# Windows launchers, compared

Four keyboard launchers for Windows, from one small app to a full extension platform.

Updated 23 Oct 2026. Checked against each project’s own site. smolcast is ours, so the [sources](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/#sources) are below.

## smolcast

Open source

- Free
- Open source
- 7 MB
- No account

**Best for** the essentials, small and private

## Raycast for Windows

Raycast

- Free + Pro $10/mo
- Closed source
- Extensions
- AI

**Best for** extensions, AI and a Mac + PC setup

[Read the comparison](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/raycast) · [Get Raycast for Windows](https://www.raycast.com/windows?ref=smolcast)

## PowerToys Command Palette

Microsoft

- Free
- Open source
- Part of PowerToys
- Extensions

**Best for** Windows admin and extensions

[Read the comparison](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/powertoys-command-palette) · [Get PowerToys Command Palette](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/powertoys/install?ref=smolcast)

## Flow Launcher

Open-source community

- Free
- Open source
- Plugins
- Everything search

**Best for** plugins and deep file search

[Read the comparison](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/flow-launcher) · [Get Flow Launcher](https://www.flowlauncher.com/?ref=smolcast)

## Feature by feature

Bold marks where smolcast comes out ahead of all three, and only on published facts.

|  | smolcast | Raycast for Windows | PowerToys Command Palette | Flow Launcher |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **The basics** |  |  |  |  |
| Price | Free | Free; Pro $10/mo | Free | Free |
| Source | Open source (MIT) | Closed source (Extensions are open) | Open source (MIT) | Open source (MIT) |
| Runs on | Windows 11 | Windows 10 and 11, plus macOS | Windows 10 and 11 | Windows 10 and 11 |
| Account | None | Needed for Pro, AI and sync | None | None |
| **Features** |  |  |  |  |
| Clipboard history | Built in (Text and images. Encrypted on disk) | Built in | Built in (Recent entries) | Plugin |
| Snippets | Built in (Find by name or keyword. No auto-expand) | Built in (Expands by keyword) | No (Bookmarks with {query} instead) | No |
| Emoji picker | Built in (Every emoji, in color) | Built in | No (Windows has `Win`+`.`) | No |
| File search | Built in (Through Windows Search) | Built in | Built in | Built in (Names and contents, via Everything) |
| Calculator | Built in (Units too. Enter pastes) | Built in | Built in (Math and functions) | Built in (Copies the result) |
| Extensions | No (Scripts and quicklinks instead) | Raycast Store (Shared with the Mac app) | Extension Gallery | Plugin store (C#, Python, JS and more) |
| AI | No | Pro (Quick AI and AI Chat) | No | No |
| Window management | No | Built in | Window switching | No |
| **Under the hood** |  |  |  |  |
| Download | **7 MB, one .exe** (No installer) (the better pick) | Microsoft Store or WinGet (Size not published) | 309 MB installer (The whole PowerToys suite) | 97 MB installer |

## Tinycast and Alfred are the Mac cousins

Tinycast is free, open source and Mac only, and Alfred is the long-standing Mac favorite. smolcast is the closest thing to either on Windows: [smolcast vs Tinycast](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/tinycast), [smolcast vs Alfred](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/alfred).

## Try smolcast

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

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

## One-on-one comparisons

- [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 AlfredCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/alfred)
- [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.  Raycast for Windows 2.9: [raycast.com/windows](https://www.raycast.com/windows)
3.  Raycast pricing: [raycast.com/pricing](https://www.raycast.com/pricing)
4.  Raycast privacy policy (usage data): [raycast.com/privacy](https://www.raycast.com/privacy)
5.  PowerToys Command Palette overview, updated October 2026: [learn.microsoft.com](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/powertoys/command-palette/overview)
6.  PowerToys 0.102.2933.0 release (installer size): [github.com/microsoft/PowerToys](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/releases/tag/v0.102.2933.0)
7.  Flow Launcher README: [github.com/Flow-Launcher](https://github.com/Flow-Launcher/Flow.Launcher)
8.  Flow Launcher 2.1.4 release (installer size): [github.com/Flow-Launcher](https://github.com/Flow-Launcher/Flow.Launcher/releases/tag/v2.1.4)
9.  Flow Launcher attribution (its Wox roots): [github.com/Flow-Launcher](https://github.com/Flow-Launcher/Flow.Launcher/blob/dev/attribution.md)
10.  Tinycast 0.12.1: [tinycast.dev](https://tinycast.dev)
11.  Fluent Search site: [fluentsearch.net](https://www.fluentsearch.net/)
12.  Fluent Search docs: [fluentsearch.net/docs](https://www.fluentsearch.net/docs)
13.  Fluent Search repository: [github.com/adirh3/Fluent-Search](https://github.com/adirh3/Fluent-Search)
14.  Listary site: [listary.com](https://www.listary.com/)
15.  Listary Pro: [listary.com/pro](https://www.listary.com/pro)
16.  Listary hotkeys: [help.listary.com](https://help.listary.com/hotkeys)
17.  Wox site: [woxlauncher.com](https://www.woxlauncher.com/)
18.  Wox 2.4.7 repository: [github.com/Wox-launcher/Wox](https://github.com/Wox-launcher/Wox)
19.  Alfred 5.8.1: [alfredapp.com](https://www.alfredapp.com/)
20.  Alfred Powerpack: [alfredapp.com/powerpack](https://www.alfredapp.com/powerpack/)
21.  Clipboard History help: [alfredapp.com/help](https://www.alfredapp.com/help/features/clipboard/)
22.  Snippets help: [alfredapp.com/help](https://www.alfredapp.com/help/features/snippets/)
23.  Keypirinha 2.26: [keypirinha.com](https://keypirinha.com/)
24.  Keypirinha releases: [github.com/Keypirinha](https://github.com/Keypirinha/Keypirinha/releases)
25.  Ueli repository: [github.com/oliverschwendener/ueli](https://github.com/oliverschwendener/ueli)
26.  Ueli 9.29.1 release (installer size): [github.com/oliverschwendener/ueli](https://github.com/oliverschwendener/ueli/releases/tag/v9.29.1)

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/