Synapse AlternativesApplication Launchers & File Search Utilities like Synapse

Synapse is described as 'Semantic launcher written in Vala that you can use to start applications as well as find and access relevant documents and files by making use of the Zeitgeist engine' and is a very popular application launcher in the os & utilities category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Synapse for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, File Explorer and Xfce apps. The best Synapse alternative is Listary, which is free. Other great apps like Synapse are Keypirinha, Alfred, Wox and Ulauncher.

Synapse iconSynapse
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Synapse is a semantic launcher written in Vala that you can use to start applications as well as find and access relevant...

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Synapse alternatives page was last updated Sep 9, 2022
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  1. Listary icon

    Listary

     278 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!.

    114 Listary alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CN flagChina

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    • File Explorer
    Global Search

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Customizable

    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.  Fuzzy Finder
    9.  Full-Text Search
    10.  Quick Switch
    11.  Portable
    12.  Content Searching

    Listary VS Synapse

     

    • Listary is the most popular Windows alternative to Synapse.

    • Listary is the most popular free alternative to Synapse.

    • Listary is Freemium and ProprietarySynapse is Free and Open Source
    • Listary is LightweightSynapse is not according to our users
  2. Keypirinha icon

    Keypirinha

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

    155 Keypirinha alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    smart search
    Discontinued

    The latest version (2.26) was released in November 2020.

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Customizable
    3.  Configurable
    4.  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 VS Synapse

     
  4. Alfred icon

    Alfred

     295 likes
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    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.

    127 Alfred alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Alfred screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Customizable

    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 VS Synapse

     
    Comments about Alfred as an Alternative to Synapse
    Guest
    Negative Jun 15, 2015
    1

    Synapse is used only for Mac OS X

    Synapse Icon
    Alfred icon

    • Alfred is the most popular Mac, iPhone & iPad alternative to Synapse.

    • Alfred is Freemium and ProprietarySynapse is Free and Open Source
  5. Wox icon

    Wox

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

    52 Wox alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CN flagChina

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Wox screenshot 1

    Wox Features

    1.  Application Launchers
    2.  Integrated Search

    Wox VS Synapse

     

    • Wox is the most popular Open Source alternative to Synapse.

    • Wox is Free and Open SourceSynapse is also Free and Open Source
  6. Ulauncher icon

    Ulauncher

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

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Dark theme

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Privacy focused

    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 VS Synapse

     

    • Ulauncher is the most popular Linux alternative to Synapse.

    • Ulauncher is Free and Open SourceSynapse is also Free and Open Source
    • Ulauncher is LightweightSynapse is not according to our users
  7. ueli icon

    ueli

     65 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...

    78 ueli alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    ueli screenshot 1

    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 VS Synapse

     
  9. RocketDock icon

    RocketDock

     291 likes
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    RocketDock is a Mac OS X dock clone. It provides a nice clean interface to drop shortcuts on for easy access and organization. With each item completely customizable there is no end to what you can add and launch from the dock.

    66 RocketDock alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    RocketDock screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    The program is no longer updated, but last version, 1.3.5, released in September 2008, can be still downloaded from the official website. "It is true, RocketDock has been discontinued. [...] The app remains available on https://rocketdock.com, but is unsupported."

    RocketDock Features

    1.  Dock
    2.  Launcher

    RocketDock VS Synapse

     
  10. 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.

    58 Albert alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Linux
    chromium triggered

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes
    3.  Customizable

    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 VS Synapse

     
  11. Cerebro icon

    Cerebro

     57 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...

    56 Cerebro alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Cerebro screenshot 1

    Cerebro Features

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

    Cerebro VS Synapse

     
  12. Gnome Do icon

    Gnome Do

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

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Gnome Do screenshot 1
    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 Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions

    Gnome Do VS Synapse

     
    Comments about Gnome Do as an Alternative to Synapse
    Guest
    Positive Aug 18, 2015
    1

    Synapse, Kupfer, and Gnome Do are the three leaders in this category.

    Synapse Icon
    Gnome Do icon

    • Most users think Gnome Do is a great Synapse alternative.

    • Gnome Do is Free and Open SourceSynapse is also Free and Open Source
  13. Executor icon

    Executor

     86 likes
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    A multi purpose launcher and more advanced and customizable freeware windows run replacement and more. Executor is available also as a portable app and can be integrated in LiberKey.

    49 Executor alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DK flagDenmark
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Executor screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Portable

    Executor VS Synapse

     
  14. Spotlight icon

    Spotlight

     22 likes
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    Spotlight is the system-wide desktop search feature built into Apple's OS X operating system since version 10.4 (Tiger). Backed by an index of all items and files on the system, it's designed to allow the user to quickly locate a wide variety of items on the computer...

    84 Spotlight alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Spotlight screenshot 1

    Spotlight Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Indexed search
    3.  File preview

    Spotlight VS Synapse

     
12 of 69 Synapse alternatives