Launchy vs MaxLauncher
Launchy
launchy.netMaxLauncher
maxlauncher.sourceforge.ioSide by side
| Figure | Launchy | MaxLauncher |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 | 1 |
| Spec score · Start Menu Customization Software | 8.8 (#1) | 8.1 (#7) |
| Integrations | The official plugin list includes PuTTY sessions, Todoist, Windows Live Messenger, system power controls and task switching. | The product can launch programs, folders, or commands; the maker pages do not list third-party service integrations. |
| License | SourceForge identifies the project as GNU General Public License version 2.0. | The product page identifies the license as Microsoft Reciprocal License (MS-RL). |
| Purpose | Launchy is a free cross-platform utility for replacing the start menu, desktop icons and file manager. | MaxLauncher is a tabbed launcher designed to reduce the time needed to find and run programs. |
| Support | The help page directs users to the distributed Readme.pdf and Launchy forums for support. | Support is offered through SourceForge bug reports, feature requests, support requests, and discussion forums. |
Plans
In their own words
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.
MaxLauncher
MaxLauncher is a free, open-source tabbed launcher for Windows that opens programs, folders, or commands with two or three keystrokes. Each .mld data file can hold up to ten tabs, with 30 configurable buttons on each, for a maximum of 300 buttons. A favorites bar adds ten configurable buttons assigned to F1–F10. Separate XML-format text files can keep shortcut groups, such as work and home, apart. The launcher supports drag and drop, configurable activation hotkeys, custom themes, multi-launch, multiple instances, and basic multi-monitor use. Users can install it with an executable or choose a portable ZIP version, which the maker says can run from a USB stick or external hard drive. Portable settings can be made read-only to prevent changes to selected launcher data and cache files. The listed requirements are Windows Vista or newer, or Windows XP with Microsoft .NET 3.5 or higher; it runs on 32-bit and 64-bit versions. The downloads page lists version 1.31.0.0, dated October 29, 2021, as the latest release shown.