SOL AlternativesApplication Launchers & File Search Utilities like SOL

SOL is described as 'If you ever liked tools like Raycast and Alfred, but wanted to own them and tweak them yourself, then SOL is the tool for you. All the affordances of complex tools now made open source' and is a application launcher in the file management category. There are more than 50 alternatives to SOL for a variety of platforms, including Mac, Windows, Linux, Android and File Explorer apps. The best SOL alternative is Microsoft PowerToys, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like SOL are espanso, Flow Launcher, Listary and Keypirinha.

filter to find the best alternatives

SOL alternatives are mainly Application Launchers but may also be File Search Utilities or Text Expanders.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of SOL.
SOL iconSOL
  3
  • ...

If you ever liked tools like Raycast and Alfred, but wanted to own them and tweak them yourself, then SOL is the tool for you. All the affordances of complex tools now made open source.

More about SOL
More about SOL
SOL alternatives page was last updated Apr 27, 2022
  Suggest Alternatives
  1. Microsoft PowerToys icon
    Microsoft PowerToys icon

    Microsoft PowerToys

     212 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    56 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.  File Search
    2.  Key Mapping
    3.  Tiling Window Manager
    4.  Color Picker
    5.  SVG Preview
    6.  Application Launchers
    7. File Explorer icon  Windows Explorer Extension
    8.  Batch Rename Files
    9.  On top
    10.  Snap windows
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  OCR
    Microsoft PowerToys iconSOL Icon

    Microsoft PowerToys VS SOL

    Is Microsoft PowerToys a good alternative to SOL?
     

    • Microsoft PowerToys is the most popular Windows alternative to SOL.

    • Microsoft PowerToys is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to SOL.

    • Microsoft PowerToys is Free and Open SourceSOL is also Free and Open Source
    • Microsoft PowerToys is LightweightSOL is not according to our users
  2. espanso icon
    espanso icon

    espanso

     98 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    An open source, cross-platform text expander written in Rust.

    40 espanso alternatives
    espanso screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    espanso screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Configurable
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Text Expansion
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Support for scripting
    4.  Portable
    5.  Console-based
    6.  Ad-free
    espanso iconSOL Icon

    espanso VS SOL

    Is espanso a good alternative to SOL?
     

    • espanso is the most popular Mac & Linux alternative to SOL.

    • espanso is Free and Open SourceSOL is also Free and Open Source
    • espanso is LightweightSOL is not according to our users
  4. Flow Launcher icon
    Flow Launcher icon

    Flow Launcher

     61 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    36 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.  Customizable
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Application Launchers
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  File Search
    4.  Portable
    5.  Indexed search
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Works Offline
    10.  Built-in viewer
    11.  No Tracking
    Flow Launcher iconSOL Icon

    Flow Launcher VS SOL

    Is Flow Launcher a good alternative to SOL?
     
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Raycast icon

    Raycast

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

    https://raycast.com
    Learn More
  6. Listary icon
    Listary icon

    Listary

     276 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.  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 iconSOL Icon

    Listary VS SOL

    Is Listary a good alternative to SOL?
     
  7. Keypirinha icon
    Keypirinha icon

    Keypirinha

     212 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.  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 iconSOL Icon

    Keypirinha VS SOL

    Is Keypirinha a good alternative to SOL?
     
  8. Alfred icon
    Alfred icon

    Alfred

     294 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.  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 iconSOL Icon

    Alfred VS SOL

    Is Alfred a good alternative to SOL?
     

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

    • Alfred is Freemium and ProprietarySOL is Free and Open Source
  10. Raycast icon
    Raycast icon

    Raycast

     46 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.  Application Launchers
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Keyboard Shortcuts
    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
    12.  AI-Powered
    Raycast iconSOL Icon

    Raycast VS SOL

    Is Raycast a good alternative to SOL?
     
  11. Wox icon
    Wox icon

    Wox

     190 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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 Features

    1.  Application Launchers
    2.  Integrated Search
    Wox screenshot 1
    Wox screenshot 2
    +1
    Wox screenshot 3
    Wox iconSOL Icon

    Wox VS SOL

    Is Wox a good alternative to SOL?
     
  12. Ulauncher icon
    Ulauncher icon

    Ulauncher

     51 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
    • 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

    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 iconSOL Icon

    Ulauncher VS SOL

    Is Ulauncher a good alternative to SOL?
     
  13. Fluent Search icon
    Fluent Search icon

    Fluent Search

     40 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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...

    100 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.  Portable
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  No registration required
    Fluent Search iconSOL Icon

    Fluent Search VS SOL

    Is Fluent Search a good alternative to SOL?
     
  14. ueli icon
    ueli icon

    ueli

     65 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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...

    78 ueli alternatives
    ueli screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    ueli screenshot 1
    ueli screenshot 2
    +6
    ueli screenshot 3

    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 iconSOL Icon

    ueli VS SOL

    Is ueli a good alternative to SOL?
     
  15. Albert icon
    Albert icon

    Albert

     69 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    57 Albert alternatives
    Apps

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Arch wiki
    Calculator (Qalculate)
    +9
    Clipboard history

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Search Bar
    3.  Autocompletion
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Currency Conversion
    7.  No Coding Required
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  Support for scripting
    10.  No Tracking
    11.  No registration required
    12.  Launcher
    Albert iconSOL Icon

    Albert VS SOL

    Is Albert a good alternative to SOL?
     
12 of 54 SOL alternatives