Alternatives to Ulauncher
Fast, extensible application launcher built for Linux desktops. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Ulauncher
Fast, extensible application launcher built for Linux desktops.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Ulauncher.
Albert
Extensible keyboard launcher for Linux and macOS inspired by Alfred.
Albert is a free, open-source C++/Qt launcher that also runs on macOS, with a plugin architecture that needs manual configuration to unlock its full potential.
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 free under GPL-3.0 and native on Linux, Windows and macOS, with plugins in Node.js, Python or scripts, though version 2 is relatively young.
Ueli
A keystroke launcher that works the same on Windows, macOS and Linux, which most launchers do not.
Ueli is free and MIT-licensed on Linux, Windows and macOS, but uses Electron with more memory and Linux packaging is limited to AppImage and DEB.
Cerebro
Launch applications and run searches from a keyboard-driven panel.
Cerebro is a free, MIT-licensed launcher for Linux, Windows and macOS with plugins, whose availability and behavior depend on third-party maintenance.
Vicinae
A native, extensible keyboard-driven launcher for Linux desktops, inspired by Raycast.
Vicinae is a native, Raycast-inspired Linux launcher with extensions and very active development, but it is not open source and still changing quickly.
Walker
A customizable GTK4 application launcher for Linux that also runs commands and does calculations.
Walker is a GTK4 Linux launcher that also runs commands and calculates, with many options to configure, and it is not open source.
rofi
A keyboard-driven window switcher, application launcher and dmenu replacement for Linux desktops.
rofi is MIT licensed and combines a launcher, window switcher and dmenu replacement, with text-file configuration and theming that take effort.
Kupfer
A keyboard-driven, plugin-based launcher for Linux in the style of Quicksilver.
Kupfer is a GPL Linux launcher with a Quicksilver-style object-and-action workflow and plugins, with slower development than newer launchers.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Ulauncher as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Anyrun
A Wayland-native runner in the style of KRunner, built around plugins and customization.
Ulauncher is a free, open-source Linux launcher with a large community extension ecosystem, though extension quality varies.
centerpiece
A fast, minimal and plugin-extendable omnibox launcher for Wayland, written in Rust.
Ulauncher offers a large community extension ecosystem on Linux desktops, though it lacks the Nix flake, Home Manager module and Git repository indexing.
fuzzel
An application launcher and fuzzy finder for Wayland compositors, inspired by rofi and dmenu.
Ulauncher is a free, open-source Linux launcher with a large extension ecosystem and a keyboard-focused interface.
nwg-drawer
A searchable full-screen application drawer for sway, Hyprland and other wlroots Wayland compositors.
Ulauncher is an open-source keyboard launcher for Linux desktops with a large extension ecosystem, using a search prompt instead of an app grid.
Onagre
A general-purpose application launcher for X11 and Wayland, built on pop-launcher and iced.
Ulauncher is a Linux launcher with a large community extension ecosystem and no dependency on pop-launcher.
Search Light
A GNOME Shell extension that adds a macOS Spotlight-style search and launch popup.
Ulauncher is a Linux launcher with a large extension ecosystem that does not depend on GNOME Shell versions.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Kando
Circular pie menu that launches apps, runs scripts and fires keyboard shortcuts.
Plank
Simple, lightweight dock for Linux styled after macOS-style launchers.
Latte Dock
Highly customizable dock replacement for the KDE Plasma desktop.
DockbarX
Linux taskbar with window previews and Unity-style app grouping.
Raycast
Fast macOS launcher replacing Spotlight with clipboard history and extensions.
