PowerToys Command Palette
PowerToys Command Palette: A free, open-source Windows launcher with built-in search, commands, bookmarks, and extensions. Ranked #10 of 40 in App Launcher Software by our editors (8.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for windows users wanting a modern free launcher.
At a glance
- Editor score8.2 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forWindows users wanting a modern free launcher
- Free planYes
- Paid fromNone
- Supported platformsWindows
- Facts checked19 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Launch apps, run commands, and search local files from the keyboard.
- Bookmark files, folders, URLs, and shell commands in one place.
- Extend the launcher with configurable plugins and a persistent Dock.
Where it doesn't
- Works only on Windows.
- Requires Windows 10 version 2004 or later, or Windows 11.
- Its usefulness beyond built-in features depends on available extensions.
Our verdict on PowerToys Command Palette
PowerToys Command Palette is a free, open-source launcher included with Microsoft PowerToys. It is aimed at Windows users who want a keyboard-first way to open applications, run shell and system commands, search local files and folders, and reach Windows settings or PowerToys tools. It also supports web search through the default browser, making it useful for people who want app, file, command, and web entry points in one interface rather than a launcher focused only on installed apps. It requires Windows 10 version 2004 or later, or Windows 11.
Its breadth comes from combining search with bookmarks and extensions. Bookmarks can point to files, folders, URLs, or shell commands, while a persistent Dock can keep commands and extensions close at hand. Extensions can be installed, updated, disabled, and configured, and can add commands, tools, integrations, or interactive pages in list, detail, form, Markdown, and grid layouts. Users can also customize activation shortcuts, themes, backdrops, and search behavior. This makes the product more adaptable than a simple app search box, though the range of added functions depends on the extensions a user chooses.
There is no paid tier to compare: the published product description identifies Command Palette as free and open-source. Its clearest boundary is platform scope; it is for Windows, not a cross-platform launcher. The feature set described here supports local searching and configurable shortcuts, but does not establish cloud synchronization or a specific workflow feature for every use case. Choose it if you want a no-cost Windows launcher that can span apps, files, commands, bookmarks, and extensions. Look elsewhere if you need a launcher outside Windows or depend on a particular workflow capability that is not covered by its documented feature set.
Your product? Our editors can test PowerToys Command Palette in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $99/mo →
PowerToys Command Palette pricing
PowerToys Command Palette fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | None |
| Supported platforms | Windows |
| File search | Yes |
| Command launching | Yes |
| Workflow support | Not verified |
| Plugin support | Yes |
| Cloud sync | Not verified |
| Shortcut limit | Not verified |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | learn.microsoft.com |
| Facts checked | 19 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to PowerToys Command Palette
- RaycastRaycast combines app and file search with commands, extensions, and optional AI.9.4
- WoxWox combines app launching, search, commands, plugins, and cloud sync in an open-source launcher.9.2
- AlfredA capable Mac launcher whose Powerpack adds automation and productivity tools.8.9
See all PowerToys Command Palette alternatives →
Also Ranked In
PowerToys Command Palette is ranked in 5 of our directories.
Used PowerToys Command Palette? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used PowerToys Command Palette for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
PowerToys Command Palette is listed in our App Launcher Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/powertoys-command-palette/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/powertoys-command-palette.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update