Quicksilver vs Ueli

Quicksilver

• Mac users who want to act on files, apps and contacts from the keyboard
• People who want a launcher with clipboard history and no paid tier
• Tinkerers who like plugins, triggers and AppleScript actions

Ueli

• People who want the same launcher on Windows, macOS and Linux
• Windows users who want a free keyboard launcher from the Microsoft Store
• Users who prefer open-source software with no paid tier

Quicksilver

• macOS only; the latest version runs on macOS 10.14 or later, with older releases kept for older systems.
• Many features come from plugins, which have to be installed and enabled before they show up.
• It is maintained by volunteer contributors and relies on donations for hosting and development costs.
• On startup it contacts qs0.qsapp.com to check for new versions, which the manual notes a network monitor may flag.

Ueli

• The GitHub builds are unsigned, and not notarized on macOS, so Windows and macOS block them until the user allows the app manually.
• File search on Windows depends on Everything and its command-line interface being installed and running.
• Global hotkeys may not work under Wayland sessions on Linux; the README suggests binding a system shortcut to the ueli command.
• The DeepL Translator extension needs the user's own DeepL API key, which a free developer account provides.

Quicksilver

Object, action, argument commands

Commands are built in two or three panes: an object such as a file, an action such as E-mail To, and an argument when the action needs one.

Abbreviation matching that learns

An item matches when the typed letters appear in its name in order, and items you pick often rise in the results, so short abbreviations come to select them.

Its own catalog

Quicksilver builds a catalog of apps, files, bookmarks, contacts and more without depending on Spotlight, and rescans it in the background every 10 minutes by default.

Triggers

A command can be bound to a keyboard shortcut, a mouse action, a gesture or an event so that it runs without opening the command window.

Plugins

Optional plugins add objects and actions for apps such as Mail, Gmail, Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Calendar and Reminders. They are found, installed and updated from the Preferences.

Clipboard history and Shelf

The Clipboard and Shelf plugin keeps a history of what you copy and a Shelf for storing items you want within quick reach.

Ueli

Application search

Alt+Space shows or hides the search window. Type to filter, move through results with the arrow keys and press Enter to launch the selected item.

Built-in extensions

Extensions are switched on or off in the settings and include Browser Bookmarks, Web Search, Custom Web Search, DeepL Translator, Visual Studio Code, JetBrains Toolbox and System Settings.

File search

Searches files and folders using mdfind on macOS and Everything on Windows, where Everything and its command-line interface must be installed and running.

Calculator and conversions

Calculations and unit conversions such as 2 inch to cm run in the search field, and a currency extension converts amounts at current exchange rates. Enter copies the result.

Favorites and additional actions

Cmd+K on macOS or Ctrl+K on Windows and Linux opens further actions for a result, including Add to Favorites, which keeps that item first in the results.

System commands

Operating system commands such as shutdown, restart, sign out, lock and sleep can be searched for and run with Enter on Windows and macOS.

Quicksilver

• Quicksilver$0

  The complete launcher with every feature and plugin, as a disk image download or a Homebrew cask. Donations are optional.

Ueli

• Ueli$0

  The complete launcher with all built-in extensions, from the Microsoft Store or winget on Windows and from the GitHub releases page for macOS and Linux.