LaunchBar vs Soulver

LaunchBar

• Mac users who want to keep their hands on the keyboard
• People who prefer a launcher license bought once over a subscription
• Scripters who extend their launcher with AppleScript or JavaScript actions

Soulver

• Working through multi-step sums with notes beside the numbers
• People with a Mac, iPad and iPhone who want one purchase for all three
• Trip budgets, quotes and split expenses that mix dates, currencies and totals

LaunchBar

• macOS only. Version 6.24 runs on macOS Tahoe and is also compatible with Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura and Monterey.
• Without a license, LaunchBar occasionally interrupts with an invitation to take a short break.
• Prices are shown in euros; the vendor's shop gave no US dollar price when it was read.
• The Family License is limited to one household and non-commercial use, and a Single License does not cover several users on several computers.

Soulver

• Apple platforms only: it requires macOS 14, iPadOS 17 or iOS 17 or later, and the site lists no Windows, Android or web version.
• There is no free plan. After the 60-day trial, sheets can still be viewed and exported, but creating and editing them requires a purchase.
• Access to 150k+ stocks, Wolfram|Alpha queries and advanced weather data costs a separate $26 a year on the App Store.
• Major versions are paid upgrades, which the vendor says have averaged seven years apart; Soulver 3 owners get Soulver 4 at half price.

LaunchBar

Adaptive abbreviation search

Finds apps, documents and other items from short acronyms of their names, such as SP for System Preferences. The ranking of results adapts to your usage.

Clipboard History and ClipMerge

Recently copied items stay available, with a paste-as-plain-text option and an ignore list for sensitive data. Pressing Command-C twice merges successive copies into one clip.

Send To and Instant Send

Tab sends the selected item to an app, a folder, an email contact or a search template. Holding Command-Space sends a file or text selection from another app to LaunchBar.

File browsing and operations

Navigate the file system with the arrow keys, including inside packages, and move, rename, compress or tag files and create folders from the keyboard.

Calendar, Reminders and Contacts

Create calendar events and reminders with live feedback on what will be created, and reach contacts to start an email or look up a phone number or address.

Scriptable actions

Custom actions can be written in JavaScript, AppleScript, Ruby, Python, PHP and other languages with the built-in Action Editor, or installed from other users.

Soulver

Answer column

A sheet works like a notepad: write words and numbers on a line and the answer appears alongside it as you type, with a floating total for the whole sheet at the bottom.

Line references, variables and subtotals

An answer can be referenced on later lines and updates when earlier lines change. Multi-word variables, subtotals and totals of every line carrying a tag are supported.

Currencies, units and dates

Recognizes 190 currencies, more than 200 units, percentages, calendar and clock-time math and time zones, with functions for sales tax, loans, interest and inflation.

Live data

Pulls live and historical currency and stock prices and weather into a sheet. Access to 150k+ stocks and inline Wolfram|Alpha queries needs the optional data services subscription.

iCloud sync and export

Sheets sync through iCloud across Mac, iPad and iPhone with automatic backups. They are plain text and can be exported to PDF, printed or sent as a styled HTML email.

Automation and command line

A Shortcuts action, URL schemes, macOS Services and an Alfred workflow connect Soulver to other tools. A free standalone command-line tool can create and edit sheets.

LaunchBar

• Free use0 €

  LaunchBar 6 without a license. It keeps working after the 30-day trial but occasionally asks you to take a short break.

• Single License35 €

  one-time purchase, license for LaunchBar 6

  Either one user on multiple computers or multiple users on one computer, but not multiple users on multiple computers.

• Family License59 €

  one-time purchase, license for LaunchBar 6

  Up to 5 computers at a time that belong to one household. Non-commercial use only.

Soulver

• Soulver (iPhone only)$15

  one-time purchase

  The iPhone version on its own, for buyers who do not need the Mac or iPad apps.

• Soulver (Mac, iPad and iPhone)$59

  one-time purchase on the App Store

  One purchase covers all three platforms, with 190 currencies and 8 tech stocks included. The vendor gives free updates between major releases.

• Data services subscription$26

  per year, optional add-on

  Knowledge Assistant, Live Stocks & Advanced Weather: 150k+ stock tickers, inline Wolfram|Alpha queries and advanced weather data.

• Setapp$15

  per month, through a Setapp membership

  Soulver as one of about 260 apps in the Setapp catalog. The data services subscription is complimentary for Setapp users.

LaunchBar

• Other savings

  Reduced-price upgrades for existing licenses

  The order page offers upgrades at a reduced price: owners enter their license key to check which upgrade options are available.

Soulver

• Other savings

  Half-price upgrade from Soulver 3

  Buyers of Soulver 3 on the App Store get Soulver 4 for $29 instead of $59, and a registered direct-download copy of Soulver 3 on the same Mac unlocks the same 50% discount.