Alternatives to Alfred
The Mac launcher veteran with workflows
Alfred ranks #3 of 8 in App launchers, with an Alt Score of 68. It is proprietary, sold as a one-time purchase from £34 and available on macOS. 9 of 10 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Alfred is for Mac power users and professionals who want to work faster from the keyboard instead of the mouse and Finder.
A fast app and file launcher, web search with custom keywords, clipboard history, and text snippets that expand from abbreviations. With the paid Powerpack, you also get Workflows, which chain hotkeys, keywords, and actions into custom automations without coding.
Trigger Alfred with a hotkey, then type a keyword or query to launch apps, find files, or run a command; Alfred learns your usage to rank results, and Workflows let you extend it with multi-step automations.
Where Alfred stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave Alfred
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
Sign in to add a reason — new reasons go through moderation before appearing.
Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
Rows come from the App launchers checklist (14 rows). Human-verified cells only. ? means the value has not been verified.
| App launchers checklist | Alfred | LaunchBar | Raycast | Albert | Flow Launcher | ueli |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
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| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Extensions / plugins | ||||||
| Clipboard history | ||||||
| Snippets | ||||||
| Calculator & conversions | ||||||
| File search | ||||||
| Window management | ||||||
| Themes | ||||||
| Open source | ||||||
| One-time purchase option | ||||||
| Cross-platform |
Every fact and feature listed for Alfred is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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Starts at £34 verified 2026-07-09
Single License £34
https://www.alfredapp.com/powerpack/ -
License Proprietary verified 2026-07-09
You may not redistribute or modify the software without permission from Running with Crayons Ltd.
https://www.alfredapp.com/terms/ -
Pricing model One-time verified 2026-07-09
Powerpack licences are perpetual; a Mega Supporter tier adds free lifetime upgrades. No subscription is offered.
Single License £34 Single User v5 License
https://www.alfredapp.com/powerpack/ -
Platforms macOS verified 2026-07-09
Alfred 5 is supported on macOS 10.14+.
https://www.alfredapp.com/help/getting-started/minimum-requirements/ -
Status active verified 2026-07-09
Alfred 5.7.3
https://www.alfredapp.com/changelog/ -
Extensions / plugins Yes verified 2026-07-09
Use workflows to extend Alfred and get things done in your own way.
https://www.alfredapp.com/help/workflows/ -
Clipboard history Yes verified 2026-07-09
With Alfred's Clipboard History, you don't need to worry about text, images and file links you've copied but forgot to paste earlier; It's all there in your searchable history.
https://www.alfredapp.com/help/features/clipboard/ -
Snippets Yes verified 2026-07-09
Boost your productivity by using snippets to save your frequently used text clips. Expand them automatically using a keyword or browse for the right clip in the Snippets Viewer.
https://www.alfredapp.com/help/features/snippets/ -
Calculator & conversions Partial verified 2026-07-09
Built-in calculator covers maths; full unit/currency conversion needs separate Workflows.
If you're making calculations involving currency symbols (Dollar, Pound, Euro signs for example), Alfred will ignore the symbols
https://www.alfredapp.com/help/features/calculator/ -
File search Yes verified 2026-07-09
File Search is an essential part of Alfred's search functionality. It allows you to expand your search, navigate your Mac's directories and take action on files you find.
https://www.alfredapp.com/help/features/file-search/ -
Themes Yes verified 2026-07-09
Powerpack users can also create or import custom themes, allowing you to match Alfred to your desktop or to your mood!
https://www.alfredapp.com/help/appearance/ -
Open source No verified 2026-07-09
The copyright holder retains all rights over the software, and no third-party or agency is entitled to sell, modify or repackage the software without prior consent.
https://www.alfredapp.com/terms/ -
One-time purchase option Yes verified 2026-07-09
Mega Supporter £59 Single User Free Lifetime Upgrades
https://www.alfredapp.com/powerpack/ -
Cross-platform No verified 2026-07-09
Alfred 5 is supported on macOS 10.14+.
https://www.alfredapp.com/help/getting-started/minimum-requirements/
FAQ
Yes. Raycast, Albert and Flow Launcher have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Flow Launcher, ueli and PowerToys Run — every license claim links its source.