# Albert review (2026): is it any good?

> Plugin-based keyboard launcher for Linux and macOS

Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA.

Albert is a keyboard launcher built on C++ and Qt, with a plugin system for extra functions. It ships with maintained plugins and can be extended in C++ or Python. Prebuilt packages exist for Linux and macOS; Windows is not supported.

- **Category:** Window Managers & Launchers
- **Made by:** Manuel Schneider
- **Website:** https://albertlauncher.github.io
- **Runs on:** macOS, Linux
- **Who should skip it:** Not for you if you need Windows, which is not supported yet.
- **Facts last checked:** Nov 12, 2026

## Pricing

As of Nov 12, 2026, Albert is free to use.

- **Pricing model:** Free
- **Free plan:** Free; the site accepts optional donations.
- **Free trial:** None listed.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free | $0 | Free to use; donations are optional. |

Read from https://albertlauncher.github.io/donation/ on Nov 12, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Albert before buying.

## Key features

- **Plugin system:** Functionality comes from plugins, so it can act as an app launcher or a system command palette.
- **Bundled plugins:** Ships with a set of maintained plugins out of the box.
- **Extension APIs:** Write extensions in C++ or Python.
- **Fast keyboard use:** Speed is a stated design goal.

## Good for

- Linux users who want a plugin-driven launcher
- Developers who want to script their own launcher actions

## Worth knowing

- No Windows version; the install page says Windows is not supported yet.
- The macOS app is unsigned, installed through a Homebrew tap, and the cask disables Gatekeeper for it.
- Under Albert's own license, not an open-source one: it permits personal use and bars redistributing modified versions, and forbids binaries targeting Microsoft or Apple platforms.

## ToolGPA grades

**GPA: 2.6 out of 4**, graded Nov 12, 2026. Albert is a keyboard launcher with plugins for Mac and Linux, and it's free. It is not a window manager, there's no Windows version, and the Mac app is unsigned and installed through a Homebrew tap. Look elsewhere if you want an installer you can double-click.

- **Value for money: A.** Free, with optional donations. Nothing in the listing costs money.
- **Free plan and trial: A.** The whole app is free to use, with no tiers.
- **Features: C.** A plugin system with bundled plugins and extension APIs. It launches and searches, and doesn't arrange windows, which is what this category is for.
- **Ease of use: D.** On a Mac you install it through a Homebrew tap, and the cask turns off Gatekeeper for the unsigned app. That's a command line job.
- **Platforms and integrations: C.** Mac and Linux only. No Windows version, as the install page says.

These are ToolGPA's own grades. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Manuel Schneider's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.

## Where it stands among window managers and launchers

- Albert's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 14 of the 28 other window managers and launchers we grade, and level with 6.
- It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 16 of 28) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
- Albert has no paid plan.
- On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.

The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/window-managers

## Keep it, or make your own?

**Keep it.** Albert is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.

- You could not: A launcher wired into the operating system.
- You could not: A real app for macOS and Linux. Something home-made would be a web page.

A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it.

**Tags:** Launcher, Keyboard-first

## Alternatives

- [Ulauncher](https://toolgpa.com/tools/ulauncher): Open-source application launcher for Linux with extensions. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/albert-vs-ulauncher)
- [Ueli](https://toolgpa.com/tools/ueli): Cross-platform keystroke launcher for Windows, macOS and Linux. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/albert-vs-ueli)
- [Alfred](https://toolgpa.com/tools/alfred): Mac launcher with hotkeys, snippets and custom workflows. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/albert-vs-alfred)
- [Raycast](https://toolgpa.com/tools/raycast): Keyboard launcher with extensions, clipboard history and AI. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/albert-vs-raycast)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 12, 2026:

- https://albertlauncher.github.io
- https://albertlauncher.github.io/installation/
- https://albertlauncher.github.io/installation/macos/
- https://albertlauncher.github.io/installation/linux/
- https://albertlauncher.github.io/donation/
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/albertlauncher/albert/main/LICENSE.md

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/albert
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).