By Anna Sherry

Updated on 2025-02-10

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PDF Editor Tips

10 Alfred Alternatives: Fast Launchers for Every OS 2025

By Anna Sherry

2025-02-10 / PDF Editor

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Are you tired of juggling countless tabs, overflowing inboxes, and an endless to-do list? Alfred is a popular tool that helps Mac users stay organized and boost productivity, but what if you're on Windows or simply looking for something different? Luckily, there are plenty of Alfred alternative available for both macOS and Windows.

In this article, we’ll explore 10 of the best Alfred alternative in 2025, highlighting their features and benefits. Whether you’re on Mac, Windows, or Linux, you'll find the perfect fast launcher to streamline your workflow and make your productivity soar!

Recommends

Best for Document Management: Tenorshare PDNob

Tenorshare PDNob excels in editing and managing PDFs, making document handling efficient and user-friendly.

Best for General Productivity: Cerebro

Cerebro is an open-source productivity tool that allows quick access to applications and files.

Best for Mac Users: Albert

Albert is a lightweight launcher for macOS that supports plugins and offers customizable features.

Best for Linux Users: Ulauncher

Ulauncher provides a fast application launcher for Linux with snippet management and extension support.

Part 1. Factors to Consider When Selecting Alfred Alternative

Part 2. Best 10 Alfred Alternatives in 2025

Cerebro
Tenorshare PDNobHOT
Albert
Ulauncher
Gnome Do
Rofi
Keypirinha
Wox
Kupfer
Arc Menu

Part 3. FAQs of Alfred & Its Alternatives

Part 1. Factors to Consider When Selecting Alfred Alternative

When looking for an alternative to Alfred, it’s important to keep several key factors in mind to ensure you choose the right tool for your needs. Let’s dive into the main factors to consider when selecting the best Alfred alternative.

Features and Functionality: Ensure the tool offers essential features like quick app launching and file searching.
Customization Options: Look for alternatives that allow customization of shortcuts and workflows to fit personal preferences.
Platform Compatibility: Verify that the alternative works well on your operating system, whether it's macOS, Linux, or Windows.
User Interface: Choose a tool with an intuitive and user-friendly interface for a seamless experience.
Community and Support: Consider alternatives with strong community support and documentation for troubleshooting and enhancements.

Part 2. Best 10 Alfred Alternatives in 2025

1. Cerebro

Use Case: A productivity tool designed for quick application launching and file searching.
Price: Free and open-source.
Platform Support: Primarily available on Linux.
User Reviews: Generally positive for its speed and efficiency.

Cerebro is a powerful, open-source desktop search tool and application launcher, designed to improve productivity by allowing you to quickly access files, apps, and web content. It’s an excellent Alfred alternative for those using Linux, macOS, and Windows. With a user-friendly interface and versatile search capabilities, Cerebro enables users to search files, run commands, and even control other apps on your device.

Pros:

Free, open-source, and cross-platform.
Fast and simple search experience.
Customizable with plugins for extra features.
Lightweight, no significant system resource usage.

Cons:

User interface could be more polished.

2. Tenorshare PDNob

Use Case: Comprehensive PDF editing, conversion, and annotation tool.
Price: Offers a free trial; full version available for purchase.
Platform Support: Compatible with Windows and macOS.
User Reviews: Users appreciate the AI capabilities for summarizing PDFs and the high accuracy of OCR technology.

Tenorshare PDNob is an all-in-one tool for reading, editing, converting, and managing various file types, including PDFs, Word documents, EPUBs, and images. It’s an ideal solution for users who need not only to edit text but also to work with scanned documents, audio books, and more.

Users appreciate its 300X faster AI-powered PDF reading, summarization, and insights extraction. The software’s ability to convert over 30 file formats, including Word, Excel, PPT, and EPUB, makes it an excellent PDF editing tool for various use cases. The high OCR accuracy (99%) is especially praised for converting scanned PDFs into editable and searchable content.

