Desktop Utilities
Free desktop utilities
64 of the 94 desktop utilities in this directory are free or have a free plan.
37 have no paid plan at all. The rest pair a free plan with paid ones, and the table says what each free plan includes.
Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
| Tool | Price | What is free |
|---|---|---|
| RaycastKeyboard launcher with extensions, clipboard history and AI | Free plan · from $96/yr | Core features such as clipboard history (kept 3 months), snippets, quicklinks, calculator and window management, the extension store, and up to 5 Raycast Notes. AI is not included. |
| AlfredMac launcher with hotkeys, snippets and custom workflows | Free plan · from £34 one-time | The core of Alfred is free to use forever, covering app, file and web search. Powerpack features such as workflows, clipboard history and snippets are not included. |
| RectangleFree, open-source window snapping for macOS | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| TextExpanderText snippets that expand as you type, shared across a team | Free plan · from $5/mo | 5 active snippets with unlimited stored, 1 snippet swap every 2 weeks, sync across devices, and sharing with up to 5 team members across 3 teams. |
| Microsoft PowerToysFree Microsoft utilities for customizing Windows 10 and 11 | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| AutoHotkeyFree, open-source scripting language for Windows automation | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| Karabiner-ElementsFree, open-source keyboard customizer for macOS | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| EverythingInstant file and folder name search for Windows | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| 7-ZipFree, open-source file archiver with the 7z format | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| MaccyLightweight, open-source clipboard manager for macOS | Free plan · from $4.99 | The full app is free from the GitHub releases page or Homebrew. The paid website and Mac App Store downloads are the same app, sold to support development. |
| StatsFree, open-source system monitor for the Mac menu bar | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| DittoFree, open-source clipboard manager for Windows | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| ShareXFree, open-source screenshot and screen recording for Windows | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| HammerspoonFree, open-source macOS automation scripted in Lua | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| LaunchBarKeyboard launcher for Mac with clipboard history and actions | Free plan · from €35 one-time | Beyond the 30-day trial, LaunchBar 6 can be used for free as long and as often as you like. Without registration it occasionally invites you to take a short break. |
| CCleanerJunk cleaner and PC optimizer for Windows, Mac and mobile | Free plan · from $44.95/yr | CCleaner Free: standard cleaning, standard privacy protection and a basic Health Check. Performance Optimizer, Driver Updater and automatic cleaning are paid. |
| Flow LauncherFree, open-source app launcher and file search for Windows | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| ListaryFile search and app launcher for Windows with Quick Switch | Free plan · from $19.95 one-time | Free forever for personal use: basic file search, app launching, filters, commands and the basic UI theme. Commercial use is not allowed on the free plan. |
| AltTabWindows-style window switcher for macOS, free and open source | Free plan · from $9.99 one-time | AltTab (free): core window switching with thumbnails, preview, window controls, trackpad gestures and custom shortcuts, at no cost for personal or business use. |
| BetterDisplayDisplay scaling, brightness and DDC control for Mac | Free plan · from $21.99 one-time | Non-business users keep the free features after the trial: DDC brightness, volume and input control, software dimming, the resolution slider and basic virtual screens. The terms say there are no purchase pop-ups or ads. |
| EspansoOpen-source text expander for Windows, macOS and Linux | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| LocalSendOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| AppCleanerSmall Mac utility that uninstalls apps and their leftover files | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| The UnarchiverFree Mac app that opens RAR, 7z, Zip and many older archives | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| KekaFile archiver for macOS and iOS with drag-and-drop compression | Free plan · from $3.99 one-time | The full macOS app is a free download from keka.io. The site says the Mac App Store copy is the same app, bought to support development, and tips are optional. |
| ShottrSmall Mac screenshot tool with annotation, OCR and a ruler | Free plan · from $12 one-time | Free to use for as long as you want, with most features available. After 30 days the app starts asking you to consider upgrading. Commercial use requires a license. |
| GreenshotFree, open-source screenshot tool for Windows with an editor | Free plan · from $1.99 one-time | Greenshot for Windows is free and open source under the GNU GPL, at no charge for private or commercial use. Only the Mac version is paid. |
| f.luxWarms your screen's color at night to match the time of day | Free plan · from $24 one-time | The personal version is free on macOS and Linux, and free on Windows for personal use. Using it on a work computer needs your employer's knowledge and permission. |
| AeroSpaceFree, open-source i3-like tiling window manager for macOS | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| AmethystFree, open-source automatic tiling window manager for macOS | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| LoopFree, open-source macOS window manager with a radial menu | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| ThawFree, open-source menu bar manager for macOS | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| Hidden BarFree, open-source utility that hides macOS menu bar icons | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| AlDenteCharge limiter and battery care app for MacBooks | Free plan · from $13.99/yr | AlDente Free includes the Charge Limiter and manual Discharge. It cannot control charging while the MacBook is asleep or shut down. |
