Quicksilver review
A free Mac launcher that combines keyboard actions, file operations, scripts, and plugins.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Quicksilver is a free, open-source productivity application for macOS, aimed at people who want to launch apps and work with files through the keyboard. It can search applications, files, folders, and bookmarks, then take actions such as moving, copying, renaming, emailing, compressing, or revealing files. Its scope goes beyond launching: users can run scripts and terminal-related actions, search websites, and store clipboard items or content on a Shelf. That breadth makes it a fit for Mac automation enthusiasts who want one keyboard-oriented interface for both finding items and acting on them.
Catalogs and plugins are central to how Quicksilver can be tailored. Users can choose catalog sources and have them rescanned periodically, while the in-app plugin system supports installing, enabling, disabling, updating, and removing plugins. Published integrations include Apple Mail, Gmail, Safari, Google Chrome, Firefox, Calendar, Reminders, and iTunes. Triggers can bind commands to keyboard shortcuts, mouse actions, system events, or gestures. This is a useful combination for people who want to connect launch behavior with repeatable actions; those seeking a ready-made, minimal launcher may find the configurable catalog and modular plugin approach more involved than necessary.
Quicksilver is described as free and open source, with no paid plan structure to compare. Its strongest case is for Mac users comfortable shaping their launcher around their own sources, commands, and plugins, particularly when file operations, scripts, and clipboard tools belong in the same workflow. The key trade-off is platform scope: Quicksilver is for macOS, so it is not a fit for people who need a launcher across different operating systems. Choose it for a customizable Mac command hub; consider a narrower launcher if you only need to open apps and prefer not to configure a broader set of actions.
Quicksilver pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Launch and search apps, files, folders, and bookmarks from the keyboard
- Perform file actions and run scripts without leaving the launcher
- Extend capabilities with plugins, clipboard history, and Shelf storage
- Where it doesn't
- Available only on macOS
- Catalog sources require configuration to shape what Quicksilver indexes
- Some integrations and capabilities depend on its plugin system
Quicksilver fact sheet, pricing and score →
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.
Last updated · How we research and update