Key Features:

AI-Powered Speed (300X Faster):

Accelerates PDF reading, summarization, and insights extraction using advanced AI.
30+ Formats Supported:

Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PPT, Image, PDF/A, Text, EPUB, and more.
100+ Editing Tools:

Edit text, images, watermarks, links, backgrounds, and combine or protect PDFs.
200+ Annotation Options:

Add highlights, stickers, underlines, shapes, stamps, and more for easy document collaboration.
99% OCR Accuracy:

Convert scanned PDFs to editable, searchable content with high accuracy.

3. Albert

Use Case: Personal finance management tool that helps users track spending and savings.
Price: Subscription-based with a free trial option.
Platform Support: Available on iOS and Android.
User Reviews: Users find it helpful for budgeting but note occasional syncing issues.

Albert is a lightweight app launcher for Linux, designed to be an Alfred alternative for Linux users. It allows quick search for applications, files, and web content. Its simplicity and plugin support make it easy to customize, offering similar functionality to Alfred without the complexity. Albert is an ideal solution for users seeking a free Alfred alternative for Linux.

Pros:

Fast search and application launching.
Open-source and fully customizable.
Lightweight and efficient on resources.

Cons:

Limited advanced plugin support.

4. Ulauncher

Use Case: Fast application launcher for Linux with customizable extensions.
Price: Free and open-source.
Platform Support: Linux.
User Reviews: Users appreciate its speed and flexibility but mention a learning curve for customization.

Ulauncher is a fast, customizable app launcher for Linux, providing quick access to files and system commands. It’s designed to work smoothly with web searches, file management, and text snippets. As an Alfred alternative for Linux, Ulauncher stands out due to its efficiency, lightweight nature, and the ability to integrate with plugins. It's an excellent choice for users needing a free Alfred alternative.

Pros:

Fast, responsive search interface.
Supports various extensions for more features.
Lightweight and easy to use.
Works well for basic productivity tasks.

Cons:

Limited to Linux platforms.
Fewer customization options than Alfred.

5. Gnome Do

Use Case: Application launcher designed for GNOME desktop environments to quickly access applications and files.
Price: Free and open-source.
Platform Support: Linux (GNOME).
User Reviews: Positive feedback on its simplicity but some users desire more features.

Gnome Do is a powerful Linux app launcher that offers fast access to applications, files, and system commands. It integrates seamlessly with the GNOME desktop environment, making it a great Alfred alternative for Linux. Users can customize workflows and shortcuts, enhancing productivity. Gnome Do is a lightweight yet efficient solution for Linux users looking for an Alfred alternative for linux.

Pros:

Easy to use with quick results.
Integrates well with GNOME desktop.
Supports plugins for extended functionality.
Fast search and application launching.

Cons:

Lacks advanced features compared to Alfred.

6. Rofi

Use Case: A window switcher, application launcher, and SSH launcher for X11 desktop environments.
Price: Free and open-source.
Platform Support: Linux.
User Reviews: Highly regarded for its speed and efficiency, though it may require configuration.

Rofi is a Linux-based app launcher and window switcher that provides users with fast, customizable access to apps and files. Its simplicity and minimalism make it a solid Alfred alternative for Linux. With support for scripting and custom themes, Rofi can be personalized to suit a variety of needs. It’s perfect for Linux users who prefer lightweight tools and want flexibility in customizing their workflows.

Pros:

Highly customizable with powerful options.
Open-source and free to use.
Works well for advanced users.

Cons:

Limited support for non-Linux platforms.

7. Keypirinha

Use Case: Fast launcher for Windows that allows users to quickly find files, folders, and applications.
Price: Free with an optional donation model.
Platform Support: Windows.
User Reviews: Users commend its speed and lightweight nature but note limited features compared to some alternatives.

Keypirinha is a fast, efficient Windows app launcher that offers features similar to Alfred. With its low resource usage and extensive plugin support, it allows users to quickly search for files, launch apps, and execute commands. It's an excellent Alfred alternative for Windows, with extensive customization options for personalized workflows, making it ideal for Windows users seeking a productivity boost.

