Alternatives to Vicinae
A native, extensible keyboard-driven launcher for Linux desktops, inspired by Raycast. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Vicinae
A native, extensible keyboard-driven launcher for Linux desktops, inspired by Raycast.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Vicinae.
Ulauncher
Fast, extensible application launcher built for Linux desktops.
Ulauncher is an open-source Linux launcher with a large community extension ecosystem, though extension quality varies and it lacks Vicinae's Raycast-style workflow.
Walker
A customizable GTK4 application launcher for Linux that also runs commands and does calculations.
Walker is a GTK4 Linux launcher that runs commands and calculations from one prompt, with many options to configure before it fits your setup.
Gauntlet
An open-source, Raycast-inspired cross-platform application launcher with plugins written in React.
Gauntlet is an open-source Raycast-inspired launcher that also runs on macOS, with plugins written in React, so extending it requires JavaScript knowledge.
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 open source under GPL-3.0 and runs natively on Windows, macOS and Linux, with plugins in Node.js, Python or scripts, but its version 2 rewrite is young.
Albert
Extensible keyboard launcher for Linux and macOS inspired by Alfred.
Albert is an open-source C++/Qt launcher for Linux and macOS inspired by Alfred, extended through plugins that need manual configuration.
Onagre
A general-purpose application launcher for X11 and Wayland, built on pop-launcher and iced.
Onagre is an open-source Linux launcher that works on X11 and Wayland and extends through pop-launcher plugins, which must be installed separately.
Anyrun
A Wayland-native runner in the style of KRunner, built around plugins and customization.
Anyrun is a Wayland-native plugin-based runner in the style of KRunner, limited to Wayland sessions, with a Nix flake for NixOS users.
Ueli
A keystroke launcher that works the same on Windows, macOS and Linux, which most launchers do not.
Ueli is an MIT-licensed Electron launcher for Windows, macOS and Linux, using more memory than a native launcher and offering fewer plugins.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Vicinae as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
centerpiece
A fast, minimal and plugin-extendable omnibox launcher for Wayland, written in Rust.
Vicinae brings a Raycast-style extensible launcher to Linux as a native app, but it is not open source and is still changing quickly.
Kupfer
A keyboard-driven, plugin-based launcher for Linux in the style of Quicksilver.
Vicinae is a native Raycast-inspired Linux launcher with extensions and very active development, but it is not open source.
Search Light
A GNOME Shell extension that adds a macOS Spotlight-style search and launch popup.
Vicinae is a Raycast-style native Linux launcher with extensions, not tied to GNOME Shell, but not open source.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Raycast
Fast macOS launcher replacing Spotlight with clipboard history and extensions.
rofi
A keyboard-driven window switcher, application launcher and dmenu replacement for Linux desktops.
Script Kit
A cross-platform desktop app for writing and launching JavaScript and TypeScript scripts from a prompt.
Hyprlauncher
A fast, multipurpose application launcher and picker built for the Hyprland Wayland compositor.
