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Best Productivity ResourcesBy Shushant LakhyaniVerified creator

Mac App

Alfred

A classic Mac launcher that is free forever, with an optional Powerpack.

Visit Alfred4.7

  • Rating

    4.7 / 5

  • Pricing

    Freemium

  • Difficulty

    Beginner

  • Works on

    macOS

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What is Alfred?

Alfred is a keyboard launcher for macOS that opens apps, finds files and searches the web from one bar. The core app is free to download and use forever. The one-time Powerpack licence (£34 for a single licence) adds workflows, themes and deeper control of your Mac. It runs on macOS 10.14 and later, on Intel and Apple Silicon.

Pros: what Alfred does well

  • Free core launcher with no time limit
  • Powerpack is a one-time purchase, not a subscription
  • Huge library of community workflows

Cons: where it falls short

  • Workflows and themes need the paid Powerpack
  • Mac only

Who Alfred is for

Mac users who want a fast launcher without a subscription.

Who can skip it

People on Windows or Linux.

Compare Alfred

See how Alfred stacks up, side by side, plus the lists it made.

Alfred alternatives

Not sold on Alfred? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.

All Workflows resources

Microsoft PowerToys

Focus: command palette, windows utilities and open source. Shares launcher and raycast alternative with Alfred. A Windows app, not a Mac app. Free (Alfred: Freemium). Adds Windows. Same 4.7 rating.

Windows AppFreeWindows
4.7Visit

ueli

Focus: open source. Shares launcher and keyboard shortcuts with Alfred. A desktop app, not a Mac app. Free (Alfred: Freemium). Adds Windows and Linux. Rated 4.3 (Alfred: 4.7).

Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.3Visit

RaycastEditor's pick, verified

Focus: shortcuts and keyboard. Shares launcher with Alfred. A desktop app, not a Mac app. Adds Windows and iOS. Rated 4.9 (Alfred: 4.7).

Desktop AppFree planmacOS, Windows
4.9Visit

Kando

Focus: pie menu, shortcuts and open source. Shares launcher with Alfred. A desktop app, not a Mac app. Free (Alfred: Freemium). Adds Windows, Linux and Offline. Rated 4.6 (Alfred: 4.7).

Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.6Visit

Wox

Focus: app launcher, plugins and open source. Shares keyboard shortcuts with Alfred. A desktop app, not a Mac app. Free (Alfred: Freemium). Adds Windows, Linux and Offline. Rated 4.5 (Alfred: 4.7).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.5Visit

Free alternatives to Alfred

Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.

iTerm2

Focus: terminal, mac and command line. Also in Workflows and Automation, like Alfred. Free (Alfred: Freemium). Same 4.7 rating.

Mac AppFreemacOS
4.7Visit

Karabiner-Elements

Focus: keyboard remapping, shortcuts and hyper key. Also in Workflows and Automation, like Alfred. Free (Alfred: Freemium). Same 4.7 rating.

Mac AppFreemacOS
4.7Visit

Flow Launcher

Focus: file search, plugins and open source. Shares launcher and raycast alternative with Alfred. A Windows app, not a Mac app. Free (Alfred: Freemium). Adds Windows. Rated 4.6 (Alfred: 4.7).

Windows AppFreeWindows
4.6Visit

Hammerspoon

Focus: mac automation, window management and lua scripting. Also in Automation and Workflows, like Alfred. Free (Alfred: Freemium). Adds Offline. Rated 4.6 (Alfred: 4.7).

Mac AppFreemacOS, Offline
4.6Visit

simslim

Focus: ios, simulator and xcode. Also in Workflows and Personal Productivity, like Alfred. Free (Alfred: Freemium). Rated 4.5 (Alfred: 4.7).

Mac AppFreemacOS
4.5Visit

AutoHotkey

Focus: hotkeys, macros and scripting. Also in Automation and Personal Productivity, like Alfred. A desktop app, not a Mac app. Free (Alfred: Freemium). Adds Windows and Offline. Same 4.7 rating.

Desktop AppFreeWindows, Offline
4.7Visit
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