Fluent Search 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
Fluent Search grades higher on ease of use. Wox grades higher on 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.
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 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
| 2.8GPAFluent SearchGood | 2.8GPAWoxGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AThe downloads carry no price, and the page only asks for optional donations. | AThe whole program is free under the GPL-3.0 license, including the plugin and theme stores. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright, with installers, portable builds and a Microsoft Store listing. | ANo paid plan and no caps on the listing. |
| 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. | 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 | BNo store rating is on record, but you install it and type into one box. | 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 | DWindows only, on x64 and ARM64. No Mac, Linux or phone version. | CWindows, macOS and Linux, but computers only, with no phone or web version. |
| Best for | one search box for files, apps and tabs on Windows | 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: Fluent Search and Wox. 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. 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 Fluent Search 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 is open source, according to its own site.
- Wox also covers clipboard manager.
At a glance
| Fluent Search | Wox | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | None | 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 | Fluent Search | Wox Launcher |
| Price read from | fluentsearch.net | woxlauncher.com |
| 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.
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
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.
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
Fluent Search
Free$0
The downloads on the site carry no price; the page only asks for optional donations.
Wox
Free$0
All built-in features and the plugin and theme stores.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Fluent Search or Wox?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Fluent Search and Wox are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Fluent Search or Wox?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Fluent Search and Wox have a free plan.
Which platforms do Fluent Search and Wox run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Wox 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.