Flow Launcher vs Launchy
Flow Launcher
flowlauncher.comLaunchy
launchy.netSide by side
| Figure | Flow Launcher | Launchy |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · Start Menu Customization Software | 7.8 (#11) | 8.8 (#1) |
| Spec score · App Launcher Software | 7.7 (#17) | 8.6 (#6) |
| Spec score · App launchers | 7.7 (#18) | 9.0 (#3) |
| Spec score · App Launchers | 7.6 (#20) | 9.1 (#3) |
| Plugin development | The maker says users can write community plugins in C#, F#, Python, JavaScript, or TypeScript. | Developing binary-compatible plugins currently requires Visual Studio 2005. |
| Plugins | The plugin store adds search capabilities, and its listings include integrations such as Spotify, Steam, Obsidian, and GitHub notifications. | Launchy has a plugin architecture with plugins for web searches, Firefox bookmarks, calculations, custom commands and more. |
| Purpose | Flow Launcher is a quick file search and app launcher for Windows. | Launchy is a free cross-platform utility for replacing the start menu, desktop icons and file manager. |
Plans
In their own words
Flow Launcher
Flow Launcher has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
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.