# Vicinae review (2026): is it any good? > Keyboard-driven launcher for Linux, macOS and Windows Checked Nov 13, 2026 ยท graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA. Vicinae is a command launcher inspired by Raycast. It covers app launching, window switching, clipboard history, file search and a calculator, and it can run many Raycast extensions. Extensions are written in React and TypeScript. The source is on GitHub under GPL-3.0. - **Category:** Window Managers & Launchers - **Made by:** Vicinae - **Website:** https://docs.vicinae.com/ - **Runs on:** Linux, macOS, Windows - **Who should skip it:** Skip it if you have an Intel Mac, because the macOS build is Apple Silicon only. - **Facts last checked:** Nov 13, 2026 ## Pricing As of Nov 13, 2026, Vicinae is free to use. - **Pricing model:** Free - **Free plan:** None. - **Free trial:** None listed. | Plan | Price | What you get | | --- | --- | --- | | Free | $0 | The docs list no paid tier; the project describes itself as unlocking features Raycast charges for. | Read from https://docs.vicinae.com/ on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Vicinae before buying. ## Key features - **App launcher and window switcher:** Opens apps and switches between open windows from a keyboard-driven palette. - **Clipboard history:** Works as a clipboard manager alongside the launcher. - **Raycast extension support:** The docs say many Raycast extensions run, with varying results; simpler ones work well. - **Extensions and scripts:** Extend it with dmenu mode, script commands or React and TypeScript extensions, installable from within the app. - **Theming and window APIs:** Offers theming and window management APIs that the docs contrast with Raycast's paid tier. ## Good for - Linux users who want a Raycast-style launcher - People who want to reuse Raycast extensions without a subscription ## Worth knowing - The macOS build is for Apple Silicon Macs only, per the install page. - Compatibility with Raycast extensions varies by extension. ## ToolGPA grades **GPA: 2.8 out of 4**, graded Nov 13, 2026. Vicinae is a keyboard launcher for Linux, macOS and Windows that runs many Raycast extensions, and it costs nothing. Raycast compatibility is hit and miss, the Mac build is Apple Silicon only, and there is no store rating to lean on. - **Value for money: A.** Free to download and run, with no paid tier in the docs, against a category where the cheaper quarter of paid tools starts at $0.83 a month. - **Free plan and trial: A.** Nothing is locked: the docs list no paid plan, so the whole launcher is free with no cap. - **Features: C.** App launching, window switching, clipboard history and a calculator, but the docs say Raycast extensions run with varying results. - **Ease of use: C.** No store rating on record, and extensions, script commands and dmenu mode mean some setup before it fits your routine. - **Platforms and integrations: C.** Linux, macOS and Windows, but computers only, with no phone or web side and Raycast extensions as the only integration listed. These are ToolGPA's own grades. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Vicinae's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. ## Where it stands among window managers and launchers - Vicinae'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 features (C, above 1). - Vicinae 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. The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/window-managers ## Keep it, or make your own? **Keep it.** Vicinae 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. - You could make: Calculator: an app builder makes this well. - You could not: A launcher wired into the operating system. - You could not: Control over other apps' windows. - You could not: A clipboard history running in the background of your computer. - You could not: Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other. A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it. ## Works with Raycast extensions **Tags:** Launcher, Window management, Clipboard manager, Open source, Keyboard-first, Calculator ## Alternatives - [Ulauncher](https://toolgpa.com/tools/ulauncher): Open-source application launcher for Linux with extensions. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/ulauncher-vs-vicinae) - [Albert](https://toolgpa.com/tools/albert): Plugin-based keyboard launcher for Linux and macOS. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/albert-vs-vicinae) - [Sol](https://toolgpa.com/tools/sol): Open-source macOS launcher and command palette. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/sol-vs-vicinae) - [Cerebro](https://toolgpa.com/tools/cerebro): Free open-source Electron launcher for Windows, Mac and Linux. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/cerebro-vs-vicinae) - [Wox](https://toolgpa.com/tools/wox): Open-source keyboard launcher for Windows, macOS and Linux. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/vicinae-vs-wox) ## Sources The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026: - https://docs.vicinae.com/ - https://docs.vicinae.com/install/macos - https://docs.vicinae.com/install/windows - https://github.com/vicinaehq/vicinae Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/vicinae Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).