Alternatives to Flow Launcher
Press a hotkey, type a few letters, and open an app, a file, a bookmark or a web search on Windows. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Flow Launcher
Press a hotkey, type a few letters, and open an app, a file, a bookmark or a web search on Windows.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Flow Launcher.
Listary
Instant file search and app launching on Windows, with a search box that appears inside file dialogs as well as on its own.
Listary is closed source and freemium with a Pro tier, and adds a search box inside Save As and Open dialogs in other applications.
Keypirinha
A very fast keystroke launcher for Windows, entirely portable, with packages written in Python.
Keypirinha is free, portable and fast on old hardware with Python packages, but it is closed source and has had no release since November 2020.
Wox
A fully native keyboard launcher for Windows, macOS and Linux, with GPU rendering and a plugin system, as an open Raycast alternative.
Wox is GPL-3.0 and runs natively on Windows, macOS and Linux with a plugin store, though its plugin ecosystem is smaller and the version 2 rewrite young.
Ueli
A keystroke launcher that works the same on Windows, macOS and Linux, which most launchers do not.
Ueli is MIT-licensed and cross-platform with a signed Microsoft Store install, but it uses Electron, needs more memory and has fewer plugins.
Cerebro
Launch applications and run searches from a keyboard-driven panel.
Cerebro is MIT-licensed and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, with plugins whose availability depends on third-party maintenance.
Fluent Search
A Windows search launcher for files, apps, browser tabs, open windows and on-screen elements.
Fluent Search is free but closed source, and adds search of browser tabs, open windows and on-screen elements, with x64 and ARM64 builds.
Executor
A keyword-based launcher for Windows that opens programs, files, websites and web searches.
Executor is a free, closed-source Windows launcher built on custom keywords and multi-actions, with built-in clipboard history and skins.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Flow Launcher as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
WinLaunch
An open-source Windows launcher that shows your apps in a full-screen grid like the macOS Launchpad.
Flow Launcher replaces the grid with an MIT-licensed keyboard search box for apps, files, bookmarks and web searches, with a plugin store.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Everything
A free Windows search tool from voidtools that finds files and folders by name instantly.
PowerToys
Microsoft’s own bundle of more than thirty Windows utilities, from window layouts to a key remapper.
Kando
Circular pie menu that launches apps, runs scripts and fires keyboard shortcuts.
RocketDock
Classic lightweight application launcher dock for Windows with skins.
Nexus Dock
Launch applications and files from a customizable Windows desktop dock.
Script Kit
A cross-platform desktop app for writing and launching JavaScript and TypeScript scripts from a prompt.
