Fluent Search vs Launchy (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Launchy grades higher than Fluent Search: 3.0 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Launchy grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Fluent Search
Windows search tool for files, apps, tabs and open windows
Which one is for you
Pick Fluent Search if
- Fits if you want one box that finds files, apps and open tabs on Windows
- Works for people who want to drive the screen from the keyboard
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you use a Mac or Linux machine, as it runs only on Windows
- Too light for arranging windows, since it focuses on search
- Skip it if you want the proven build: the site describes ARM64 as newer and less proven
- Watch out: the site asks for donations but states no paid plan, so its funding is not shown
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
| 2.8GPAFluent SearchGood | 3.0GPALaunchyVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AThe downloads carry no price, and the page only asks for optional donations. | APay what you want: a free download, with $10 suggested and a request for at least $3. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright, with installers, portable builds and a Microsoft Store listing. | ADownloading is free with nothing locked, though the vendor asks you to consider paying at least $3. |
| Features | CSearch across the PC, a native file indexer, screen search, plugins and tags. It is a search tool, so it covers little of what a window manager does. | 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 | BNo store rating is on record, but you install it and type into one box. | BNo store rating on record, but you install it and type; nothing needs setting up first. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only, on x64 and ARM64. No Mac, Linux or phone version. | CWindows, macOS and Linux builds, computers only, with no phone or web version. |
| Best for | one search box for files, apps and tabs 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: Fluent Search and Launchy. How we grade
Price against what you get
Fluent Search has no paid plan and scores 2.0 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 Fluent Search 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
- Launchy is open source, according to its own site.
- Fluent Search also covers window management.
At a glance
| Fluent Search | Launchy | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | None | 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 | Fluent Search | Josh Karlin |
| Price read from | fluentsearch.net | launchy.net |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Fluent Search
- Windows only, on x64 and ARM64; the ARM64 build is described by the site as newer and less proven.
- The site asks for donations but states no paid plan, so how it is funded is not shown.
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
Fluent Search
- Search across the PC
- Looks up files, browser tabs, history, apps and open windows from one search interface.
- Native file indexer
- Scans files with an indexer that the site says keeps CPU use low.
- Screen Search
- Lets you move around the screen using only the keyboard, without a mouse.
- Plugins
- Extends search with community-developed plugins.
- Search tags
- A tag system narrows results to the kind of item you want.
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
Fluent Search
Free$0
The downloads on the site carry no price; the page only asks for optional donations.
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, Fluent Search or Launchy?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Fluent Search and Launchy are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Fluent Search or Launchy?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Fluent Search and Launchy have a free plan.
Which platforms do Fluent Search 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.