Comparison of desktop application launchers

Computer programs that help users launch other software

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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

[edit]

Main article: List of Android launchers

## Windows

[edit]

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

| Creator  | Latest stable version  | Release date  | Software license | Open source | Programming language | Plugin support

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Flow Launcher | Jeremy Wu  | 1.19.2  | September 24, 2024 |  MIT | Yes  | C# | Yes
Appetizer | Laurent Cozic  | 1.4.6.494  | February 13, 2010 | GPL | Yes  | C++, wxWidgets | Yes
ASuite | SalvadorSoftware  | 2.0  | April 20, 2020 | GPL | Yes  | Delphi | No
Classic Shell | Ivo Beltchev  | 4.3.1  | August 12, 2017 |  MIT | Yes  | C++ | Yes[note 1]
Keypirinha  | Jean-Charles Lefebvre  | 2.26  | November 18, 2020 | Freeware | No  | ?  | Yes
LiberKey | Captel SARL  | 5.8.1129  | November 30, 2015 | Proprietary | No  | ?  | No
Microsoft PowerToys Run | Microsoft | 0.73.0  | August 23, 2023 |  MIT | Yes  | C++, C# | Yes
PortableApps.com Platform | Rare Ideas, LLC  | 15.0.2  | May 17, 2018 | GPL | Yes[note 2] | Delphi | No
Quick Access Popup | Jean Lalonde  | 11.5.10  | November 7, 2022 | Freeware | Yes  | AutoHotkey | No
SliderDock | Dimitri Roozendaal  | 1.21  | October 11, 2010 | Creative Commons | No  | ?  | No
SyMenu  | Gianluca Negrelli  | 7.00.8038 [1] | January 3, 2022 | Freeware | No  | C# | Yes
Wox  | Qianli Feng  | v1.3.524  | February 24, 2018 | Freeware | Yes  | C# | Yes
XIA Links  | CENTREL Solutions  | 4.2.12 [2] | July 1, 2021 | Proprietary | No  | C# | No

1. ^ Via shell namespace extensions inside the menu
2. ^ PortableApps.com branding is trademarked

## Linux

[edit]

These desktop application launchers work with Linux operating systems only.

| Creator  | Latest stable version  | Release date  | OS  | Software license | Open source | Programming language | Plugin support

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Albert Launcher | Manuel Schneider  | 0.18  | December 27, 2022 | Linux | ALL | No (Source available  | C++ (Qt)  | Yes
9menu | Arnold Robbins  | 1.8  | June 1, 2004 | Linux | GPL | Yes  | C | No
Avant Window Navigator | Neil J. Patel  | 0.4.2 [3] | November 27, 2013 | Linux | GPL | Yes  | C | Yes
dmenu | dwm developers  | 4.5[4] | December 19, 2011 | Linux | MIT License | Yes  | C | No
GNOME Do | GNOME Do Developers  | 0.95.1[5] | January 23, 2014 | Linux | GPL | Yes  | C# | Yes
Katapult | TDE Developers  | R14.0.6[6] | March 5, 2019 | Linux with TDE | GPL | Yes  | C++ | Yes
Unity Dash | Canonical Ltd. | 7.3.0[7] | June 19, 2014 | Ubuntu | GPLv3 | Yes  | Vala | Yes ("lenses" and "scopes")  |
Synapse | Michal Hruby and Alberto Aldegheri  | 0.2.99.4[8] | April 8, 2018 | Linux | GPLv3 | Yes  | Vala | Yes

## macOS

[edit]

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

| Creator  | Latest stable version  | Release date  | Software license | Open source | Programming language | Plugin support  | Runs on macOS Catalina

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Alfred | Running with Crayons  | 5.5  | March 18, 2024  | Proprietary | No  | Objective-C | Yes  | Yes
Butler | Peter Maurer  | 4.4.8  | January 8, 2024  | Proprietary | No  | Objective-C | Yes  | Yes
DragThing | James Thomson  | 5.9.17  | November 16, 2016  | Proprietary | No  | C++ | Yes  | No
LaunchBar | Objective Development  | 6.19.1  | July 5, 2024  | Proprietary | No  | Objective-C | Yes  | Yes
Quicksilver | Quicksilver Foundation  | 2.4.2  | December 28, 2023  | Apache License | Yes  | Objective-C | Yes  | Yes
Raycast | Raycast Technologies Ltd.  | 1.79.0  | July 17, 2024  | Proprietary | No  | Swift | Yes  | Yes
SpeedDock  | SpeedDock  | 1.9  | November 5, 2019  | Proprietary | No  | Swift | No  | Yes

## Cross platform

[edit]

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

| Creator  | Latest stable version  | Release date  | OS  | Software license | Open source | Programming language | Plugin support  | Runs on macOS Catalina

|
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Launchy | Josh Karlin  | 2.5.0  | April 4, 2010 | Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS | GPL | Yes  | C++ (Qt)  | Yes  | No

## See also

[edit]

* List of dock applications
* Novell ZENworks, software formerly named (and still informally termed) "Novell Application Launcher"

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "SyMenu - What's New: 7.00.8038 [2022.01.03]". www.ugmfree.it. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
2. ^ "XIA Links: Windows Desktop Icon & Shortcut Manager". www.centrel-solutions.com. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
3. ^ "Awn in Launchpad". Launchpad. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
4. ^ "suckless.org software that sucks less". suckless.org. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
5. ^ Rogers, Chris. "Do 0.95.1 released". Launchpad. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
6. ^ "Katapult - Katapult – a general purpose launcher".
7. ^ "Unity". Launchpad. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
8. ^ "synapse-project - [no description]". Git.launchpad.net. Retrieved 4 January 2019.

## External links

[edit]

* John Emmatty (November 2011) A Mouse Free Approach For Working With Your System.
* (in German) Anke Anlauf (14 January 2010), Schmucke PC-Docks wie auf dem Mac (roundup of MS Windows launchers), Softonic OnSoftware
* Peter (October 15, 2008) The State of Linux Docks, linuxhaxor.net
* jdeslip (June 25, 2009) The Best Docks on the Linux Coast, Berkeley Linux Users Group
* Raymond (June 2016) 3 Application Launchers with Automated Portable Software Installation System, Raymond.cc computers, made easy