The LaunchBar Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about LaunchBar 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.
LaunchBar
The Insider’s Guide
Keyboard launcher for Mac with clipboard history and actions
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from LaunchBar’s own pages.
Made by Objective Development Software GmbH · checked Oct 6, 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 LaunchBar’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on LaunchBar’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 36 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about LaunchBar, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: open it, type a few letters, hit Return.
- 1
Best for a keyboard launcher on the Mac, bought once
LaunchBar is a keyboard launcher for the Mac: type a few letters and it opens the app, file or contact, with a clipboard history on the side.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at 35 € one-time purchase (Single License).
- 3
There is 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.
- 4
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
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.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 36 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace LaunchBar you would be making a launcher wired into the operating system. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
LaunchBar at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from 35 € one-time purchase (Single License)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 30-day trial period, after which free use continues without a license
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- Objective Development Software GmbH, since 2004
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a keyboard launcher on the Mac, bought once
LaunchBar is a keyboard launcher for the Mac: type a few letters and it opens the app, file or contact, with a clipboard history on the side. After the 30-day trial you can keep using it free, but it interrupts now and then to suggest a short break. A license is 35 € once, the shop showed no dollar price, the family license is non-commercial only, and it's Mac only, so Windows and Linux users should look elsewhere.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | 35 € once for a Single license, or 59 € for up to 5 computers in one household. Utilities here sit at $2.99 a month in the middle, so in dollars that's a year or so of a subscription, paid once. The shop gave no dollar price when the listing was read. |
| Free plan and trial | B | After the 30-day trial you can carry on free for as long and as often as you like, with the whole app. The catch is that it occasionally invites you to take a short break, and the listing can't say how often. |
| Features | B | It covers the launcher job: abbreviation search like SP for System Preferences, clipboard history with ClipMerge, file moves and renames from the keyboard, calendar events, reminders, web searches, and your own actions in JavaScript, AppleScript, Ruby or Python. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: open it, type a few letters, hit Return. The ranking adapts to how you use it, so the things you open most come up first. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only. Version 6.24 runs on macOS Tahoe and is compatible back to Monterey. It works with Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Apple Shortcuts, Calendar, Reminders, Keyboard Maestro and Spotify. One operating system, though. |
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 LaunchBar is for
- Fits if you open apps, files and contacts on a Mac from the keyboard
- Works for people who'd rather pay 35 € once than a monthly fee
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on Windows or Linux, or a Mac older than macOS Monterey
- Not for you if interruptions bug you and you won't pay, since unlicensed use brings break prompts
- Not for you if several people use it across several computers, which a Single license doesn't cover
- Watch out: the 59 € Family license is for one household and non-commercial use only
- Watch out: prices are in euros, and the shop gave no US dollar price when the listing was read
Good to know
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
€35 one-time
To start. There is a free plan too
LaunchBar has a free plan. Paid plans start at 35 € one-time purchase (Single License).
The shop gave no dollar price when the listing was read.
Free use
0 €
LaunchBar 6 without a license. It keeps working after the 30-day trial but occasionally asks you to take a short break.
Single License
35 €
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 License
59 €
one-time purchase, license for LaunchBar 6
Up to 5 computers at a time that belong to one household. Non-commercial use only.
The 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.
Trying it first
30-day trial period, after which free use continues without a license
Read from obdev.at on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on obdev.at
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: macOS
Keyboard launcher for Mac with clipboard history and actions. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, keyboard-first, launcher, clipboard manager, file management, calculator.
It works with Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Apple Shortcuts, Calendar, Reminders, Keyboard Maestro and Spotify.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- Safari
- Firefox
- Google Chrome
- Apple Shortcuts
- Calendar
- Reminders
- Keyboard Maestro
- Spotify
LaunchBar is made by Objective Development Software GmbH, and has been around since 2004.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
36/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
LaunchBar's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 36 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 20.
It stands best on features (B, above 72 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. LaunchBar’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 12 of 94
- BFree plan and trialAbove 37 of 94
- BFeaturesAbove 72 of 94
- BEase of useAbove 33 of 94
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 94
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
To replace LaunchBar you would be making a launcher wired into the operating system. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $39.22, paid once.
What you could make
- Calculator: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A launcher wired into the operating system.
- A clipboard history running in the background of your computer.
- A file manager working directly on your disk.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, Safari, Firefox and Google Chrome among them.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. LaunchBar’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
Alfred, Raycast and Quicksilver
The 3 tools LaunchBar is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Alfred
Free plan · from £34 one-time
Mac launcher with hotkeys, snippets and custom workflows.
- LaunchBar also covers file management and calculator.
- Alfred also covers workflow automation and text expansion.
- 2.8GPA
Raycast
Free plan · from $96/yr
Keyboard launcher with extensions, clipboard history and AI.
- Only Raycast lists Windows and iOS apps.
- Only Raycast lists a browser extension.
- LaunchBar can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
Quicksilver
Free
Free, open-source keyboard launcher for macOS.
- LaunchBar can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Quicksilver is open source, according to its own site.
- LaunchBar also covers file management and calculator.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
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 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.
How much does LaunchBar cost?
LaunchBar lists 3 plans. Free use: 0 €.
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.
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.
How does LaunchBar compare with other desktop utilities?
LaunchBar's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 36 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 20.
Could I make my own version of LaunchBar?
To replace LaunchBar you would be making a launcher wired into the operating system.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from LaunchBar’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Objective Development's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-05-15.
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 Objective Development Software GmbH. Prices change, so check obdev.at before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 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.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- LaunchBar, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/launchbar
- 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, "LaunchBar: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/launchbar
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/launchbar/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after LaunchBar, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 95 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- 7-Zip Insider's GuideFree, open-source file archiver with the 7z format3.0 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 LaunchBar’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. LaunchBar is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Objective Development Software GmbH. Prices and plans change: check obdev.at before you buy.