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Comparison of desktop application launchers

{{Short description|Computer programs that help users launch other software}}

{{refimprove|date=February 2014}}

An application launcher is a computer program that helps a user to locate and start other computer programs. An application launcher provides shortcuts to computer programs, and stores the shortcuts in one place so they are easier to find.

In the comparison of desktop application launchers that follows, each section is devoted to a different desktop environment.

Android

{{Main|List of Android launchers}}

Windows

These desktop application launchers work with Microsoft Windows operating systems only.

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 95%; width: auto; table-layout: fixed;"
style="width: 15em" |

! Creator

! Latest stable version

! Release date

! Software license

! Open source

! Programming language

! Plugin support

{{rh}} | Flow Launcher

| Jeremy Wu

| 1.19.5

| {{dts|2025|01|27}}

| MIT

| {{yes}}

| C#

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | Appetizer

| Laurent Cozic

| 1.4.6.494

| {{dts|2010|02|13}}

| GPL

| {{yes}}

| C++, wxWidgets

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | ASuite

| SalvadorSoftware

| 2.0

| {{dts|2020|04|20}}

| GPL

| {{yes}}

| Delphi

| {{no}}

{{rh}} | Classic Shell

| Ivo Beltchev

| 4.3.1

| {{dts|2017|8|12}}

| MIT

| {{yes}}

| C++

| {{yes}}Via shell namespace extensions inside the menu

{{rh}} class="table-rh" | Keypirinha

| Jean-Charles Lefebvre

| 2.26

| {{dts|2020|11|18}}

| Freeware

| {{no}}

| {{dunno}}

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | LiberKey

| Captel SARL

| 5.8.1129

| {{dts|2015|11|30}}

| Proprietary

| {{no}}

| {{dunno}}

| {{no}}

{{rh}} | Microsoft PowerToys Run

| Microsoft

| 0.73.0

| {{dts|2023|8|23}}

| MIT

| {{yes}}

| C++, C#

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | PortableApps.com Platform

| Rare Ideas, LLC

| 15.0.2

| {{dts|2018|5|17}}

| GPL

| {{yes}}PortableApps.com branding is trademarked

| Delphi

| {{no}}

{{rh}} | Quick Access Popup

| Jean Lalonde

| 11.5.10

| {{dts|2022|11|07}}

| Freeware

| {{yes}}

| AutoHotkey

| {{no}}

{{rh}} | SliderDock

| Dimitri Roozendaal

| 1.21

| {{dts|2010|10|11}}

| Creative Commons

| {{no}}

| {{dunno}}

| {{no}}

{{rh}} | SyMenu

| Gianluca Negrelli

| 7.00.8038 {{cite web|title=SyMenu - What's New: 7.00.8038 [2022.01.03]|url=https://www.ugmfree.it/SyMenuDownload.aspx#changelog|website=www.ugmfree.it|accessdate=5 January 2022}}

| {{dts|2022|1|03}}

| Freeware

| {{no}}

| C#

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} class="table-rh" | Wox

| Qianli Feng

| v1.3.524

| {{dts|2018|2|24}}

| Freeware

| {{yes}}

| C#

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | XIA Links

| CENTREL Solutions

| 4.2.12 {{cite web|title=XIA Links: Windows Desktop Icon & Shortcut Manager|url=https://www.centrel-solutions.com/xialinks/desktop-shortcut-manager.aspx|website=www.centrel-solutions.com|accessdate=13 October 2021}}

| {{dts|2021|7|1}}

| Proprietary

| {{no}}

| C#

| {{no}}

{{rh}} | [https://prompt-ly.net Prompt-ly]

| Brandon Dodd

| 0.5.2-beta

| April 16, 2025

| Proprietary

| {{no}}

| TypeScript

| {{no}}

{{Reflist|group="note"}}

Linux

These desktop application launchers work with Linux operating systems only.

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style="width: 15em" |

! Creator

! Latest stable version

! Release date

! OS

! Software license

! Open source

! Programming language

! Plugin support

{{rh}} | Albert Launcher

| Manuel Schneider

| 0.18

| {{dts|2022|12|27}}

| Linux

| ALL

| {{no}} (Source available

| C++ (Qt)

