Alfred vs Cerebro

Alfred is a macOS productivity app for launching apps, finding files and web results, and controlling a Mac with hotkeys, keywords, and custom actions. Its search adapts to how someone uses the Mac and prioritizes results. The free core app covers app launching and file searching. Powerpack adds Clipboard History for copied text, images, and file paths, plus Snippets that expand short keywords into saved text. It also provides workflows for connecting objects and automating tasks, and file actions such as previewing, moving, copying, emailing, or revealing files in Finder. Workflows can connect to apps and services, including through APIs, and can be started by hotkey, keyword, or Alfred Remote button. Preferences can sync between Macs using Dropbox or a similar service. The maker says preferences, usage, and settings stay on the Mac, though workflows may contact servers or APIs. Alfred 5.8.1 is listed for macOS 10.14 or later on 64-bit Intel and Apple Silicon. The Single License costs £34 once for one user on two of their own Macs for the current version.

Cerebro is a free, open-source desktop launcher for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It searches a user’s machine and the internet, and can find and open files, reveal them in Finder, copy contact details, and show Google suggestions. Core plugins add web search, application search and launch, file navigation with previews, a calculator, and a smart converter. Cerebro can also display maps, translations, and files within its results without opening another application. It includes a plugin manager, and users can build and share plugins through its API. The default shortcut for showing the app window is Ctrl+Space, and users can change it in Preferences. The search plugin lists Google, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, Brave, MetaGer, and StartPage as options, though the project notes that not all are implemented yet. Cerebro is developed in Electron, and its README identifies the license as MIT. The official site links to downloads labeled version 0.11.0 for Windows, Mac, and Linux. The listed plan costs nothing, with no paid plans listed.