The Vicinae Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Vicinae 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.
Vicinae
The Insider’s Guide
Keyboard-driven launcher for Linux, macOS and Windows
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among window managers and launchers, read from Vicinae’s own pages.
Made by Vicinae · 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 Vicinae’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Vicinae’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
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Vicinae, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Raycast compatibility is hit and miss, the Mac build is Apple Silicon only, and there is no store rating to lean on.
- 1
Best for a Raycast-style launcher on Linux
Vicinae is a keyboard launcher for Linux, macOS and Windows that runs many Raycast extensions, and it costs nothing.
- 2
It is free
Vicinae has no paid plan at all.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Linux, macOS and Windows.
- 4
App launcher and window switcher
Opens apps and switches between open windows from a keyboard-driven palette.
- 5
Clipboard history
Works as a clipboard manager alongside the launcher.
- 6
Raycast extension support
The docs say many Raycast extensions run, with varying results; simpler ones work well.
- 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
Vicinae is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Vicinae at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- It is free
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Vicinae
- Category
- Window Managers & Launchers
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a Raycast-style launcher on Linux
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
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 Vicinae is for
- Fits if you run Linux and miss a Raycast-style launcher
- Works for people who want Raycast extensions without paying for Raycast
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you have an Intel Mac, because the macOS build is Apple Silicon only
- Not for you if you need every Raycast extension to work, as compatibility varies by extension
- Tight if you want a rated, polished installer, since no store rating is on record
- Watch out: custom extensions are written in React and TypeScript, so going beyond the built-ins takes some coding
Good to know
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.
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
Vicinae is free to use.
Nothing is locked: the docs list no paid plan, so the whole launcher is free with no cap.
Free
$0
The docs list no paid tier; the project describes itself as unlocking features Raycast charges for.
Read from docs.vicinae.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
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Keyboard-driven launcher for Linux, macOS and Windows. 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 launching, window switching, clipboard history and a calculator, but the docs say Raycast extensions run with varying results.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Raycast extensions
Vicinae is made by Vicinae.
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
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.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 49 window managers and launchers we grade, cut by the letter each got. Vicinae’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 17 of 48
- AFree plan and trialAbove 23 of 48
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 48
- CEase of useAbove 8 of 48
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 35 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. Vicinae 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
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.
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.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Vicinae’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
Ulauncher, Albert, Sol, Cerebro and Wox
The 5 tools Vicinae is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Ulauncher
Free
Open-source application launcher for Linux with extensions.
- Only Vicinae lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Vicinae also covers clipboard manager, window management and calculator.
- 2.6GPA
Albert
Free
Plugin-based keyboard launcher for Linux and macOS.
- Only Vicinae lists a Windows app.
- Vicinae is open source, according to its own site.
- Vicinae also covers clipboard manager, window management and calculator.
- 2.8GPA
Sol
Free
Open-source macOS launcher and command palette.
- Only Vicinae lists Linux and Windows apps.
- 2.8GPA
Cerebro
Free
Free open-source Electron launcher for Windows, Mac and Linux.
- Vicinae also covers clipboard manager, window management and calculator.
- 2.8GPA
Wox
Free
Open-source keyboard launcher for Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Vicinae also covers calculator.
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 Vicinae free?
Yes. Vicinae is free to use.
How much does Vicinae cost?
Vicinae lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Vicinae work on?
Vicinae is available on Linux, macOS and Windows.
Does Vicinae have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Vicinae is listed for Linux, macOS and Windows.
Does Vicinae have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Vicinae is listed for Linux, macOS and Windows.
Is Vicinae open source?
Yes. Vicinae is open source, according to its own site.
What does Vicinae integrate with?
Vicinae's listing names Raycast extensions. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Vicinae?
Vicinae is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Vicinae?
The closest alternatives to Vicinae in our directory are Ulauncher, Albert, Sol, Cerebro and Wox.
How does Vicinae compare with other 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.
Is Vicinae good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Vicinae A for value for money. Vicinae has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Vicinae?
Vicinae 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 Vicinae’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 Vicinae'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 Vicinae. Prices change, so check docs.vicinae.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
- Vicinae, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/vicinae
- 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, "Vicinae: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/vicinae
Know someone choosing between window managers and launchers?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/vicinae/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded window managers and launchers after Vicinae, 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 Vicinae’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. Vicinae is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Vicinae. Prices and plans change: check docs.vicinae.com before you buy.