Comparison of desktop application launchers


An application launcher is a computer program that helps a user to locate and start other computer programs. An application launcher provides shortcuts to computer programs, and stores the shortcuts in one place so they are easier to find.
In the comparison of desktop application launchers that follows, each section is devoted to a different desktop environment.

Windows

These desktop application launchers work with Microsoft Windows operating systems only.
CreatorLatest stable versionRelease dateSoftware licenseOpen sourceProgramming languagePlugin support
AppetizerLaurent Cozic1.4.6.494GPLC++, wxWidgets
ASuiteSalvadorSoftware2.0GPLDelphi
Classic ShellIvo Beltchev4.3.1 MITC++
Microsoft PowerToys RunMicrosoft0.73.0 MITC++, C#
PortableApps.com PlatformRare Ideas, LLC15.0.2GPLDelphi
SliderDockDimitri Roozendaal1.21Creative Commons

Linux

These desktop application launchers work with Linux operating systems only.
CreatorLatest stable versionRelease dateOSSoftware licenseOpen sourceProgramming languagePlugin support-
9menuArnold Robbins1.8LinuxGPLC-
Avant Window NavigatorNeil J. Patel0.4.2LinuxGPLC-
dmenudwm developers5.4LinuxMIT LicenseC-
GNOME DoGNOME Do Developers0.95.1LinuxGPLC#-
KatapultTDE DevelopersR14.0.6Linux with TDEGPLC++-
Unity DashCanonical Ltd.7.3.0UbuntuGPLv3Vala
SynapseMichal Hruby and Alberto Aldegheri 0.2.99.408.04.2018LinuxGPLv3Vala-

macOS

These desktop application launchers work with the Apple macOS operating system only.
CreatorLatest stable versionRelease dateSoftware licenseOpen sourceProgramming languagePlugin supportRuns on macOS Catalina
AlfredRunning with Crayons5.5March 18, 2024ProprietaryObjective-C
ButlerPeter Maurer4.4.8January 8, 2024ProprietaryObjective-C
DragThingJames Thomson5.9.17November 16, 2016ProprietaryC++
LaunchBarObjective Development6.19.1July 5, 2024ProprietaryObjective-C
QuicksilverQuicksilver Foundation2.4.2December 28, 2023Apache LicenseObjective-C
RaycastRaycast Technologies Ltd.1.79.0July 17, 2024ProprietarySwift

Cross platform

These desktop application launchers work with two or more different operating systems.
CreatorLatest stable versionRelease dateOSSoftware licenseOpen sourceProgramming languagePlugin supportRuns on macOS Catalina
LaunchyJosh Karlin2.5.0Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOSGPLC++