The Albert Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Albert in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Albert
The Insider’s Guide
Plugin-based keyboard launcher for Linux and macOS
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among window managers and launchers, read from Albert’s own pages.
Made by Manuel Schneider · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Albert’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Albert’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 14 of the 28 other window managers and launchers we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Albert, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It is not a window manager, there's no Windows version, and the Mac app is unsigned and installed through a Homebrew tap.
- 1
Best for a keyboard launcher for Mac and Linux
Albert is a keyboard launcher with plugins for Mac and Linux, and it's free.
- 2
It is free
Albert has no paid plan at all. Free; the site accepts optional donations.
- 3
It runs on 2 platforms
macOS and Linux.
- 4
Plugin system
Functionality comes from plugins, so it can act as an app launcher or a system command palette.
- 5
Bundled plugins
Ships with a set of maintained plugins out of the box.
- 6
Extension APIs
Write extensions in C++ or Python.
- 7
A 2.6 GPA, above 14 of 28
That is against the other window managers and launchers we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Albert is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Albert at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Linux
- Made by
- Manuel Schneider
- Category
- Window Managers & Launchers
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a keyboard launcher for Mac and Linux
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Albert is for
- Fits if you live on the keyboard and run a Mac or Linux
- Works for people happy to install from a Homebrew tap
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you need Windows, which is not supported yet
- Skip it if you want window snapping, as it doesn't resize or tile windows
- Watch out: the Mac app is unsigned and installing it disables Gatekeeper for it
- Watch out: its own license allows personal use and bars redistributing modified versions, so it's not open source
Good to know
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Albert is free to use.
The whole app is free to use, with no tiers.
Free
$0
Free to use; donations are optional.
The free plan
Free; the site accepts optional donations.
Read from albertlauncher.github.io on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and Linux
Plugin-based keyboard launcher for Linux and macOS. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: keyboard-first, launcher.
A plugin system with bundled plugins and extension APIs.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Linux
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Albert is made by Manuel Schneider.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
14/28
Other window managers and launchers it is graded above
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.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 29 window managers and launchers we grade, cut by the letter each got. Albert’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 10 of 28
- AFree plan and trialAbove 16 of 28
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 28
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 28
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 23 of 28
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 15 window managers and launchers. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Albert is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Albert is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could not
- A launcher wired into the operating system.
- A real app for macOS and Linux. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Albert’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Ulauncher, Ueli, Alfred and Raycast
The 4 tools Albert is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Ulauncher
Free
Open-source application launcher for Linux with extensions.
- Only Albert lists a macOS app.
- Ulauncher is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
Ueli
Free
Cross-platform keystroke launcher for Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Only Ueli lists a Windows app.
- Ueli is open source, according to its own site.
- Ueli also covers calculator.
- 2.4GPA
Alfred
Free plan · from £34 one-time
Mac launcher with hotkeys, snippets and custom workflows.
- Only Albert lists a Linux app.
- Alfred can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Alfred also covers workflow automation, clipboard manager and text expansion.
- 2.8GPA
Raycast
Free plan · from $96/yr
Keyboard launcher with extensions, clipboard history and AI.
- Only Albert lists a Linux app.
- Only Raycast lists Windows and iOS apps.
- Only Raycast lists a browser extension.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Albert free?
Yes. Albert is free to use.
How much does Albert cost?
Albert lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Albert work on?
Albert is available on macOS and Linux.
Does Albert have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Albert is listed for macOS and Linux.
Does Albert have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Albert is listed for macOS and Linux.
Is Albert open source?
Albert is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Who makes Albert?
Albert is made by Manuel Schneider.
What are the alternatives to Albert?
The closest alternatives to Albert in our directory are Ulauncher, Ueli, Alfred and Raycast.
How does Albert compare with other 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.
Is Albert good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Albert A for value for money. Albert has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Albert?
Albert is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Albert’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. 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.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Manuel Schneider. Prices change, so check albertlauncher.github.io before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Albert, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/albert
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Albert: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/albert
Know someone choosing between window managers and launchers?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/albert/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded window managers and launchers after Albert, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Window Managers & Launchers Insider's GuideEvery one of the 29 window managers and launchers we grade, compared
- Flow Launcher Insider's GuideFree, open-source app launcher and file search for Windows3.0 GPA
- DockDoor Insider's GuideFree Dock window previews and Alt-Tab switcher for macOS2.8 GPA
- Loop Insider's GuideFree, open-source macOS window manager with a radial menu2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Albert’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Albert is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Manuel Schneider. Prices and plans change: check albertlauncher.github.io before you buy.