Alternatives · Utilities
Quicksilver alternatives
Quicksilver compared with 4 alternatives: Alfred, Raycast, LaunchBar and Ueli.
Quicksilver is free to use. All 4 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
4 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| QuicksilverThis tool | Free | Free | macOS |
| Alfred | Free plan · from £34 one-time | Yes | macOS |
| Raycast | Free plan · from $96/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Browser extension |
| LaunchBar | Free plan · from €35 one-time | Yes | macOS |
| Ueli | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
How each one differs from Quicksilver
- Free plan · from £34 one-time
Alfred
Mac launcher with hotkeys, snippets and custom workflows
- Alfred starts at £34 one-time purchase (Powerpack Single License). Quicksilver is free.
- Alfred can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Quicksilver is open source, according to its own site.
- Alfred also covers workflow automation and text expansion.
Suits: Mac users who want a keyboard launcher without a subscription
- Free plan · from $96/yr
Raycast
Keyboard launcher with extensions, clipboard history and AI
- Raycast starts at $96 / year, billed annually. Quicksilver is free.
- Only Raycast lists Windows and iOS apps.
- Only Raycast lists a browser extension.
- Quicksilver is open source, according to its own site.
- Raycast also covers window management and text expansion.
Suits: Mac and Windows users who prefer the keyboard to the mouse
- Free plan · from €35 one-time
LaunchBar
Keyboard launcher for Mac with clipboard history and actions
- LaunchBar starts at 35 € one-time purchase (Single License). Quicksilver is free.
- LaunchBar can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Quicksilver is open source, according to its own site.
- LaunchBar also covers file management and calculator.
Suits: Mac users who want to keep their hands on the keyboard
- Free
Ueli
Cross-platform keystroke launcher for Windows, macOS and Linux
- Ueli is free. Quicksilver is free.
- Only Ueli lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Ueli also covers calculator.
- Quicksilver also covers clipboard manager.
Suits: People who want the same launcher on Windows, macOS and Linux
Limits worth knowing in Quicksilver
- macOS only; the latest version runs on macOS 10.14 or later, with older releases kept for older systems.
- Many features come from plugins, which have to be installed and enabled before they show up.
- It is maintained by volunteer contributors and relies on donations for hosting and development costs.
- On startup it contacts qs0.qsapp.com to check for new versions, which the manual notes a network monitor may flag.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Quicksilver?
The alternatives to Quicksilver in this directory are Alfred, Raycast, LaunchBar and Ueli. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Quicksilver.
Is there a free alternative to Quicksilver?
Yes. Ueli is free to use. Alfred, Raycast and LaunchBar have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Quicksilver alternatives work on Windows?
The Quicksilver listing does not include a Windows app. Raycast and Ueli list one.
Which Quicksilver alternatives work on Linux?
The Quicksilver listing does not include a Linux app. Ueli lists one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
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