Albert vs Launchy (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Launchy grades higher than Albert: 3.0 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
Launchy 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 Launchy if
- Fits if you want a small launcher that works the same on Windows, Mac and Linux
- Works for people who want to pay what they feel it is worth
Look elsewhere if
- Watch out: the site doesn't date the stable 2.5 or the 2.6 beta, so it is hard to tell if it is kept up
- Skip it if you want plugins off Windows, as the plugins page is Windows only
- Not for you if you worry about safety of add-ons, since plugins and skins are not vetted by the maker and are used at your own risk
- Pricey if you feel the ask, because the page keeps asking for at least $3
How we grade them
| 2.6GPAAlbertGood | 3.0GPALaunchyVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree, with optional donations. Nothing in the listing costs money. | APay what you want: a free download, with $10 suggested and a request for at least $3. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole app is free to use, with no tiers. | ADownloading is free with nothing locked, though the vendor asks you to consider paying at least $3. |
| 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. | CStart menu indexing, plugins and skins. The plugins are Windows only and come from other developers, so the core job is covered but unevenly across systems. |
| 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. | BNo store rating on record, but you install it and type; nothing needs setting up first. |
| Platforms and integrations | CMac and Linux only. No Windows version, as the install page says. | CWindows, macOS and Linux builds, computers only, with no phone or web version. |
| Best for | a keyboard launcher for Mac and Linux | a small launcher 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 Launchy. 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. Launchy has no paid plan and scores 2.3.
Launchy 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 Launchy 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
- Launchy is open source, according to its own site.
At a glance
| Albert | Launchy | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free; the site accepts optional donations. | Pay what you want: it can be downloaded for free, with a suggested payment of $10 and a request to consider at least $3. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Manuel Schneider | Josh Karlin |
| Price read from | albertlauncher.github.io | launchy.net |
| 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.
Launchy
- The latest stable version is 2.5, and the newest beta listed is 2.6 Beta 2; the site does not date either.
- The plugins page is Windows only, and its author says third-party plugins are used at your own risk.
- Plugins and skins come from other developers, with no vetting by the maker.
- The Android app mentioned on the site is a separate product.
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.
Launchy
- Start menu indexing
- Indexes the programs in the start menu and launches documents, project files, folders and bookmarks from a few keystrokes.
- Plugins
- Windows-only plugins from other developers cover tasks such as killing processes, a calculator and PuTTY sessions.
- Plugin development
- Plugins can be written in C++, or with add-ons in .NET or Python.
- Skins
- The look of the launcher can be changed with skins found in the Launchy forums.
- Several operating systems
- The download page lists builds for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux, with a source tarball.
Plans
Albert
Free$0
Free to use; donations are optional.
Launchy
Pay what you want$0
Free download; the vendor suggests $10 and asks for at least $3, with options from $3 to $100.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Albert or Launchy?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Albert and Launchy are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Albert or Launchy?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Albert and Launchy have a free plan.
Which platforms do Albert and Launchy run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Launchy 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.