Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · App Launcher Software

Raycast vs Launchy

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Raycast #1 in App Launcher Software 9.4/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Raycast
Launchy #9 in App Launcher Software 8.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Launchy

Raycast leads on 0 checks, Launchy on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreRaycast · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly Raycast
  • Most featuresRaycast · 5 of 5

Raycast scores higher on our rubric for app launcher software: 9.4 against 8.3 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #9.

Raycast is the better fit for cross-platform power users. Launchy is the better fit for users needing broad platform coverage.

  • Raycast fits best

    Cross-platform power users

  • Launchy fits best

    Users needing broad platform coverage

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Raycast 9.4/10 Visit ↗ Launchy 8.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.3
Ranking #1 in App Launcher Software #9 in App Launcher Software
Best for Cross-platform power users Users needing broad platform coverage
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price $10/mo Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial 7 days —
Deployment Desktop, Mobile Desktop, Mobile
Platforms macOS, Windows, iOS Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
Integrations 10 integrations 2 integrations
Features Raycast 5/5 · Launchy 4/5
File search ✓ ✓
Command launching ✓ ✓
Workflow support ✓ ✓
Plugin support ✓ ✓
Cloud sync ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms Cross-platform Cross-platform
Shortcut limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Search apps and files, then launch URLs and tools with Quicklinks.
  • Run system and script commands, with hotkeys and aliases.
  • Thousands of extensions, plus AI and Cloud Sync on paid plans.
  • Indexes apps, documents, folders, bookmarks, and other local files
  • Supports hotkeys, command aliases, web shortcuts, and plugins
  • Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android-related releases
Cons
  • AI features are not included in the Free plan.
  • Cloud Sync is limited to paid plans.
  • Paid plans start at $10 per month.
  • Firefox and Google are the only listed integrations
  • Cataloging and file types require user configuration
  • Feature breadth depends on plugins for additional actions
Our verdict

Raycast brings application and file search, Quicklinks, and system tools into a keyboard-first launcher. It is aimed at power users who want to open apps and files, run commands, and extend a launcher with workflows rather than rely on…

Read the review →

Launchy is a free, open-source application launcher for people who want to find and open programs and local files from a keyboard-driven search interface. It is available across Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android-related releases, making…

Read the review →
  1. RaycastApp Launcher Software 9.4Free plan · 7-day trial
  2. LaunchyApp Launcher Software 8.3Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Raycast — where it wins

    • Search apps and files, then launch URLs and tools with Quicklinks.
    • Run system and script commands, with hotkeys and aliases.
    • Thousands of extensions, plus AI and Cloud Sync on paid plans.

    Where it doesn't

    • AI features are not included in the Free plan.
    • Cloud Sync is limited to paid plans.
    • Paid plans start at $10 per month.
  • Launchy — where it wins

    • Indexes apps, documents, folders, bookmarks, and other local files
    • Supports hotkeys, command aliases, web shortcuts, and plugins
    • Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android-related releases

    Where it doesn't

    • Firefox and Google are the only listed integrations
    • Cataloging and file types require user configuration
    • Feature breadth depends on plugins for additional actions
  • Raycast9.4/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial

    Raycast combines app and file search with commands, extensions, and optional AI.

    Visit RaycastFull verdict →
  • Launchy8.3/10 · Free plan

    A free, cross-platform launcher for finding apps, files, and web searches by keyboard.

    Visit LaunchyFull verdict →

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update