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LaunchBar

Keyboard launcher for Mac with clipboard history and actions

Free plan · from €35 one-timeUtilitiesChecked Oct 6, 2026
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LaunchBar, as pictured on obdev.at
How LaunchBar presents itself. Image from obdev.at.

What is LaunchBar?

LaunchBar is a keyboard-driven launcher for macOS from Objective Development. Typing a short abbreviation opens apps, documents, bookmarks and contacts, and the same window handles file operations, web searches, calculations, calendar events and a clipboard history. It can be used free of charge with occasional prompts to take a break, or licensed with a one-time purchase that the vendor prices in euros.

LaunchBar has a free plan. Paid plans start at 35 € one-time purchase (Single License). See every plan

Good for

  • 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

Worth knowing

  • 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.

Key features

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.

LaunchBar pricing

Starts at
35 € one-time purchase (Single License)
Free plan
Beyond the 30-day trial, LaunchBar 6 can be used for free as long and as often as you like. Without registration it occasionally invites you to take a short break.
Free trial
30-day trial period, after which free use continues without a license
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 6Either 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 6Up to 5 computers at a time that belong to one household. Non-commercial use only.

Read from obdev.at on Oct 6, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with LaunchBar before you buy.

Pricing in detail

Ways to pay less

  • Other savingsReduced-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.

    Stated on obdev.at

Works with

LaunchBar alternatives

All LaunchBar alternatives comparedAll desktop utilities

Common questions

Is LaunchBar free?

LaunchBar has a free plan. Beyond the 30-day trial, LaunchBar 6 can be used for free as long and as often as you like. Without registration it occasionally invites you to take a short break. Paid plans start at 35 € one-time purchase (Single License).

How much does LaunchBar cost?

LaunchBar lists 3 plans. Free use: 0 €. Single License: 35 € one-time purchase, license for LaunchBar 6. Family License: 59 € one-time purchase, license for LaunchBar 6. Prices were read from obdev.at on Oct 6, 2026.

What platforms does LaunchBar work on?

LaunchBar is available on macOS.

Does LaunchBar offer any discounts?

LaunchBar publicly lists the following: Reduced-price upgrades for existing licenses.

Does LaunchBar have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. LaunchBar is listed for macOS.

Does LaunchBar have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. LaunchBar is listed for macOS.

Is LaunchBar open source?

LaunchBar is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.

What does LaunchBar integrate with?

LaunchBar's listing names Safari, Firefox, Google Chrome, Apple Shortcuts, Calendar, Reminders, Keyboard Maestro and Spotify. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.

Does LaunchBar have a free trial?

Yes. 30-day trial period, after which free use continues without a license.

Who makes LaunchBar?

LaunchBar is made by Objective Development Software GmbH. It dates from 2004.

What are the alternatives to LaunchBar?

The closest alternatives to LaunchBar in our directory are Alfred, Raycast and Quicksilver. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with LaunchBar.

Sources for this page

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 6, 2026.