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | 9menu

| Arnold Robbins

| 1.8

| {{dts|2004|06|01}}

| Linux

| GPL

| {{yes}}

| C

| {{no}}

{{rh}} | Avant Window Navigator

| Neil J. Patel

| 0.4.2 {{cite web|title=Awn in Launchpad|url=https://launchpad.net/awn|website=Launchpad|accessdate=5 August 2014}}

| {{dts|2013|11|27}}

| Linux

| GPL

| {{yes}}

| C

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | dmenu

| dwm developers

| 4.5{{cite web|title=suckless.org software that sucks less|url=http://suckless.org/|website=suckless.org|accessdate=5 August 2014}}

| {{dts|2011|12|19}}

| Linux

| MIT License

| {{yes}}

| C

| {{no}}

{{rh}} | GNOME Do

| GNOME Do Developers

| 0.95.1{{cite web|last1=Rogers|first1=Chris|title=Do 0.95.1 released|url=https://launchpad.net/do/+announcement/12388|website=Launchpad|accessdate=4 August 2014}}

| {{dts|2014|01|23}}

| Linux

| GPL

| {{yes}}

| C#

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | Katapult

| TDE Developers

| R14.0.6{{Cite web|url=https://mirror.git.trinitydesktop.org/cgit/katapult/tag/?h=r14.0.6|title=Katapult - Katapult – a general purpose launcher}}

| {{dts|2019|03|05}}

| Linux with TDE

| GPL

| {{yes}}

| C++

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | Unity Dash

| Canonical Ltd.

| 7.3.0{{cite web|title=Unity|url=https://launchpad.net/unity|website=Launchpad|accessdate=4 August 2014}}

| {{dts|2014|06|19}}

| Ubuntu

| GPLv3

| {{yes}}

| Vala

| {{yes}} ("lenses" and "scopes")

|

{{rh}} | Synapse

| Michal Hruby and Alberto Aldegheri

| 0.2.99.4{{cite web|url=https://git.launchpad.net/synapse-project/commit/?id=a8d10a3fe1b3d450d922eedb0269153629897cd4|title=synapse-project - [no description]|website=Git.launchpad.net|accessdate=4 January 2019}}

| {{dts|2018|04|08|df=yes}}

| Linux

| GPLv3

| {{yes}}

| Vala

| {{yes}}

macOS

These desktop application launchers work with the Apple macOS operating system only.

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 95%; width: auto; table-layout: fixed;"
style="width: 15em" |

! Creator

! Latest stable version

!Release date

! Software license

! Open source

! Programming language

! Plugin support

!Runs on macOS Catalina

{{rh}} | Alfred

| Running with Crayons

| 5.5

|March 18, 2024

| Proprietary

| {{no}}

| Objective-C

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | Butler

| Peter Maurer

| 4.4.8

|January 8, 2024

| Proprietary

| {{no}}

| Objective-C

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | DragThing

| James Thomson

| 5.9.17

|November 16, 2016

| Proprietary

| {{no}}

| C++

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

{{rh}} | LaunchBar

| Objective Development

| 6.19.1

|July 5, 2024

| Proprietary

| {{no}}

| Objective-C

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | Quicksilver

| Quicksilver Foundation

| 2.4.2

|December 28, 2023

| Apache License

| {{yes}}

| Objective-C

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | Raycast

| Raycast Technologies Ltd.

| 1.79.0

|July 17, 2024

| Proprietary

| {{no}}

| Swift

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | SpeedDock

| SpeedDock

| 1.9

|November 5, 2019

| Proprietary

| {{no}}

| Swift

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

Cross platform

These desktop application launchers work with two or more different operating systems.

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style="width: 15em" |

! Creator

! Latest stable version

! Release date

! OS

! Software license

! Open source

! Programming language

! Plugin support

! Runs on macOS Catalina

{{rh}} | Launchy

| Josh Karlin

| 2.5.0

| {{dts|2010|04|4}}

| Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS

| GPL

| {{yes}}

| C++ (Qt)

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

See also

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

  • John Emmatty (November 2011) [http://www.amazines.com/article_detail.cfm/939073?articleid=939073 A Mouse Free Approach For Working With Your System. ]
  • {{in lang|de}} Anke Anlauf (14 January 2010), [http://de.onsoftware.com/schmucke-pc-docks-wie-auf-dem-mac/ Schmucke PC-Docks wie auf dem Mac] (roundup of MS Windows launchers), Softonic OnSoftware
  • Peter (October 15, 2008) [https://web.archive.org/web/20100616104407/http://www.linuxhaxor.net/?p=1084 The State of Linux Docks], linuxhaxor.net
  • jdeslip (June 25, 2009) [http://www.berkeleylug.com/?p=254 The Best Docks on the Linux Coast], Berkeley Linux Users Group
  • Raymond (June 2016) [https://www.raymond.cc/blog/portable-application-launchers-launch-apps-with-convenience/ 3 Application Launchers with Automated Portable Software Installation System], Raymond.cc computers, made easy

Application launchers