| MonitorControlFree, open-source brightness and volume control for Mac displays | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| Text BlazeText expander with forms, formulas and shared team snippets | Free plan · from $2.99/mo | Free forever: a limited number of snippets and limited sharing, plus Autopilot and Data Blaze access. A 2024 staff post on the vendor's forum put the cap at 20 active snippets. |
| PhraseExpressText expander and template manager with on-premise sharing | Free plan | Free for personal use on Windows and Mac; license reminders start after 30 days of professional use or use of commercial-edition features. The iPhone and iPad app is free. |
| aTextLow-cost text expander for macOS and Windows | Free plan · from $4.99/yr | The Windows app is a free download with paid Premium features, and the buy page refers to a free version. The vendor's pages do not list what the free version leaves out. |
| CopyQOpen-source clipboard manager with tabs, commands and scripting | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| CopyClipText-only clipboard manager for the Mac menu bar | Free plan · from $7.99 one-time | The original CopyClip is free on the Mac App Store: a text-only clipboard history in the menu bar. Search, pinned clips, direct pasting and themes are only in the paid CopyClip 2, a separate app. |
| ClipClipWindows clipboard manager with editors and screen capture | Free plan · from $49 one-time | Personal License: free for personal productivity, schoolwork and hobby or side projects, with no registration or credit card. Commercial or income-generating use calls for the paid license. |
| DisplayFusionMulti-monitor taskbars, wallpaper and window control for Windows | Free plan · from $34 one-time | Free version, for personal use only: per-monitor wallpaper, monitor configuration, TitleBar Buttons, key combinations and edge snapping. No multi-monitor taskbars, profiles, Triggers or monitor fading. |
| KomorebiTiling window manager for Windows, with a separate Mac version | Free plan · from $10/mo | Free for personal use under the Komorebi License 2.0.0, with the whole window manager included. The license permits no commercial use, so using it at work needs a paid license. |
| WizTreeFast disk space analyzer for Windows and macOS | Free plan · from $25 one-time | Free for personal use with every scanning feature. Commercial use is not allowed, a Donate button is shown, exports carry a donation message and there is no support. |
| WinDirStatFree, open-source disk usage analyzer for Windows | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| FilesOpen-source file manager for Windows with tabs and dual pane | Free plan · from $12.99 one-time | The app is free through the classic installer, a PowerShell command or the offline packages. The Microsoft Store version is the paid way to get it, sold to support the project. |
| QuicksilverFree, open-source keyboard launcher for macOS | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| UeliCross-platform keystroke launcher for Windows, macOS and Linux | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| DropzoneDrag-and-drop action grid and file shelf for the Mac menu bar | Free plan · from $4.99/mo | Free download with the action grid, Drop Bar and built-in actions for opening apps and moving or copying files. The vendor lists Amazon S3, SFTP, add-on actions, unlimited grids and more as Pro features. |
| LinearMouseFree, open-source mouse and trackpad customizer for Mac | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| DockDoorFree Dock window previews and Alt-Tab switcher for macOS | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| SwiftBarOpen-source tool that puts script output in the Mac menu bar | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| boring.notchTurns the MacBook notch into a music player and file shelf | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| OnyXFree maintenance, cleaning and tweaking utility for macOS | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| PearcleanerFree, source-available app uninstaller and cleaner for Mac | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| BleachBitFree, open-source disk cleaner for Windows and Linux | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| EarTrumpetPer-app volume mixer for the Windows system tray | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| Twinkle TrayFree brightness sliders for external monitors on Windows | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| KeepingYouAwakeMenu bar utility that stops a Mac from going to sleep | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| NumiText-based calculator for Mac with unit and currency conversion | Free plan · from $29.99 one-time | Free download. A license activates unlimited notes and iCloud sync, and the changelog says creating a new note requires activation; the vendor does not state the free note limit. |
| NiniteInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once | Free plan · from $1/yr | The Ninite website is free for home use, with no ads or junkware: pick apps and download one installer that also updates them. The free version is for personal use only. |
| UniGetUIFree graphical front end for WinGet, Scoop, Chocolatey and more | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| FlameshotFree, open-source screenshot tool with on-screen annotation | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| TeraCopyFile copy and move tool for Windows with checksum verification | Free plan · from $34.95 one-time | The free version does not expire and includes verification, checksum files, locked-file copying, Explorer integration and secure delete, with up to 2 copy threads. It is not licensed for commercial use. |
Common questions
Which desktop utilities are free?
64 of the 94 desktop utilities in this directory are free or have a free plan. They are Raycast, Alfred, Rectangle, TextExpander, Microsoft PowerToys, AutoHotkey, Karabiner-Elements, Everything, 7-Zip, Maccy, Stats, Ditto, ShareX, Hammerspoon, LaunchBar and 49 more.
Which desktop utilities are free with no paid plan?
Rectangle, Microsoft PowerToys, AutoHotkey, Karabiner-Elements, Everything, 7-Zip, Stats, Ditto, ShareX, Hammerspoon, Flow Launcher, Espanso, LocalSend, AppCleaner, The Unarchiver and 22 more have no paid plan. The others on this page limit the free plan and sell paid ones.
When was this checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
This page is built from the listings. A tool is here because its listing says so, and each listing names the pages it was read from.