# smolcast vs Alfred

Alfred is Mac only. On Windows, smolcast gives you a launcher with clipboard history and snippets built in, free.

Updated 23 Oct 2026. Checked against [alfredapp.com](https://www.alfredapp.com/), its Powerpack page and help (v5.8.1). [Sources](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/alfred#sources)

## smolcast

Open source

- Windows 11
- Free
- Open source
- 7 MB

**Best for** an Alfred-style launcher on Windows

## Alfred

Running with Crayons

- macOS
- Free + Powerpack £34
- Workflows
- Snippet expansion

**Best for** workflows and power features on a Mac

[Get Alfred](https://www.alfredapp.com/?ref=smolcast)

## Feature by feature

Bold marks where smolcast comes out ahead, and only where the other side publishes the fact.

|  | smolcast | Alfred |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **The basics** |  |  |
| Price | Free | Free; Powerpack £34 |
| Source | **Open source (MIT)** (the better pick) | Source not published |
| Runs on | Windows 11 | macOS 10.14 or later |
| Account | None | Not published |
| Default hotkey | `Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Space` | Configurable |
| **Features** |  |  |
| Clipboard history | **Built in** (Text and images. Encrypted on disk) (the better pick) | Powerpack |
| Snippets | **Built in** (Find by name or keyword. No auto-expand) (the better pick) | Powerpack (With text expansion) |
| Emoji picker | Built in (Every emoji, in color) | Not listed |
| File search | Built in (Through Windows Search) | Built in |
| Calculator | Built in (Units too. Enter pastes) | Built in |
| Quicklinks | Built in (Keywords with {query}) | Web search |
| Extensions | No (Scripts and quicklinks instead) | Workflows (Powerpack) |
| AI | No | Not listed |
| Window management | No | Not listed |
| **Under the hood** |  |  |
| Download | 7 MB, one .exe (No installer) | Mac app |
| Idle | 0% CPU while hidden | Not published |
| Privacy | No telemetry ([One daily update check](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/privacy), can be turned off) | See its policy |

## Pick the one that fits

### Go with smolcast if

- You’re on Windows 11
- You want clipboard history and snippets free
- You want an open-source launcher
- You want something tiny

### Go with Alfred if

- You’re on a Mac (smolcast isn’t)
- You want workflows
- You want snippets that expand as you type

[Get Alfred](https://www.alfredapp.com/?ref=smolcast)

The free, open-source Mac cousin is Tinycast, and Raycast now has a Windows app: [smolcast vs Tinycast](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/tinycast), [smolcast vs Raycast for Windows](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/raycast).

## Coming from Alfred

- Web searchesQuicklinks with `{query}`, typed after a keyword like Alfred’s
- Snippets`[snippets.<id>]` with a keyword; found in the palette, not expanded as you type
- Hotkey`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Space`, the Windows reach of `⌥` `Space`

## Try smolcast

- Windows 11, x64
- 7 MB
- Free and open source

[Download](https://github.com/Archetypically/smolcast/releases/latest)

## More comparisons

- [All the launchers, side by sideCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/)
- [smolcast vs Raycast for WindowsCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/raycast)
- [smolcast vs PowerToys Command PaletteCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/powertoys-command-palette)
- [smolcast vs Flow LauncherCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/flow-launcher)
- [smolcast vs TinycastCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/tinycast)
- [smolcast vs Fluent SearchCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/fluent-search)
- [smolcast vs ListaryCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/listary)
- [smolcast vs WoxCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/wox)
- [smolcast vs KeypirinhaCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/keypirinha)
- [smolcast vs UeliCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/ueli)
- [What smolcast keeps on your PCPrivacy](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/privacy)

## Sources

1.  smolcast, main branch: [github.com/Archetypically/smolcast](https://github.com/Archetypically/smolcast)
2.  Alfred 5.8.1: [alfredapp.com](https://www.alfredapp.com/)
3.  Alfred Powerpack: [alfredapp.com/powerpack](https://www.alfredapp.com/powerpack/)
4.  Clipboard History help: [alfredapp.com/help](https://www.alfredapp.com/help/features/clipboard/)
5.  Snippets help: [alfredapp.com/help](https://www.alfredapp.com/help/features/snippets/)

Checked against these versions on 23 Oct 2026, which is also when this page was last updated. Found something stale? [Open an issue](https://github.com/Archetypically/smolcast/issues).

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The markdown version of https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/alfred