Free, open-source alternatives to Alfred

Alfred opens a search box from a hotkey so you can launch apps, find files, search the web and run system commands without reaching for the mouse; its Powerpack adds clipboard history, snippets and workflows. The open-source launchers below cover the same core job: type a few letters, get apps, files and actions back, and keep your hands on the keyboard.

They differ in how far they go beyond search. Quicksilver is the long-running Mac original built around actions on items, while Cerebro, Wox, Ueli and ZTools lean on plugins for extra sources. Sol, SuperCmd, Tinycast, look and Trace bundle more tools out of the box, such as clipboard history, snippets, quick links or window snapping.