- Pick it if you are:
- Mac power users who want speed; People who hate subscriptions
- Top complaint:
- Alfred can't find files or apps that exist on the Mac
- Price:
- Free plan
- Pick it if you are:
- Developers on Windows; Multi-monitor and ultrawide users
- Top complaint:
- PowerToys Run not opening with Alt+Space
- Price:
- Free plan
Score Comparison
Signals Comparison
Alfred
- Alfred can't find files or apps that exist on the Mac(7/10)
- Alfred clipboard history not saving clips(5/10)
- Alfred snippets not expanding(5/10)
- Alfred preferences not saving or syncing via Dropbox(6/10)
Microsoft PowerToys
- PowerToys Run not opening with Alt+Space(7/10)
- PowerToys doesn't work with apps running as administrator(7/10)
- Keyboard Manager remaps not working in some apps and games(6/10)
- PowerToys updates break things (and need hotfixes)(6/10)
- FancyZones not snapping windows(6/10)
- Mouse Without Borders not connecting(6/10)
Alfred
- Alfred hotkey not working or conflicting with Spotlight(7/10)
- Why does Alfred look so dated next to Raycast?(4/10)
- Alfred has no built-in AI features(3/10)
Microsoft PowerToys
- Text Extractor says 'No OCR languages are installed'(4/10)
- Two launchers: PowerToys Run vs Command Palette(4/10)
- Is PowerToys bloated?(3/10)
Alfred
- Alfred workflows are hard to learn and set up(5/10)
- Mac App Store version of Alfred is outdated(4/10)
Microsoft PowerToys
- Settings window won't open or is blank(5/10)
Alfred
- No free trial of the Alfred Powerpack, and no refunds for 'not for me'(5/10)
- Single License covers only one major version(4/10)
Microsoft PowerToys
No signals
Alfred
- Alfred workflows stopped working after macOS update (Python 2)(6/10)
Microsoft PowerToys
No signals
Alfred
- Alfred is Mac only, no Windows or Linux version(4/10)
Microsoft PowerToys
No signals
Alfred
No signals
Microsoft PowerToys
- Why does PowerToys use so much RAM?(5/10)
- PowerToys high CPU usage (Awake and others)(5/10)
Alfred
No signals
Microsoft PowerToys
- No real support, only GitHub issues(4/10)
Pricing Comparison
Alfred
Users: 1 user
Limits: No workflows, no clipboard history, no snippets or text expansion, no Universal Actions, no themes, no preference sync, no 1Password integration, no music controls
Users: 1 user, up to 2 of your own Macs
Limits: Individual use only, non-transferable, not for shared workstations
Users: 1 user, your own Macs
Limits: Individual use only; teams need Corporate Licensing
Microsoft PowerToys
Users: Unlimited
Limits: Windows 10/11 only, no Mac or Linux version, no official support beyond GitHub issues, some modules need admin mode to work with elevated apps
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Alfred | Microsoft PowerToys |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| App launcher and file search Uses the macOS Spotlight metadata index | ||
| Launcher | ||
| PowerToys Run launcher Alt+Space by default | ||
| Command Palette Win+Alt+Space, successor to Run | ||
| Automation | ||
| Workflows Powerpack only | ||
| Productivity | ||
| Clipboard history Powerpack only, off by default | ||
| Snippets / text expansion Powerpack only; dynamic placeholders | ||
| Universal Actions Powerpack only | ||
| Text Extractor OCR Win+Shift+T, needs OCR language pack | ||
| Clipboard history manager Advanced Paste only; Windows has Win+V | ||
| Window management | ||
| FancyZones window layouts | ||
| Input | ||
| Keyboard Manager remapping Doesn't work on password screens | ||
| Mouse Without Borders Control up to 4 PCs | ||
| Sync | ||
| Preference sync across Macs Via a synced folder such as Dropbox or iCloud | ||
| AI | ||
| Built-in AI chat Available through community workflows with your own API key | ||
| Platform | ||
| Windows version macOS only | ||
| Mac/Linux version | ||
| Pricing | ||
| Free Powerpack trial | ||
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