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Best Productivity ResourcesBy Shushant LakhyaniVerified creator

Windows App

Microsoft PowerToys

Free, open-source Windows utilities including the Command Palette launcher.

Visit Microsoft PowerToys4.7

  • Rating

    4.7 / 5

  • Pricing

    Free

  • Difficulty

    Intermediate

  • Works on

    Windows

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What is Microsoft PowerToys?

PowerToys is Microsoft's free, open-source (MIT) set of utilities for Windows power users. Its Command Palette, opened with Win+Alt+Space, launches apps, runs commands, searches files and the web, does maths, switches windows and browses clipboard history, and it supports community extensions. PowerToys also includes window layouts (FancyZones), PowerToys Run and many other tools.

Pros: what Microsoft PowerToys does well

  • Free and open source from Microsoft
  • Command Palette covers launching, clipboard and window switching
  • Many extra utilities in one install

Cons: where it falls short

  • Windows only
  • So many tools that setup can feel busy

Who Microsoft PowerToys is for

Windows users who want a Raycast-style launcher and extra utilities for free.

Who can skip it

Mac and Linux users.

Compare Microsoft PowerToys

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

Microsoft PowerToys alternatives

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

All Workflows resources

Alfred

Focus: keyboard shortcuts and workflows. Shares launcher and raycast alternative with Microsoft PowerToys. A Mac app, not a Windows app. Freemium (Microsoft PowerToys: Free). Adds macOS. Same 4.7 rating.

Mac AppFree planmacOS
4.7Visit

Flow Launcher

Focus: file search and plugins. Shares launcher and open source with Microsoft PowerToys. Rated 4.6 (Microsoft PowerToys: 4.7).

Windows AppFreeWindows
4.6Visit

Kando

Focus: pie menu, shortcuts and github. Shares launcher and open source with Microsoft PowerToys. A desktop app, not a Windows app. Adds macOS, Linux and Offline. Rated 4.6 (Microsoft PowerToys: 4.7).

Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.6Visit

Quicksilver

Focus: keyboard and macos. Shares launcher and open source with Microsoft PowerToys. A Mac app, not a Windows app. Adds macOS. Rated 4.5 (Microsoft PowerToys: 4.7).

Mac AppFreemacOS
4.5Visit

ueli

Focus: keyboard shortcuts. Shares launcher and open source with Microsoft PowerToys. A desktop app, not a Windows app. Adds macOS and Linux. Rated 4.3 (Microsoft PowerToys: 4.7).

Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.3Visit

RaycastEditor's pick, verified

Focus: shortcuts and keyboard. Shares launcher with Microsoft PowerToys. A desktop app, not a Windows app. Freemium (Microsoft PowerToys: Free). Adds macOS and iOS. Rated 4.9 (Microsoft PowerToys: 4.7).

Desktop AppFree planmacOS, Windows
4.9Visit

Free alternatives to Microsoft PowerToys

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

AutoHotkey

Focus: hotkeys, macros and scripting. Shares open source with Microsoft PowerToys. A desktop app, not a Windows app. Adds Offline. Same 4.7 rating.

Desktop AppFreeWindows, Offline
4.7Visit

Coolify

Focus: self-hosting, deployment and hosting. Shares open source with Microsoft PowerToys. A web app, not a Windows app. Adds Web. Same 4.7 rating.

Web AppFreeWeb
4.7Visit

iTerm2

Focus: terminal, mac and command line. Shares open source with Microsoft PowerToys. A Mac app, not a Windows app. Adds macOS. Same 4.7 rating.

Mac AppFreemacOS
4.7Visit

Karabiner-Elements

Focus: keyboard remapping, shortcuts and hyper key. Shares open source with Microsoft PowerToys. A Mac app, not a Windows app. Adds macOS. Same 4.7 rating.

Mac AppFreemacOS
4.7Visit

Superstreamer

Focus: video streaming, ffmpeg and hls. Shares open source with Microsoft PowerToys. A website, not a Windows app. Adds Web. Same 4.7 rating.

WebsiteFreeWeb, Cross-Platform
4.7Visit
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