Alternatives to Search Light
A GNOME Shell extension that adds a macOS Spotlight-style search and launch popup. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Search Light
A GNOME Shell extension that adds a macOS Spotlight-style search and launch popup.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Search Light.
Ulauncher
Fast, extensible application launcher built for Linux desktops.
Ulauncher is a Linux launcher with a large extension ecosystem that does not depend on GNOME Shell versions.
Albert
Extensible keyboard launcher for Linux and macOS inspired by Alfred.
Albert is a C++/Qt keyboard launcher with plugins that also runs on macOS and works outside GNOME Shell.
rofi
A keyboard-driven window switcher, application launcher and dmenu replacement for Linux desktops.
rofi is an MIT-licensed launcher and window switcher configured through text files rather than a GNOME preferences dialog.
Walker
A customizable GTK4 application launcher for Linux that also runs commands and does calculations.
Walker is a GTK4 launcher that runs commands and calculations independently of GNOME search, but it is not open source.
Vicinae
A native, extensible keyboard-driven launcher for Linux desktops, inspired by Raycast.
Vicinae is a Raycast-style native Linux launcher with extensions, not tied to GNOME Shell, but not open source.
Onagre
A general-purpose application launcher for X11 and Wayland, built on pop-launcher and iced.
Onagre is a themeable launcher for X11 and Wayland that relies on pop-launcher plugins instead of GNOME's built-in search.
Kupfer
A keyboard-driven, plugin-based launcher for Linux in the style of Quicksilver.
Kupfer is a GPL plugin-based Linux launcher with a Quicksilver-style object-and-action workflow.
Anyrun
A Wayland-native runner in the style of KRunner, built around plugins and customization.
Anyrun is a plugin-based Wayland runner that works outside GNOME Shell, but it is not open source.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Fly-Pie
A GNOME Shell extension that opens customizable pie-shaped marking menus for launching apps and actions.
Kando
Circular pie menu that launches apps, runs scripts and fires keyboard shortcuts.
nwg-drawer
A searchable full-screen application drawer for sway, Hyprland and other wlroots Wayland compositors.
Gauntlet
An open-source, Raycast-inspired cross-platform application launcher with plugins written in React.
