Flashlight AlternativesApplication Launchers and other similar apps like Flashlight

Flashlight is described as 'Gives you control over Spotlight. There are tons of options for customization so you can do things how you want to. Flashlight is designed to make enhancing Spotlight easy and enhance it's usefulness on macOS 10.9 and up' and is a application launcher in the development category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Flashlight for a variety of platforms, including Mac, Windows, Linux, File Explorer and Safari apps. The best Flashlight alternative is Listary, which is free. Other great apps like Flashlight are Keypirinha, Alfred, Raycast and Wox.

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Flashlight alternatives are mainly Application Launchers but may also be File Search Utilities or Web Search Engines.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Flashlight.
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Flashlight gives you control over Spotlight. There are tons of options for customization so you can do things how you want to. Flashlight is designed to make enhancing Spotlight easy and enhance it's usefulness on macOS...

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Flashlight alternatives page was last updated Jan 23, 2025
  1. Listary icon
     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!.

    110 Listary alternatives
    Global Search

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    • File Explorer

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Fast file and folder search
    2. File Explorer icon  Windows Explorer Extension
    3.  Integrated Search
    4.  File Search
    5.  Application Launchers
    6.  No registration required
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Full-Text Search
    9.  Quick Switch
    10.  Content Searching
    11.  Portable
    12.  Fuzzy Finder
    Listary iconFlashlight Icon

    Listary VS Flashlight

    Is Listary a good alternative to Flashlight?
     
    • Listary is the most popular Windows alternative to Flashlight.

    • Listary is the most popular free alternative to Flashlight.

    • Listary is Freemium and ProprietaryFlashlight is Free and Open Source
    • Listary is LightweightFlashlight is not according to our users
  2. Keypirinha icon
     212 likes

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

    155 Keypirinha alternatives
    smart search

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Customizable
    3.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Launcher
    3.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    4.  Application Launchers
    5.  File Search
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Support for scripting
    10.  No registration required
    11.  Calculus solving
    Keypirinha iconFlashlight Icon

    Keypirinha VS Flashlight

    Is Keypirinha a good alternative to Flashlight?
     
  3. Alfred icon
     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.

    119 Alfred alternatives
    Alfred screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Application Launchers
    2.  Launcher
    3.  Workflow Automation
    4.  File Search
    5.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Full-Text Search
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Cloud Sync
    Alfred iconFlashlight Icon

    Alfred VS Flashlight

    Is Alfred a good alternative to Flashlight?
     
    • Alfred is the most popular Mac, iPhone & iPad alternative to Flashlight.

    • Alfred is Freemium and ProprietaryFlashlight is Free and Open Source
  4. Raycast icon
     43 likes

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

    62 Raycast alternatives
    Raycast screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Google Chrome
    • Safari

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Application Launchers
    2.  Keyboard Shortcuts
    3.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    4.  File Search
    5.  Support for scripting
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Built-in viewer
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  No registration required
    11.  No Tracking
    Raycast iconFlashlight Icon

    Raycast VS Flashlight

    Is Raycast a good alternative to Flashlight?
     
  5. Wox icon
     190 likes

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

    49 Wox alternatives
    Wox screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Wox Features

    1.  Application Launchers
    2.  Integrated Search
    Wox iconFlashlight Icon

    Wox VS Flashlight

    Is Wox a good alternative to Flashlight?
     
    Comments about Wox as an Alternative to Flashlight
     
    Guest

    Wox is not a plugin, but a software that add a new search bar, while Flashlight enhances the native macOS Spotlight search

    Negative commentMar 27, 2020
    0
    Flashlight Icon
    Wox icon
    • Wox is the most popular Open Source alternative to Flashlight.

    • Wox is Free and Open SourceFlashlight is also Free and Open Source
  6. Ulauncher icon
     51 likes
    • Ulauncher provides instant search results. It also remembers your previous choices and automatically selects the best option for you.
    56 Ulauncher alternatives
    Dark theme

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

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

    Ulauncher VS Flashlight

    Is Ulauncher a good alternative to Flashlight?
     
    • Ulauncher is the most popular Linux alternative to Flashlight.

    • Ulauncher is Free and Open SourceFlashlight is also Free and Open Source
    • Ulauncher is LightweightFlashlight is not according to our users
  7. Fluent Search icon
     40 likes

    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...

    99 Fluent Search alternatives
    Search for browser tabs

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  File Search
    2.  Application Launchers
    3.  Custom search
    4.  Custom commands
    5.  Indexed search
    6.  Consistent UI
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Portable
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  No registration required
    Fluent Search iconFlashlight Icon

    Fluent Search VS Flashlight

    Is Fluent Search a good alternative to Flashlight?
     
  8. ueli icon
     65 likes

    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...

    77 ueli alternatives
    ueli screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Application Launchers
    2.  File Search
    3.  Custom commands
    4.  Portable
    5.  Fast file and folder search
    6.  Launcher
    7.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    ueli iconFlashlight Icon

    ueli VS Flashlight

    Is ueli a good alternative to Flashlight?
     
  9. Leader Key icon
     7 likes

    This macOS tool leverages fighting game style key combinations to expedite app launches, execute commands, or even activate fun features like confetti, providing a faster alternative to launchers like Spotlight, Alfred, and Raycast. It supports customization and seamless integration with existing tools.

    34 Leader Key alternatives
    Leader Key screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
    Leader Key iconFlashlight Icon

    Leader Key VS Flashlight

    Is Leader Key a good alternative to Flashlight?
     
  10. Cerebro icon
     55 likes

    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...

    53 Cerebro alternatives
    Cerebro screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Cerebro Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Theme changing
    3.  Launcher
    4.  Electron based
    5.  Calculus solving
    6.  Multiplatform Export
    Cerebro iconFlashlight Icon

    Cerebro VS Flashlight

    Is Cerebro a good alternative to Flashlight?
     
  11. Gnome Do icon
     177 likes

    GNOME Do allows you to quickly search for many items present on your desktop or the web, and perform useful actions on those items.

    85 Gnome Do alternatives
    Gnome Do screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Gnome Do Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    Discontinued

    The program seems to be no longer updated. Last version, 0.95.3, released on November 2014, can be still downloaded from Launchpad.

    Gnome Do iconFlashlight Icon

    Gnome Do VS Flashlight

    Is Gnome Do a good alternative to Flashlight?
     
  12. Monarch Launcher icon
     3 likes

    Designed for beginners and professionals alike, Monarch is a command center that makes it easier than ever to switch apps, run calculations, search clipboard history, take notes and more with only a single hotkey. No complicated setup or configuration required.

    55 Monarch Launcher alternatives
    Monarch Launcher screenshot 1

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  No Tracking
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Command palette
    Monarch Launcher iconFlashlight Icon

    Monarch Launcher VS Flashlight

    Is Monarch Launcher a good alternative to Flashlight?
     
    • Monarch Launcher is the most popular commercial alternative to Flashlight.

    • Monarch Launcher is Paid and ProprietaryFlashlight is Free and Open Source
    • Monarch Launcher is LightweightFlashlight is not according to our users
12 of 57 Flashlight alternatives