# Quicksilver

> Free, open-source keyboard launcher for macOS

Quicksilver is a free, open-source launcher for macOS, developed by volunteers. A keyboard shortcut opens a command window where you pick an object such as an app, file or contact, then an action to perform on it and, if needed, a third item as its argument. Plugins extend it to mail, browsers, calendars and the clipboard, and triggers attach commands to shortcuts or mouse gestures. The site says every feature is free, with no paid version.

- **Category:** Desktop Utilities
- **Made by:** Quicksilver Project (since 2003)
- **Website:** https://qsapp.com
- **Runs on:** macOS
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 9, 2026

## Pricing

Quicksilver is free to use.

- **Pricing model:** Free
- **Free plan:** The whole app and its plugins are free, with no paid version, subscription or locked features. The source is under the Apache License 2.0, and the project takes PayPal donations for hosting and development.
- **Free trial:** None listed.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quicksilver | $0 | The complete launcher with every feature and plugin, as a disk image download or a Homebrew cask. Donations are optional. |

Read from https://qsapp.com/faq on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Quicksilver before buying.

## Key features

- **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.

## Good for

- 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

## Worth knowing

- 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.

## Works with

Apple Mail, Gmail, Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Calendar & Reminders, 1Password, AppleScript

**Tags:** Launcher, Open source, Keyboard-first, Clipboard manager

## Alternatives

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

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026:

- https://qsapp.com/
- https://qsapp.com/faq
- https://qsapp.com/donate
- https://qsapp.com/quicksilver-vs-alfred
- https://qsapp.com/manual/
- https://qsapp.com/manual/getting-started/installation/
- https://qsapp.com/manual/getting-started/concepts-and-terminology/
- https://github.com/quicksilver/Quicksilver

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