Albert vs Wox (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, we pick Wox: it is third in our ranking of window managers and launchers, and it grades higher too, 2.8 against 2.6.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Wox 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 Wox if
- Fits if you use more than one desktop operating system and want the same launcher on each
- Works for people who want to write their own plugins in Node.js or Python
Look elsewhere if
- Watch out: AI chat and AI commands need a model, and the pages don't say if one is included or needs your own key
- Skip it if you want paid support, because it is a community project with none stated
- Tight if you use Linux, as the install routes are mainly package managers
- Not for you if you remember the old wox.one site, which is no longer the project's home
How we grade them
| 2.6GPAAlbertGood | 2.8GPAWoxGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree, with optional donations. Nothing in the listing costs money. | AThe whole program is free under the GPL-3.0 license, including the plugin and theme stores. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole app is free to use, with no tiers. | ANo paid plan and no caps on the listing. |
| 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. | CApp and file launching, clipboard history, a converter, notes, window layouts, plugins and AI chat. The AI side is vague about what it needs to run. |
| 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. Plugins and themes come from stores, and Linux installs are mainly through package managers such as AUR. |
| Platforms and integrations | CMac and Linux only. No Windows version, as the install page says. | CWindows, macOS and Linux, but computers only, with no phone or web version. |
| Best for | a keyboard launcher for Mac and Linux | a free 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 Wox. 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. Wox has no paid plan and scores 2.0.
Wox 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 Wox 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
- Wox is open source, according to its own site.
- Wox also covers clipboard manager and window management.
At a glance
| Albert | Wox | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free; the site accepts optional donations. | The whole program is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Manuel Schneider | Wox Launcher |
| Price read from | albertlauncher.github.io | woxlauncher.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.
Wox
- Linux support is listed, but the install options are mainly package managers such as AUR.
- AI chat and AI commands need access to a model; the pages read do not say whether that is included or needs your own key.
- The domain wox.one is no longer the project's site; the project now lives at woxlauncher.com.
- It is a community project with no paid support option stated.
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.
Wox
- App and file launching
- Opens applications, switches windows and searches local files and folders from the launcher.
- Built-in utilities
- Clipboard history, a calculator, a converter for units, currencies, dates and time zones, floating notes and screen-area capture.
- Window layouts
- Arranges windows and restores saved layouts.
- Plugins and themes
- Extends the launcher with Node.js, Python or script plugins from a plugin store, and offers community themes.
- AI chat and commands
- Includes AI chat, reusable AI commands, and AI-assisted plugin and theme creation.
- Cloud sync and backup
- Syncs settings across devices and backs them up and restores them.
Plans
Albert
Free$0
Free to use; donations are optional.
Wox
Free$0
All built-in features and the plugin and theme stores.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Albert or Wox?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Albert and Wox are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Albert or Wox?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Albert and Wox have a free plan.
Which platforms do Albert and Wox run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Wox 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.