Launchy vs PExplorer
Launchy
launchy.netPExplorer
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Launchy | PExplorer |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 7.8 (#15) |
| License | SourceForge identifies the project as GNU General Public License version 2.0. | The repository lists the GNU Lesser General Public License version 2.1 (LGPL-2.1). |
| Purpose | Launchy is a free cross-platform utility for replacing the start menu, desktop icons and file manager. | PExplorer is a portable shell program intended to replace Windows Explorer for Windows PE. |
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.
PExplorer
PExplorer is the shell component of WinXShell, intended as a freely available replacement for Windows Explorer in Windows PE. The portable shell includes desktop, Start menu, taskbar and notification area components, and the project says it is based on ROS Explorer. It is available for Windows and WinPE, with the repository listing Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10, plus Windows Server 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2019.
Listed capabilities include support for x64 environments, desktop wallpaper on Windows Vista and later, desktop icon drag and drop, and tray icons for x86 and x64 software. Users can bind a third-party file explorer, change Start menu actions, and adjust taskbar color and height. PExplorer also supports ClassicShell and includes a file explorer styled for the host Windows system, with automatic refresh when files change. The project is licensed under LGPL-2.1 and welcomes contributions, feedback and bug reports. The repository's master branch page lists August 4, 2019 as its update date.