prompts in Cursor don't travel to Claude Code. Your skills in one tool don't show up in another.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  10.  Like

    Launcher/menu program for wlroots based wayland compositors such as sway.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  11.  Like

    Tiny dynamic menu for Wayland.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
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