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Best Productivity ResourcesBy Shushant LakhyaniVerified creator

Desktop App

ueli

A free, open-source keystroke launcher for Windows, macOS and Linux.

Visit ueli4.3

  • Rating

    4.3 / 5

  • Pricing

    Free

  • Difficulty

    Beginner

  • Works on

    Windows, macOS, Linux

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What is ueli?

ueli is a cross-platform keystroke launcher: press Alt+Space, type, and press Enter to open apps, files, web searches or calculations. It is open source under the MIT licence and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, with extensions such as a calculator, file search and web search. On Windows it is in the Microsoft Store; the macOS download is not signed, so macOS blocks the first launch.

Pros: what ueli does well

  • Free and open source (MIT)
  • Same launcher on Windows, macOS and Linux
  • Extensions for calculator, file and web search

Cons: where it falls short

  • macOS build is not signed or notarised
  • Global hotkeys may not work under Wayland on Linux

Who ueli is for

People who switch between Windows, macOS and Linux and want one launcher.

Who can skip it

Mac-only users happy with Spotlight or Alfred.

Compare ueli

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

ueli alternatives

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

All Workflows resources

Rectangle

Focus: window manager and window snapping. Shares open source and raycast alternative with ueli. A Mac app, not a desktop app. Rated 4.7 (ueli: 4.3).

Mac AppFreemacOS
4.7Visit

Maccy

Focus: clipboard manager and clipboard history. Shares open source and raycast alternative with ueli. A Mac app, not a desktop app. Rated 4.6 (ueli: 4.3).

Mac AppFreemacOS
4.6Visit

Heimdall

Focus: dashboard, start page and self-hosting. Shares launcher and open source with ueli. A web app, not a desktop app. Adds Web. Rated 4.5 (ueli: 4.3).

Web AppFreeWeb
4.5Visit

Alfred

Focus: workflows. Shares launcher and keyboard shortcuts with ueli. A Mac app, not a desktop app. Freemium (ueli: Free). Rated 4.7 (ueli: 4.3).

Mac AppFree planmacOS
4.7Visit

Atuin

Focus: shell history, terminal and command line. Shares open source with ueli. Rated 4.7 (ueli: 4.3).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux
4.7Visit

btop

Focus: system monitor, terminal and processes. Shares open source with ueli. Adds Offline. Rated 4.7 (ueli: 4.3).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux
4.7Visit

Free alternatives to ueli

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

htop

Focus: process viewer, system monitor and terminal. Shares open source with ueli. Rated 4.7 (ueli: 4.3).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux
4.7Visit

Microsoft PowerToys

Focus: command palette and windows utilities. Shares launcher and open source with ueli. A Windows app, not a desktop app. Rated 4.7 (ueli: 4.3).

Windows AppFreeWindows
4.7Visit

Flow Launcher

Focus: file search and plugins. Shares launcher and open source with ueli. A Windows app, not a desktop app. Rated 4.6 (ueli: 4.3).

Windows AppFreeWindows
4.6Visit

lazydocker

Focus: docker, containers and terminal ui. Shares open source with ueli. Rated 4.6 (ueli: 4.3).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.6Visit

Tabby

Focus: terminal, ssh and serial. Shares open source with ueli. Rated 4.6 (ueli: 4.3).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.6Visit
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