Cerebro vs Quicksilver
Cerebro
cerebroapp.comQuicksilver
qsapp.comSide by side
| Figure | Cerebro | Quicksilver |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · App Launchers | 8.3 (#10) | 7.2 (#30) |
| Spec score · App launchers | 8.3 (#11) | 7.2 (#30) |
| Spec score · App Launcher Software | 8.2 (#12) | 7.2 (#31) |
| Actions | Users can open files in their default application, reveal them in Finder, copy contact details, and view Google suggestions. | It can move, copy, email, or compress files, send messages, and control iTunes. |
| Open source | The project README identifies the software as open source under the MIT license. | Quicksilver is free, open source, and community-maintained. |
| Plugins | Cerebro includes a plugin manager, and users can build and share plugins using its API. | Hundreds of plugins extend Quicksilver, and plugins can be installed and managed from within the app. |
| Product | Cerebro describes itself as an open-source launcher for improving productivity and efficiency. | Quicksilver is a macOS productivity application for controlling a Mac from the keyboard. |
Plans
In their own words
Cerebro
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.