Executor vs Launchy (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Launchy grades higher than Executor: 3.0 against 2.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Launchy grades higher on ease of use and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
Pick Executor if
- Fits if you want a light Windows launcher with no account
- Works for people who want one command to run several actions
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want plugins, as there is no plugin or extension system
- Watch out: it is written and maintained by one person
- Not for you if you use macOS or Linux, since it is Windows only
- Tight if you want a quick start, because the maker says there is a learning curve
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
| 2.6GPAExecutorGood | 3.0GPALaunchyVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree under an MIT license, including for commercial use. The site has a donate link. | APay what you want: a free download, with $10 suggested and a request for at least $3. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole program is free, with no paid plan. | ADownloading is free with nothing locked, though the vendor asks you to consider paying at least $3. |
| Features | CKeyword launching, multi actions, indexing, clipboard handling and quick calculations. It deliberately has no plugin or extension system. | 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 | CNo store rating on record. Keywords and indexing need setting up, and the maker mentions a learning curve. | BNo store rating on record, but you install it and type; nothing needs setting up first. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only, by the maker's own design, and it needs Windows 7 or later. | CWindows, macOS and Linux builds, computers only, with no phone or web version. |
| Best for | keyword commands on Windows | 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: Executor and Launchy. How we grade
Price against what you get
Executor 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 Executor 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
- Executor also covers clipboard manager and calculator.
In commonFree planWindowsOpen sourceKeyboard-firstLauncher
At a glance
| Executor | Launchy | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free under an MIT license, including for commercial use, per the vendor. | 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 | Martin Bresson | Josh Karlin |
| Price read from | executor.dk | launchy.net |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Executor
- Windows only, by the maker's own design; it requires Windows 7 or later.
- Deliberately opens other apps and sites rather than integrating with them, so there are no plugin or extension systems.
- The maker says there is a learning curve, and the project is authored and maintained by one person.
- The internal browser is resource-heavy like any browser, though optional.
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
Executor
- Fast actions
- Opens applications, files, folders, websites, web services with parameters and prompts, with options such as reassigning the Win key to Executor.
- Multi actions
- Triggers several actions from one command or hotkey, and keeps multi-line queries with spell check in its history.
- Indexing
- Scans applications, control panel items and custom locations, with paths and frequency set in the settings.
- Daily tools
- Clipboard handling, system commands, quick calculations and a manager for running applications.
- Internal browser
- An optional browser that can interact with Executor, for opening an AI service or small sites; it is not loaded by default.
- Skins and settings
- Keywords, appearance, hotkeys and indexing are customizable, with skins and an online skin editor.
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
Executor
Free$0
The whole program; the site also has a donate link.
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, Executor or Launchy?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Executor and Launchy are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Executor or Launchy?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Executor and Launchy have a free plan.
Which platforms do Executor and Launchy run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Launchy lists macOS and Linux apps. Both list a Windows app. 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.