The Wox Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Wox 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.
Wox
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source keyboard launcher for Windows, macOS and Linux
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among window managers and launchers, read from Wox’s own pages.
Made by Wox Launcher · 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 Wox’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Wox’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
Wox is a keyboard launcher that opens apps, finds files, runs commands and recalls clipboard history from a single input. Built-in features also cover a calculator, unit and currency converter, notes, screenshots, window layouts and AI chat. It is released under the GPL-3.0 license and can be extended with plugins and themes from its stores.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Wox, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Plugins and themes come from stores, and Linux installs are mainly through package managers such as AUR.
- 1
Best for a free launcher on Windows, Mac and Linux
The pages don't say whether its AI chat comes with a model or needs your own key, and it has no phone or web side.
- 2
It is free
Wox has no paid plan at all. The whole program is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 4
App and file launching
Opens applications, switches windows and searches local files and folders from the launcher.
- 5
Built-in utilities
Clipboard history, a calculator, a converter for units, currencies, dates and time zones, floating notes and screen-area capture.
- 6
Window layouts
Arranges windows and restores saved layouts.
- 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
Wox is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Wox at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Wox Launcher
- Category
- Window Managers & Launchers
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a free launcher on Windows, Mac and Linux
Wox is an open-source launcher for Windows, macOS and Linux that opens apps, finds files and recalls clipboard history, with plugins and themes from its own stores. The pages don't say whether its AI chat comes with a model or needs your own key, and it has no phone or web side.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | The whole program is free under the GPL-3.0 license, including the plugin and theme stores. |
| Free plan and trial | A | No paid plan and no caps on the listing. |
| Features | C | App and file launching, clipboard history, a converter, notes, window layouts, plugins and AI chat. The AI side is vague about what it needs to run. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. Plugins and themes come from stores, and Linux installs are mainly through package managers such as AUR. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows, macOS and Linux, but computers only, with no phone or web 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 Wox is for
- Fits if you use more than one desktop operating system and want the same launcher on each
- Works for people who want to write their own plugins in Node.js or Python
Who it is not for
- Watch out: AI chat and AI commands need a model, and the pages don't say if one is included or needs your own key
- Skip it if you want paid support, because it is a community project with none stated
- Tight if you use Linux, as the install routes are mainly package managers
- Not for you if you remember the old wox.one site, which is no longer the project's home
Good to know
Good for
- Users who want a free launcher on Windows, macOS and Linux
- People who want to write their own plugins
- Anyone moving from a paid launcher who wants one open-source tool
Worth knowing
- Linux support is listed, but the install options are mainly package managers such as AUR.
- AI chat and AI commands need access to a model; the pages read do not say whether that is included or needs your own key.
- The domain wox.one is no longer the project's site; the project now lives at woxlauncher.com.
- It is a community project with no paid support option stated.
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
Wox is free to use.
No paid plan and no caps on the listing.
Free
$0
All built-in features and the plugin and theme stores.
The free plan
The whole program is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license.
Read from woxlauncher.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
Open-source keyboard launcher for Windows, macOS and Linux. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, AI features, keyboard-first, launcher, clipboard manager, window management.
App and file launching, clipboard history, a converter, notes, window layouts, plugins and AI chat.
- App and file launching
- Opens applications, switches windows and searches local files and folders from the launcher.
- Built-in utilities
- Clipboard history, a calculator, a converter for units, currencies, dates and time zones, floating notes and screen-area capture.
- Window layouts
- Arranges windows and restores saved layouts.
- Plugins and themes
- Extends the launcher with Node.js, Python or script plugins from a plugin store, and offers community themes.
- AI chat and commands
- Includes AI chat, reusable AI commands, and AI-assisted plugin and theme creation.
- Cloud sync and backup
- Syncs settings across devices and backs them up and restores them.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Wox is made by Wox Launcher.
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
Wox'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).
Wox 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. Wox’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. Wox 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
Wox 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 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.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. Wox’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, Keypirinha, Launchy and Cerebro
The 5 tools Wox 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 Wox lists Windows and macOS apps.
- Wox also covers clipboard manager and window management.
- 2.6GPA
Albert
Free
Plugin-based keyboard launcher for Linux and macOS.
- Only Wox lists a Windows app.
- Wox is open source, according to its own site.
- Wox also covers clipboard manager and window management.
- 2.4GPA
Keypirinha
Free
Free keyboard launcher for Windows with Python plugins.
- Only Wox lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Wox is open source, according to its own site.
- Wox also covers clipboard manager and window management.
- 3.0GPA
Launchy
Free
Open-source keystroke launcher with plugins and skins.
- Wox also covers clipboard manager and window management.
- 2.8GPA
Cerebro
Free
Free open-source Electron launcher for Windows, Mac and Linux.
- Wox also covers clipboard manager and window management.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
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 Wox free?
Yes. Wox is free to use.
How much does Wox cost?
Wox lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Wox work on?
Wox is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Wox have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Wox is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Wox have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Wox is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is Wox open source?
Yes. Wox is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes Wox?
Wox is made by Wox Launcher.
What are the alternatives to Wox?
The closest alternatives to Wox in our directory are Ulauncher, Albert, Keypirinha, Launchy and Cerebro.
How does Wox compare with other window managers and launchers?
Wox's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 35 of the 48 other window managers and launchers we grade, and level with 11.
Is Wox good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Wox A for value for money. Wox has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Wox?
Wox 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 Wox’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 Wox'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 Wox Launcher. Prices change, so check woxlauncher.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
- Wox, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/wox
- 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, "Wox: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/wox
Know someone choosing between window managers and launchers?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/wox/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded window managers and launchers after Wox, 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 Wox’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. Wox is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Wox Launcher. Prices and plans change: check woxlauncher.com before you buy.