Shortcat Alternatives

Shortcat is described as 'Keyboard tool for Mac OS X that lets you "click" buttons and control your apps with a few keystrokes. Think of it as Spotlight for the user interface' and is an app in the os & utilities category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Shortcat for a variety of platforms, including Mac, Windows, Linux, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox apps. The best Shortcat alternative is Fluent Search, which is free. Other great apps like Shortcat are Vimium, Vieb, Firenvim and hunt-n-peck.

filter to find the best alternatives

Shortcat alternatives are mainly Application Launchers but may also be File Search Utilities or Web Browsers.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Shortcat.
Shortcat iconShortcat
  10
  • Free • Proprietary
  • ...

Shortcat is a keyboard tool for Mac OS X that lets you "click" buttons and control your apps with a few keystrokes. Think of it as Spotlight for the user interface.

More about Shortcat
More about Shortcat
Shortcat alternatives page was last updated Dec 28, 2023
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  1. Fluent Search icon
    Fluent Search icon

    Fluent Search

     37 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...

    101 Fluent Search alternatives
    Search for browser tabs

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Fluent Search main window - shows open applications
    Search for any file on your computer based on the program that can open it
    +9
    Search Tags filters result based on their properties, here the tag is the parent folder of these files

    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.  Works Offline
    11.  No registration required
    12.  Vim key mapping
    Fluent Search iconShortcat Icon

    Fluent Search VS Shortcat

    Is Fluent Search a good alternative to Shortcat?
     

    • Fluent Search is the most popular Windows alternative to Shortcat.

    • Fluent Search is the most popular free alternative to Shortcat.

    • Fluent Search is Free and ProprietaryShortcat is also Free and Proprietary
    • Fluent Search is LightweightShortcat is not according to our users
  2. Vimium icon
    Vimium icon

    Vimium

     41 likes
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    The Hacker's Browser. Vimium provides keyboard shortcuts for navigation and control in the spirit of Vim . Vimium helps you navigate the web without touching the mouse.

    27 Vimium alternatives
    Vimium screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Google Chrome
    • Firefox

    Vimium Features

    1.  Vim key mapping
    2.  Browser extension
    3.  Vim plugin
    Vimium iconShortcat Icon

    Vimium VS Shortcat

    Is Vimium a good alternative to Shortcat?
     

    • Vimium is the most popular Web-based & Linux alternative to Shortcat.

    • Vimium is the most popular Open Source alternative to Shortcat.

    • Vimium is Free and Open SourceShortcat is Free and Proprietary
  4. Vieb icon
    Vieb icon

    Vieb

     12 likes
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    Vim is the Vim Inspired Electron Browser: Vim bindings for the web by design.

    22 Vieb alternatives
    Vieb screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Vieb screenshot 1
    Vieb screenshot 2
    +6
    Vieb screenshot 3

    Vieb Features

    1.  No Tracking
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Vim key mapping
    4.  Vim
    5.  Specific for 64-Bit
    6.  Electron based
    Vieb iconShortcat Icon

    Vieb VS Shortcat

    Is Vieb a good alternative to Shortcat?
     

    • Vieb is the most popular Mac alternative to Shortcat.

    • Vieb is Free and Open SourceShortcat is Free and Proprietary
  5. Firenvim icon
    Firenvim icon

    Firenvim

     2 likes
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    This webExtension lets you use Neovim directly from your browser. Contrary to other extensions, it does not open a new OS window.

    20 Firenvim alternatives
    With the dark mode.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Google Chrome
    • Neovim
    • Mozilla Firefox

    Firenvim Features

    1.  Vim key mapping
    2.  Vim
    Firenvim screenshot 1
    Firenvim screenshot 2
    Firenvim iconShortcat Icon

    Firenvim VS Shortcat

    Is Firenvim a good alternative to Shortcat?
     
  6. hunt-n-peck icon
    hunt-n-peck icon

    hunt-n-peck

     9 likes
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    Simple vimium/vimperator style navigation for Windows applications based on the UI Automation framework. In essence, it works the same as screen readers or accessibility programs but with the goal of making any Windows program faster to use.

    18 hunt-n-peck alternatives
    hunt-n-peck screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    hunt-n-peck screenshot 1
    hunt-n-peck iconShortcat Icon

    hunt-n-peck VS Shortcat

    Is hunt-n-peck a good alternative to Shortcat?
     
    Comments about hunt-n-peck as an Alternative to Shortcat
     
    Elros Telperien

    It works similarly, but for Windows.

    Positive comment •Sep 17, 2020
    0
    Shortcat Icon
    hunt-n-peck icon
    • hunt-n-peck is Free and Open SourceShortcat is Free and Proprietary
  7. cVim icon
    cVim icon

    cVim

     16 likes
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    An extension adding Vim-like bindings to Google Chrome.

