Albert vs Cerebro (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Cerebro grades higher than Albert: 2.8 against 2.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Cerebro grades higher on ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
Pick Albert if
- Fits if you live on the keyboard and run a Mac or Linux
- Works for people happy to install from a Homebrew tap
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you need Windows, which is not supported yet
- Skip it if you want window snapping, as it doesn't resize or tile windows
- Watch out: the Mac app is unsigned and installing it disables Gatekeeper for it
- Watch out: its own license allows personal use and bars redistributing modified versions, so it's not open source
Pick Cerebro if
- Fits if you want one free launcher across Windows, Mac and Linux
- Works for developers who want to write JavaScript plugins
Look elsewhere if
- Watch out: every download is 0.11.0 and the footer reads 2023, so updates may be slow
- Skip it if you want features out of the box, because most extras are community plugins
- Tight if your machine is short on memory, as it is built on Electron
- Not for you if you want paid support, since it is run by a small team of volunteers
How we grade them
| 2.6GPAAlbertGood | 2.8GPACerebroGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree, with optional donations. Nothing in the listing costs money. | AFree and open source, with the plugin manager included. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole app is free to use, with no tiers. | AThe whole app is free, with no paid plan. |
| Features | CA plugin system with bundled plugins and extension APIs. It launches and searches, and doesn't arrange windows, which is what this category is for. | CSearches files, apps and the web and shows maps and translations in place. Beyond basic search it relies on community plugins, and the site lists more than 10 official ones. |
| Ease of use | DOn a Mac you install it through a Homebrew tap, and the cask turns off Gatekeeper for the unsigned app. That's a command line job. | CNo store rating on record. It installs like any app, but plugins are where the extra features live. |
| Platforms and integrations | CMac and Linux only. No Windows version, as the install page says. | CWindows, Mac and Linux downloads, computers only, with no phone or web version. |
| Best for | a keyboard launcher for Mac and Linux | a free launcher with plugins on Windows, Mac and Linux |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Albert and Cerebro. How we grade
Price against what you get
Albert has no paid plan and scores 1.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Cerebro has no paid plan and scores 2.0.
Cerebro scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other window managers and launchers on the chart, none scores higher than Albert for less, and none scores higher than Cerebro for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Cerebro is open source, according to its own site.
At a glance
| Albert | Cerebro | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free; the site accepts optional donations. | Free and open source, per the vendor. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Manuel Schneider | CerebroApp |
| Price read from | albertlauncher.github.io | cerebroapp.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Albert
- No Windows version; the install page says Windows is not supported yet.
- The macOS app is unsigned, installed through a Homebrew tap, and the cask disables Gatekeeper for it.
- Under Albert's own license, not an open-source one: it permits personal use and bars redistributing modified versions, and forbids binaries targeting Microsoft or Apple platforms.
Cerebro
- It is built on Electron, which the vendor describes as its main cross-platform route.
- The site lists version 0.11.0 for all systems and its footer reads 2023, so it may be updated slowly.
- Functionality beyond basic search depends on community plugins.
- It is run by a small team of volunteers; no paid support is offered.
Key features
Albert
- Plugin system
- Functionality comes from plugins, so it can act as an app launcher or a system command palette.
- Bundled plugins
- Ships with a set of maintained plugins out of the box.
- Extension APIs
- Write extensions in C++ or Python.
- Fast keyboard use
- Speed is a stated design goal.
Cerebro
- Unified search
- Searches files and applications on the machine and the internet from a single box.
- Results in place
- Shows maps, translations and search suggestions without opening another app, and can reveal a file or copy contact details.
- Plugin manager
- Installs plugins from inside the app, with more than 10 official plugins listed.
- Plugin API
- A documented API lets developers build and share their own plugins.
- Cross-platform
- Downloads are offered for Windows, Mac and Linux.
Plans
Albert
Free$0
Free to use; donations are optional.
Cerebro
Free$0
The whole application, including the plugin manager.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Albert or Cerebro?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Albert and Cerebro are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Albert or Cerebro?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Albert and Cerebro have a free plan.
Which platforms do Albert and Cerebro run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Cerebro lists a Windows app. Both list macOS and Linux apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.