Alfred vs PowerToys Command Palette
Alfred
alfredapp.com
PowerToys Command Palette
learn.microsoft.comSide by side
| Figure | Alfred | PowerToys Command Palette |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 5 | 1 |
| Spec score · App Launcher Software | 9.2 (#1) | 7.5 (#22) |
| Spec score · App Launchers | 9.2 (#2) | 7.5 (#24) |
| Spec score · App launchers | 9.2 (#2) | 7.7 (#20) |
| Privacy | The maker says preferences, usage, and settings are stored locally on the Mac and are not sent to it or third parties. | PowerToys diagnostic data is optional and off by default in version 0.86 and later; documented Command Palette events include launches, queries, command execution, extension usage, and session metrics. |
| 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. | Command Palette is a customizable interface for launching apps, running commands, searching files, browsing the web, and reaching Windows tools. |
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.
PowerToys Command Palette
PowerToys Command Palette is a free Windows interface for launching applications, running commands, searching files, browsing the web and reaching Windows tools. Enable it and keep it running in the background, then use Win+Alt+Space by default. Search covers apps, shell commands, files and folders, web searches through the default browser, and calculator expressions. The interface can navigate Windows Settings, find and install apps with WinGet, switch windows, open clipboard history, manage services, launch Windows Terminal profiles, query the Registry, connect to Remote Desktop, show performance metrics and run system commands. Commands can be pinned to Home or to the persistent edge Dock, with separate pinned bands on each display. Named bookmarks open files, folders, URLs or shell commands. Themes, backdrops, background images and custom colors control appearance. A built-in Gallery manages community extensions, which run in separate processes and communicate through a WinRT API. PowerToys requires Windows 11 or Windows 10 version 2004 (build 19041) or newer on 64-bit x64 or ARM64 processors. Diagnostic data is optional and off by default in version 0.86 and later.