Pros:

Extremely fast search results
Highly customizable workflows
No installation required
Lightweight

Cons:

Limited support for non-Windows platforms
No official plugin repository

8. Wox

Use Case: Open-source launcher for Windows that supports plugins for extended functionality.
Price: Free.
Platform Support: Windows.
User Reviews: Generally positive for its simplicity but some users report bugs.

Wox is a fast, customizable app launcher for Windows, offering a user-friendly interface and extensive plugin support. It allows users to quickly search and launch apps, execute commands, and access web content. As an Alfred alternative for Windows, Wox provides a free Alfred alternative for users who need a simple and powerful tool to enhance their workflow.

Pros:

Free and open-source with fast searches.
Integrates easily with plugins for more options.
Simple installation and configuration.
Lightweight with minimal system impact.

Cons:

Limited to Windows platforms.
Plugins sometimes require manual setup.

9. Kupfer

Use Case: An intelligent launcher that helps users quickly access applications, files, and bookmarks on Linux systems.
Price: Free and open-source.
Platform Support: Linux.
User Reviews: Users appreciate its speed but mention it could be more feature-rich.

Kupfer is a fast, lightweight app launcher for Linux, designed for users who need quick access to files and applications. It supports plugins and custom workflows, allowing for extensive personalization. As an Alfred alternative for Linux, Kupfer is a simple tool that offers speed and efficiency, ideal for users who need a no-frills, customizable launcher for their Linux system.

Pros:

Fast search and application launching.
Lightweight and easy to set up.
Customizable with simple actions.
Open-source and free for all users.

Cons:

Lacks advanced features found in others.
Limited to Linux, no cross-platform support.

10. Arc Menu

Use Case: A customizable menu extension for GNOME that enhances the application launching experience.
Price: Free and open-source.
Platform Support: Linux (GNOME).
User Reviews: Well-received for its aesthetics and functionality, though some users seek additional customization options.

Arc Menu is a Linux app launcher that replaces the default GNOME start menu. It offers an intuitive, customizable menu for managing applications and files. As an Alfred alternative for Linux, it provides a traditional start menu experience while allowing users to customize workflows and themes. It's perfect for users who prefer a more organized and visually appealing interface for their Linux setup.

Pros:

Seamlessly integrates with GNOME desktop.
Highly customizable interface and features.
Easy to use and configure.
Free and open-source for all users.

Cons:

Limited support outside GNOME environment.
Lacks some advanced functionalities of other tools.

Part 3. FAQs of Alfred & Its Alternatives

1. Which Alfred alternative is best for Linux?

Some of the best Alfred alternatives for Linux include Ulauncher, Cerebro, and Rofi. These tools offer similar functionality, like fast app launching and file search, tailored for Linux users.

2. Is there a free version of Alfred?

Alfred offers a free version with basic functionality, such as app launching and file search. The Powerpack (paid version) unlocks advanced features like workflows, custom actions, and more.

3. What is better, Alfred or Raycast?

Raycast and Alfred offer similar core functionalities, but Raycast is known for its speed, customizability, and deep integration with developer tools. For macOS users, Raycast can be seen as a modern, powerful alternative to Alfred, especially for those who require advanced workflows and automation.

4. Are Alfred alternatives suitable for developers?

Yes, several alternatives, like Raycast, Cerebro, and Ulauncher, are ideal for developers due to their plugin support, scriptable features, and integration with developer tools. These alternatives offer enhanced productivity, such as quick access to terminal commands, files, and documentation.

5. What is the equivalent of Alfred for Windows?

The equivalent of Alfred for Windows is Wox. It offers fast app launching, file search, and customizable plugins, similar to Alfred’s features on macOS.

Conclusion:

Finding the perfect Alfred alternative depends on your specific needs and platform preferences. Mac and Windows users can explore versatile options like Albert and Keypirinha. If you're seeking an all-in-one solution for enhancing productivity, Tenorshare PDNob stands out with its robust features, user-friendly interface, and excellent cross-platform support. Whether you’re editing PDFs or managing tasks efficiently, PDNob delivers the functionality you need.

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