Cerebro vs Vicinae (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Cerebro and Vicinae share a 2.8 GPA, both are free, so the choice depends on which features you need.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on all five counts.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
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
Pick Vicinae if
- Fits if you run Linux and miss a Raycast-style launcher
- Works for people who want Raycast extensions without paying for Raycast
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you have an Intel Mac, because the macOS build is Apple Silicon only
- Not for you if you need every Raycast extension to work, as compatibility varies by extension
- Tight if you want a rated, polished installer, since no store rating is on record
- Watch out: custom extensions are written in React and TypeScript, so going beyond the built-ins takes some coding
How we grade them
| 2.8GPACerebroGood | 2.8GPAVicinaeGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree and open source, with the plugin manager included. | AFree to download and run, with no paid tier in the docs, against a category where the cheaper quarter of paid tools starts at $0.83 a month. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole app is free, with no paid plan. | ANothing is locked: the docs list no paid plan, so the whole launcher is free with no cap. |
| Features | 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. | CApp launching, window switching, clipboard history and a calculator, but the docs say Raycast extensions run with varying results. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. It installs like any app, but plugins are where the extra features live. | CNo store rating on record, and extensions, script commands and dmenu mode mean some setup before it fits your routine. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWindows, Mac and Linux downloads, computers only, with no phone or web version. | CLinux, macOS and Windows, but computers only, with no phone or web side and Raycast extensions as the only integration listed. |
| Best for | a free launcher with plugins on Windows, Mac and Linux | a Raycast-style launcher on 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: Cerebro and Vicinae. How we grade
Price against what you get
Cerebro has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Vicinae has no paid plan and scores 2.0.
On this chart the two sit in the same place: the same score for the same starting price. Of the other window managers and launchers on the chart, none scores higher than Cerebro for less, and none scores higher than Vicinae 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
- Vicinae also covers clipboard manager, window management and calculator.
In commonFree planWindowsmacOSLinuxOpen sourceKeyboard-firstLauncher
At a glance
| Cerebro | Vicinae | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free and open source, per the vendor. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | CerebroApp | Vicinae |
| Price read from | cerebroapp.com | docs.vicinae.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
Vicinae
- The macOS build is for Apple Silicon Macs only, per the install page.
- Compatibility with Raycast extensions varies by extension.
Key features
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.
Vicinae
- App launcher and window switcher
- Opens apps and switches between open windows from a keyboard-driven palette.
- Clipboard history
- Works as a clipboard manager alongside the launcher.
- Raycast extension support
- The docs say many Raycast extensions run, with varying results; simpler ones work well.
- Extensions and scripts
- Extend it with dmenu mode, script commands or React and TypeScript extensions, installable from within the app.
- Theming and window APIs
- Offers theming and window management APIs that the docs contrast with Raycast's paid tier.
Plans
Cerebro
Free$0
The whole application, including the plugin manager.
Vicinae
Free$0
The docs list no paid tier; the project describes itself as unlocking features Raycast charges for.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Cerebro or Vicinae?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Cerebro and Vicinae are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Cerebro or Vicinae?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Cerebro and Vicinae have a free plan.
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.