Alfred vs LaunchBar

Alfred

• Mac users who want a keyboard launcher without a subscription
• People who automate repetitive tasks with their own workflows
• Buyers who want to pay once, with optional lifetime upgrades

LaunchBar

• Mac users who want to keep their hands on the keyboard
• People who prefer a launcher license bought once over a subscription
• Scripters who extend their launcher with AppleScript or JavaScript actions

Alfred

• macOS only (10.14 or later). Alfred Remote for iOS is a separate purchase on the App Store.
• Clipboard history, snippets, workflows and file actions all require the paid Powerpack.
• Prices are shown in pounds sterling only; the vendor's site gives no US dollar price.
• The Single License is tied to Alfred 5; moving to a later major version is a discounted paid upgrade unless you hold Mega Supporter.

LaunchBar

• macOS only. Version 6.24 runs on macOS Tahoe and is also compatible with Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura and Monterey.
• Without a license, LaunchBar occasionally interrupts with an invitation to take a short break.
• Prices are shown in euros; the vendor's shop gave no US dollar price when it was read.
• The Family License is limited to one household and non-commercial use, and a Single License does not cover several users on several computers.

Alfred

App, file and web search

Launch apps, find files on your Mac and search websites with default or custom search keywords, all from one search bar.

Workflows

A Powerpack feature that connects triggers and actions like building blocks to automate tasks without code. Thousands of community workflows can be imported.

Clipboard History

With the Powerpack, Alfred keeps the text, images and file links you copy for 24 hours, 7 days, 1 month or 3 months, so an earlier item can be found and pasted again.

Snippets and text expansion

With the Powerpack, saved snippets expand automatically when you type a short keyword.

File actions and Terminal commands

The Powerpack adds actions on files, such as emailing, moving, copying and revealing in Finder, and runs Terminal commands and scripts from Alfred.

System commands and hotkeys

Sleep the Mac, empty the Trash or start the screensaver with a keyword. The Powerpack adds custom hotkeys and keywords for apps and sites.

LaunchBar

Adaptive abbreviation search

Finds apps, documents and other items from short acronyms of their names, such as SP for System Preferences. The ranking of results adapts to your usage.

Clipboard History and ClipMerge

Recently copied items stay available, with a paste-as-plain-text option and an ignore list for sensitive data. Pressing Command-C twice merges successive copies into one clip.

Send To and Instant Send

Tab sends the selected item to an app, a folder, an email contact or a search template. Holding Command-Space sends a file or text selection from another app to LaunchBar.

File browsing and operations

Navigate the file system with the arrow keys, including inside packages, and move, rename, compress or tag files and create folders from the keyboard.

Calendar, Reminders and Contacts

Create calendar events and reminders with live feedback on what will be created, and reach contacts to start an email or look up a phone number or address.

Scriptable actions

Custom actions can be written in JavaScript, AppleScript, Ruby, Python, PHP and other languages with the built-in Action Editor, or installed from other users.

Alfred

• Alfred (free)£0

  The core launcher for searching your Mac and the web. Free to use in a personal, educational or business setting.

• Powerpack Single License£34

  one-time purchase, license for Alfred 5

  Unlocks the Powerpack for one user on Alfred 5: workflows, clipboard history, snippets, file actions, themes and settings sync.

• Powerpack Mega Supporter£59

  one-time purchase, free lifetime upgrades

  The same Powerpack features for one user, with free upgrades to future versions of Alfred.

LaunchBar

• Free use0 €

  LaunchBar 6 without a license. It keeps working after the 30-day trial but occasionally asks you to take a short break.

• Single License35 €

  one-time purchase, license for LaunchBar 6

  Either one user on multiple computers or multiple users on one computer, but not multiple users on multiple computers.

• Family License59 €

  one-time purchase, license for LaunchBar 6

  Up to 5 computers at a time that belong to one household. Non-commercial use only.

Alfred

• Lifetime license

  Mega Supporter license with free lifetime upgrades

  The £59 Mega Supporter license includes free upgrades to future versions of Alfred. The £34 Single License covers Alfred 5.

• Other savings

  Upgrade discount for older licenses

  Holders of a Single User or Family license for an earlier version of Alfred can upgrade to the current Powerpack at a discount.

LaunchBar

• Other savings

  Reduced-price upgrades for existing licenses

  The order page offers upgrades at a reduced price: owners enter their license key to check which upgrade options are available.