    22 cVim alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Google Chrome

    cVim Features

    1.  Vim
    Discontinued

    As of April 23, 2020, the last update to GitHub was January 29, 2019, over a year ago. The most similar alternative is Surfingkeys (https://github.com/brookhong/Surfingkeys) or a fork of cVim, vb4c (https://github.com/dcchambers/vb4c).

    cVim iconShortcat Icon

    cVim VS Shortcat

    Is cVim a good alternative to Shortcat?
     
  9. Vimperator icon
    Vimperator icon

    Vimperator

     16 likes
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    Vimperator is a Firefox browser extension with strong inspiration from the Vim text editor, with a mind towards faster and more efficient browsing. It has similar key bindings and you could call it a modal web browser, as key bindings differ according to which mode you are in.

    23 Vimperator alternatives
    Vimperator screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Firefox

    Vimperator Features

    1.  Browser extension
    2.  Vim
    Vimperator screenshot 1
    Vimperator screenshot 2
    Discontinued

    Didn't make it a WebExtension

    Vimperator iconShortcat Icon

    Vimperator VS Shortcat

    Is Vimperator a good alternative to Shortcat?
     
  10. Vimac icon
    Vimac icon

    Vimac

     9 likes
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    Stop using your clunky trackpad/mouse now. Vimac is a productivity application that revolutionizes the way you navigate macOS.

    21 Vimac alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac

    Vimac Features

    1.  Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
    2.  Vim key mapping
    3.  Keyboard Shortcuts
    4.  Vim
    Discontinued

    Original developer has stopped devleoping this application.

    Vimac iconShortcat Icon

    Vimac VS Shortcat

    Is Vimac a good alternative to Shortcat?
     
    Comments about Vimac as an Alternative to Shortcat
     
    Elros Telperien

    It works for the whole system. It's also a macOS app.

    Positive comment •Sep 17, 2020
    0
    Guest

    It's the only other macOS app that allows mouse-less operation of the whole UI, and not just a web browser! And it seems to be even more feature-rich, and still supported

    Positive comment •Oct 14, 2019
    0
    Shortcat Icon
    Vimac icon
    • Vimac is Free and Open SourceShortcat is Free and Proprietary

  11. vrome

     3 likes
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    Vrome is a Vim keybindings extension for Chrome. Designed to provide a more efficient browsing experience, Vrome comes with its own additions that will surprise you.

    16 vrome alternatives
    vrome screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • Google Chrome

    vrome Features

    1.  Vim
    vrome screenshot 1
    vrome screenshot 2
    +2
    vrome screenshot 3
    Shortcat Icon

    vrome VS Shortcat

    Is vrome a good alternative to Shortcat?
     
  12. VimFx icon
    VimFx icon

    VimFx

     10 likes
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    VimFx is a Mozilla Firefox extension which introduces Vim-style keyboard shortcuts for browsing and navigation, significantly reducing the use of mouse, and allowing your hands to rest on the home row.

    15 VimFx alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Firefox

    VimFx Features

    1.  Vim
    2.  Keyboard Shortcuts
    3.  Browser extension
    Discontinued

    Didn't make it a WebExtension

    VimFx iconShortcat Icon

    VimFx VS Shortcat

    Is VimFx a good alternative to Shortcat?
     

  13. conkeror

     3 likes
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    Conkeror is a keyboard-oriented, highly-customizable, highly-extensible web browser based on Mozilla XULRunner, written mainly in JavaScript, and inspired by exceptional software such as Emacs and vi. Conkeror features a sophisticated keyboard system, allowing users to run...

    18 conkeror alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux

    conkeror Features

    1.  Mouseless
    2.  Browser-based
    3.  EMACS
    Discontinued

    Last stable Windows version is from 2014, snapshot link doesn't work (last change in code: 2019).

    Shortcat Icon

    conkeror VS Shortcat

    Is conkeror a good alternative to Shortcat?
     
  14. Homerow icon
    Homerow icon

    Homerow

     2 likes
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    Spotlight for the macOS user interface. Navigate macOS with just the keyboard.

    13 Homerow alternatives
    1. Activate The default shortcut is Command + Shift + Space. Labels are generated for clickable UI elements.

    License model

    Platforms

    • Mac

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2. Search Type in the UI element's text to filter the results. You can skip the search step altogether if you are selecting UI elements via labels.
    3. Select & Click The green target represents the currently focused UI element. You can select the correct UI element via arrow keys or by typing its label while holding Shift. Press Return to click. Done!
    +1
    The Tutor ?? Not sure what to type? Press '?' to reveal all searchable properties of the focused UI element.
    Homerow iconShortcat Icon

    Homerow VS Shortcat

    Is Homerow a good alternative to Shortcat?
     
    Comments about Homerow as an Alternative to Shortcat
     
    c3p00

    Fast, simple and the developer is responsive.

    Positive comment •Jan 18, 2023
    0
    Shortcat Icon
    Homerow icon

    • Homerow is the most popular commercial alternative to Shortcat.

    • Homerow is Paid and ProprietaryShortcat is Free and Proprietary
    • Homerow is LightweightShortcat is not according to our users
12 of 19 Shortcat alternatives