Alfred vs Launchy
Alfred
alfredapp.comLaunchy
launchy.netSide by side
| Figure | Alfred | Launchy |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 2 |
| Spec score · App Launcher Software | 9.2 (#1) | 8.6 (#6) |
| Spec score · App Launchers | 9.2 (#2) | 9.1 (#3) |
| Spec score · App launchers | 9.2 (#2) | 9.0 (#3) |
| Calculator | The calculator handles standard and advanced mathematical functions directly in Alfred and can copy results to the clipboard. | Calcy performs arithmetic using only addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and parentheses. |
| Independent review limit | Macworld's review says Alfred Remote did not match the quality of the main Alfred launcher and requires Alfred running on the Mac. | VIDI Lab reported that adding folders requires several configuration steps, large indexes can slow hard disks and some folders were incompletely indexed until manually rescanned. |
| Independent review praise | Macworld says Alfred's launcher, web search, calculator, dictionary and workflow system become deeply embedded in a user's Mac workflow. | VIDI Lab found Launchy faster and simpler than the Windows Start menu, with useful calculator, Control Panel and web-search plugins. |
| Integrations | Official documentation covers 1Password bookmarks; URLs remain accessible to Alfred while passwords stay protected in 1Password. | The official plugin list includes PuTTY sessions, Todoist, Windows Live Messenger, system power controls and task switching. |
| Purpose | Alfred is a macOS productivity app for launching apps, searching files and the web, and controlling a Mac with hotkeys, keywords, and custom actions. | Launchy is a free cross-platform utility for replacing the start menu, desktop icons and file manager. |
| Support | The maker offers help through preference help icons, in-app search, its forum, Twitter, and email for license-related or private questions. | The help page directs users to the distributed Readme.pdf and Launchy forums for support. |
| What it does | Alfred is a macOS productivity launcher using hotkeys, keywords and text expansion to search the Mac and web and run custom actions. | Launchy is a free cross-platform utility that indexes programs and opens documents, project files, folders and bookmarks from keystrokes. |
Plans
Alfred
- Alfred coreFree
- Single License$34, paid once
- Single License£34, paid once
- Mega Supporter$59, paid once
- Mega Supporter£59, paid once
In their own words
Alfred
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.
Launchy
Launchy is a free utility for opening programs, files, folders, and websites with a few keystrokes. It indexes start-menu programs and can search directories and file types that users add. It stays in the background until the hotkey is pressed: Alt+Space by default, or Control+Space on Linux. Users can customize its appearance with skins and extend it through plugins for web searches, calculations, custom commands, and bookmark access. Other listed plugin examples include PuTTY sessions, task switching, and system power controls; these are made by other developers, and Launchy does not guarantee their functionality or behavior. Portable mode stores configuration files in the directory where Launchy runs, so it can be used from a USB stick. The bundled Calcy calculator supports addition, division, subtraction, multiplication, and parentheses. The listed platforms are Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows. Launchy is free to download with no fixed price; the listed recommended value is $10 USD, and the plan notes suggest considering a $3 contribution.