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SPECIFICTION
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Listary vs Starling

Listary

listary.com

Starling

starling.build

Side by side

FigureListaryStarling
Price fromFreeFree
Free planYesYes
Free trial——
Open source——
Web—Yes
WindowsYesYes
macOS—Yes
Linux—Yes
Plans published21
Spec score · Start Menu Customization Software8.0 (#10)8.4 (#5)
IntegrationsThe maker lists OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, file servers, NAS, USB drives, and external hard drives as supported storage.The Linux desktop launches applications installed on the machine; its App Store can install more applications.
SupportThe maker provides a Help Center, troubleshooting guidance, and a contact form or support email.The user guide directs users to GitHub Issues for problems and questions.

Plans

Listary

  • FreeFree
  • Pro$19.95, paid once

Listary pricing →

Starling

  • StarlingFree

Starling pricing →

In their own words

Listary

Listary is a Windows file search tool and app launcher that brings files, folders, and apps into a single search workflow. It finds files by name, path, or format and ranks results based on usage habits; the maker says searches can return results in 0.01 seconds. The launcher supports fuzzy matching. Quick Save & Open lets users move to a target folder from Windows file dialogs when opening or saving files. It supports storage including OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, file servers, NAS, USB drives, and external hard drives. Standard Windows dialogs are supported, with adaptations for Bandizip, AutoCAD, WinRAR Extract Dialog, and WPS File Dialog, though some custom dialogs may not work. Listary works offline. Full-text search is mainly available through companion app Gety, with partial results integration in the V7 beta. The Free plan is for personal use; Pro costs 19.95 USD once and adds a commercial license and use on up to three computers owned by you. V6 supports 64-bit Windows 10 and 11, while V5 versions are listed for Windows 7 and XP.

Visit listary.com

Starling

Starling is a desktop environment with a 2D workspace and an optional 3D city workspace. Its Linux desktop combines a Wayland compositor, window manager, dock, spaces, and nine first-party apps in a session alongside the existing desktop. It runs native Wayland clients and X11 apps, can launch applications installed on the machine, and includes an App Store for installing more. The supported Linux package target is Ubuntu 26.04 LTS on amd64; the desktop can also run through Ubuntu 26.04 on WSL2. Starling’s Windows shell supports Windows 10 and 11 on x64, and its page says Store apps keep working. The shell, apps, build tools, documentation, and host code are open source under Apache 2.0, and the product is free. The Linux session runs without elevated privileges. Starling labels the desktop an early preview and says users should expect rough edges, missing pieces, and bugs. Its Windows preview installer installs per user without administrator privileges, but is unsigned and prompts SmartScreen on first run.

Visit starling.build