Cerebro 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 they share a 2.8 GPA.
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 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
| 2.8GPACerebroGood | 2.8GPAWoxGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree and open source, with the plugin manager included. | 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, with no paid plan. | ANo paid plan and no caps on the listing. |
| 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 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 | CNo store rating on record. It installs like any app, but plugins are where the extra features live. | 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 | CWindows, Mac and Linux downloads, computers only, with no phone or web version. | CWindows, macOS and Linux, but computers only, with no phone or web version. |
| Best for | a free launcher with plugins on Windows, 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: Cerebro and Wox. 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. Wox 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 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 also covers clipboard manager and window management.
In commonFree planWindowsmacOSLinuxOpen sourceKeyboard-firstLauncher
At a glance
| Cerebro | Wox | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free and open source, per the vendor. | 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 | CerebroApp | Wox Launcher |
| Price read from | cerebroapp.com | woxlauncher.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.
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
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.
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
Cerebro
Free$0
The whole application, including the plugin manager.
Wox
Free$0
All built-in features and the plugin and theme stores.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Cerebro or Wox?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Cerebro and Wox are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Cerebro or Wox?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Cerebro and Wox 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.