Launchy vs Winstep Nexus Dock

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.

Winstep Nexus Dock is a customizable Windows dock for opening frequently used applications, folders, documents and commands. It can show running applications, replace the taskbar and display system tray icons. Built-in modules include a clock, Recycle Bin, email checker, weather and CPU, RAM and network meters. Nexus Ultimate adds multiple docks, sub-docks, shelves, drawers, Grid Stacks, Launch Pads and additional modules. Customization options include themes, configurable behavior, animated icons, visual effects and skins from major third-party docks. Nexus supports Windows UWP apps and Progressive Web Apps from Chrome, Brave and Microsoft Edge. Listed system requirements include Windows 7, 8, 10 or 11, 120 MB of free disk space and a minimum 800×600 screen resolution; ARM Windows devices are supported. The free Nexus plan is for personal use and allows one alarm. A commercial license costs $12.95 as a one-time purchase, and Nexus Ultimate costs $29.95, paid once. The Ultimate purchase page lists a fully functional 30-day trial.