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ToolGPA

Albert vs Keypirinha (2026): which should you pick?

As of Nov 13, 2026, Albert grades higher than Keypirinha: 2.6 against 2.4 out of 4.0.

Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA

Albert grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and ease of use.

Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.

Albert

Plugin-based keyboard launcher for Linux and macOS

Free
Full detailsalbertlauncher.github.io

Keypirinha

Free keyboard launcher for Windows with Python plugins

Free
Full detailskeypirinha.com

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 Keypirinha if

  • Fits if you are on Windows and happy to edit config files
  • Works for people who want to carry a launcher on a portable folder

Look elsewhere if

  • Skip it if you want to click through a setup screen, because settings are in files and the vendor calls the curve steep
  • Watch out: the latest release is 2.26 from November 2020, and the install page lists Windows only up to 10
  • Not for you if you want open source, as the license permits redistributing unmodified binaries only
  • Skip it if you use macOS or Linux

How we grade them

2.6GPAAlbertGood2.4GPAKeypirinhaFair
Value for money
AFree, with optional donations. Nothing in the listing costs money.
AFreeware with no nag screen, time limit or ads, per the vendor.
Free plan and trial
AThe whole app is free to use, with no tiers.
AThe whole program is free, with no paid tier.
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.
CLaunches apps, files, bookmarks and sessions, runs searches, translates, calculates and hashes strings. It is a launcher, and that is the job it does.
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.
DNo store rating. Configuration lives in files, there is no installer, and the vendor says the learning curve is steep.
Platforms and integrations
CMac and Linux only. No Windows version, as the install page says.
DWindows only, and the install page lists Windows 7 through 10.
Best fora keyboard launcher for Mac and Linuxa keyboard-only launcher on Windows

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 Keypirinha. 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. Keypirinha has no paid plan and scores 1.3.

Albert 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 Keypirinha for less.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

D1.0C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$0.5$1$2$5$10More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessAlbertKeypirinha

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
The full chart of window managers and launchers, and the best at every price

Where they differ

    In commonFree planKeyboard-firstLauncher

    At a glance

    AlbertKeypirinha
    PricingFreeFree
    Starts atFreeFree
    Free planFree; the site accepts optional donations.Freeware with no nag screen, no time limit and no ads, per the vendor.
    Free trialNone listedNone listed
    macOS
    Windows
    Linux
    Made byManuel SchneiderJean-Charles Lefebvre
    Price read fromalbertlauncher.github.iokeypirinha.com
    CheckedNov 12, 2026Nov 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.

    Keypirinha

    • Windows only; the install page lists Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10.
    • The latest release is 2.26 from November 2020.
    • The vendor itself calls the learning curve steep, and there is no installer, only an archive.
    • Its license allows redistribution of unmodified binaries only; the program is not described as open source.

    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.

    Keypirinha

    Item launcher
    Finds applications, files, bookmarks, URLs, sessions (PuTTY, WinSCP, FileZilla) and registry keys, and switches to a running application by name.
    Web and dictionary search
    Launches a search on any configured website or online dictionary and offers on-the-fly language translation.
    Calculation and conversion
    Evaluates math expressions and converts numbers between bases.
    Developer helpers
    Hashes strings, generates random UUIDs and passwords, and splits a URL's arguments into JSON.
    Packages
    A C++ core with Python 3 plugins, with shipped and third-party packages.
    File-driven configuration
    Settings live in files, with separate machine-specific and user-specific configuration, and the GUI's colors and fonts can be changed.

    Plans

    Albert

    • Free$0

      Free to use; donations are optional.

    Keypirinha

    • Free$0

      The whole program, in a portable archive with no installer.

    Common questions

    Which is cheaper, Albert or Keypirinha?

    As of Nov 13, 2026, both Albert and Keypirinha are free to use.

    Which has a free plan, Albert or Keypirinha?

    As of Nov 13, 2026, both Albert and Keypirinha have a free plan.

    Which platforms do Albert and Keypirinha run on?

    As of Nov 13, 2026, only Albert lists macOS and Linux apps and only Keypirinha lists a Windows app. 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.
    How we review and grade