The Sol Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Sol 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.
Sol
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source macOS launcher and command palette
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among window managers and launchers, read from Sol’s own pages.
Made by ospfranco · checked Nov 13, 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 Sol’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Sol’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 35 of the 48 other window managers and launchers we grade
Sol is a launcher for macOS that opens apps, searches files, and runs small utilities from one keyboard-driven window. Its source is published on GitHub under the MIT license. The project site lists window resizing, a clipboard history and a calculator among its built-in tools.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Sol, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Window management is one feature of a launcher, not a dedicated tiling tool, and it runs on Mac only.
- 1
Best for a free keyboard launcher for Mac
Sol is a free, open-source Mac launcher that opens apps, searches files and bundles a clipboard history, a calculator and window resizing.
- 2
It is free
Sol has no paid plan at all.
- 3
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 4
App and file search
Finds apps, files and folders from a single launcher window opened with a keyboard shortcut.
- 5
Window manager
Resizes and moves windows with keyboard shortcuts, such as the Control-Option-Return example shown on the site.
- 6
Clipboard manager
Keeps a history of copied items that can be searched and pasted back through a shortcut.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 35 of 48
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
Sol is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Sol at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- It is free
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- ospfranco
- Category
- Window Managers & Launchers
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a free keyboard launcher for Mac
Sol is a free, open-source Mac launcher that opens apps, searches files and bundles a clipboard history, a calculator and window resizing. Window management is one feature of a launcher, not a dedicated tiling tool, and it runs on Mac only.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | The whole app is free and open source under the MIT license. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright, with no plan to buy and no cap. |
| Features | C | App and file search, window resizing, clipboard, calculator, emoji, calendar and notes. It is a launcher first, so its window management is a smaller part than in a dedicated manager. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating is on record, but you install it and press a shortcut to start. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | macOS only. The site lists no Windows or Linux version. |
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 Sol is for
- Fits if you want one free keyboard window for launching apps on a Mac
- Works for developers who like open source and extra commands
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you use Windows or Linux, as the site lists neither
- Too light for tiling and window snapping, where a dedicated manager does more
- Skip it if you want support, since the listing names no company behind it
- Watch out: the site gives few details on what each built-in tool does
Good to know
Good for
- Mac users who want a free launcher with window snapping built in
- People who prefer software whose source they can read
Worth knowing
- Runs on macOS only; the site lists no Windows or Linux version.
- Window management is one feature of a launcher, not a dedicated tiling tool.
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
Sol is free to use.
The whole app is free and open source under the MIT license.
Free
$0
The whole app is free; the site calls it free and open source.
Read from sol.ospfranco.com on Nov 13, 2026.
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
Open-source macOS launcher and command palette. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, keyboard-first, launcher, clipboard manager, window management, calculator.
App and file search, window resizing, clipboard, calculator, emoji, calendar and notes.
- App and file search
- Finds apps, files and folders from a single launcher window opened with a keyboard shortcut.
- Window manager
- Resizes and moves windows with keyboard shortcuts, such as the Control-Option-Return example shown on the site.
- Clipboard manager
- Keeps a history of copied items that can be searched and pasted back through a shortcut.
- Calculator and emoji picker
- Does quick math in the launcher and offers an emoji picker the site presents as an alternative to the system one.
- Calendar, bookmarks and notes
- Shows calendar events, searches browser bookmarks and takes quick notes from the same window.
- Developer commands
- Includes commands such as cleaning Xcode derived data and launching scripts.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- Spotify
- Xcode
Sol is made by ospfranco.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
35/48
Other window managers and launchers it is graded above
Sol's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 35 of the 48 other window managers and launchers we grade, and level with 11.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 23 of 48) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Sol has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 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 49 window managers and launchers we grade, cut by the letter each got. Sol’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 17 of 48
- AFree plan and trialAbove 23 of 48
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 48
- BEase of useAbove 32 of 48
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 48
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 29 window managers and launchers. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Sol 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
Sol is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 35 of the 48 other window managers and launchers we grade.
What you could make
- Calculator: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A launcher wired into the operating system.
- Control over other apps' windows.
- A clipboard history running in the background of your computer.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Sol’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
Hyperkey, Divvy, SizeUp, Contexts and Mosaic
The 5 tools Sol is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Hyperkey
Free
Free Mac utility that turns a key into the Hyper modifier.
- Sol is open source, according to its own site.
- Sol also covers launcher, clipboard manager, window management and calculator.
- Hyperkey also covers keyboard and mouse remapping.
- 2.2GPA
Divvy
Free trial · from $13.99
Window resizing by dragging across a grid, for Mac and Windows.
- Sol has a free plan. Divvy does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Divvy lists a Windows app.
- Sol is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
SizeUp
Free trial · from $12.99
Keyboard-driven window resizing for the Mac.
- Sol has a free plan. SizeUp does not, though it has a free trial.
- Sol is open source, according to its own site.
- Sol also covers launcher, clipboard manager and calculator.
- 2.0GPA
Contexts
Free trial · from $9.99
Mac window switcher with search, a sidebar and a better Command-Tab.
- Sol has a free plan. Contexts does not, though it has a free trial.
- Sol is open source, according to its own site.
- Sol also covers launcher, clipboard manager and calculator.
- 2.2GPA
Mosaic
Free trial · from £14.99 one-time
Drag-and-drop window layouts for the Mac.
- Sol has a free plan. Mosaic does not, though it has a free trial.
- Sol is open source, according to its own site.
- Mosaic can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
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 Sol free?
Yes. Sol is free to use.
How much does Sol cost?
Sol lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Sol work on?
Sol is available on macOS.
Does Sol have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Sol is listed for macOS.
Does Sol have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Sol is listed for macOS.
Is Sol open source?
Yes. Sol is open source, according to its own site.
What does Sol integrate with?
Sol's listing names Spotify and Xcode. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Sol?
Sol is made by ospfranco.
What are the alternatives to Sol?
The closest alternatives to Sol in our directory are Hyperkey, Divvy, SizeUp, Contexts and Mosaic.
How does Sol compare with other window managers and launchers?
Sol's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 35 of the 48 other window managers and launchers we grade, and level with 11.
Is Sol good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Sol A for value for money. Sol has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Sol?
Sol 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 Sol’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from ospfranco's own pages on 13 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 ospfranco. Prices change, so check sol.ospfranco.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
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.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Sol, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/sol
- 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, "Sol: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/sol
Know someone choosing between window managers and launchers?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/sol/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded window managers and launchers after Sol, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Window Managers & Launchers Insider's GuideEvery one of the 49 window managers and launchers we grade, compared
- Flow Launcher Insider's GuideFree, open-source app launcher and file search for Windows3.0 GPA
- Launchy Insider's GuideOpen-source keystroke launcher with plugins and skins3.0 GPA
- Cerebro Insider's GuideFree open-source Electron launcher for Windows, Mac and Linux2.8 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 Sol’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. Sol is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by ospfranco. Prices and plans change: check sol.ospfranco.com before you buy.