LaunchBar
Objective Development Software GmbH
LaunchBar is a powerful and versatile productivity application for macOS that provides instant access to applications, documents, contacts, bookmarks, music library, search engines and more through quick abbreviations. It streamlines workflows by offering features like clipboard history, snippet management, and file operations, making it a central hub for efficient Mac usage.
User Sentiments
Top Likes
- Fast and efficient abbreviation-based search
- Extensive features and customization options
- Clipboard history and snippet management
- Versatile actions and scripting capabilities
Top Dislikes
- Price may be considered high for some users
- Can have a learning curve for advanced features
- Less visually oriented compared to Alfred/Raycast
Popular Comments
MacUpdate User
2024-10-15
LaunchBar is an award-winning productivity utility that offers an amazingly intuitive and efficient way to search and access any kind of information stored on your computer or on the Web.
Product Hunt - Serge Acker
2022-08-09
An original user of QuickSilver, I quickly got hooked using LaunchBar. To my mind, far superior to the alternative like Alfred... Meaning that simple functions just work whereas at the moment, just launching an app leads to an unexplained bug. The Workflow but sounds great, but Launchbar (and now Shortcuts on the Mac) kind of negate that advantage.
Matthew Palmer - matthewpalmer.net
2022-11-21
LaunchBar is the main competitor to Alfred. It's a bit simpler to customise, a bit cheaper, but still offers a tonne of functionality and power.
MacRumors Forum User
2020-02-13
Very hard to make a judgment for someone else on this [LaunchBar vs Alfred]. They do essentially the same things but in slightly different ways. ... I recently switched to Alfred after using LaunchBar for many years.
The Sweet Setup
2019-07-16
In our opinion, LaunchBar is the only real direct competitor to Alfred. It offers a lot of the same features and even a few extras, like Instant Send... LaunchBar is a high-quality application and, in our opinion, is the only other serious option to consider.
ATPM - Michael Tsai
2001
LaunchBar is a utility for Mac OS X that provides quick access to your files... It's a bit like the address auto-completion in Internet Explorer 5, except that it works for everything from applications and folders to e-mail addresses and Web bookmarks.
Detailed Review
LaunchBar is a veteran productivity application for macOS, renowned for its speed and efficiency in accessing applications, files, and web resources. It operates on the principle of abbreviation-based searching, where users type short acronyms to quickly locate and interact with items on their Mac and the web. Beyond basic launching, LaunchBar offers a suite of features including clipboard history, snippet management, a built-in calculator, and music library control. It also supports customizable actions and scripting, allowing power users to extend its functionality to automate complex tasks. While it shares common ground with Alfred, LaunchBar is often praised for its focus on text-based interaction and adaptive learning algorithm that improves search accuracy over time.
Standout Features
- Adaptive Abbreviation Search: Quickly find items using short abbreviations that LaunchBar learns and refines over time based on user preferences.
- Instant Access to Everything: Launch applications, open documents, access contacts, bookmarks, music, and more with just a few keystrokes.
- Clipboard History: Access and manage a history of copied items, enhancing productivity when working with multiple pieces of information.
- Snippet Management: Create and quickly insert frequently used text snippets, saving time on repetitive typing.
- File Operations: Perform file management tasks directly from LaunchBar, including moving, copying, renaming, and tagging files.
- Web and System Actions: Initiate web searches across various engines, control system settings, and execute commands directly through LaunchBar.
- Extensibility: Extend LaunchBar's capabilities with custom actions and scripting in languages like JavaScript, AppleScript, Python, and Ruby.
- Context-Aware Categories: Filter searches by categories to quickly narrow down results when looking for specific types of items like applications, music albums, or contacts.
Conclusion
LaunchBar is a robust and mature productivity tool for macOS that excels in providing rapid access to a wide array of functions through a streamlined, keyboard-centric interface. Its strength lies in its intelligent abbreviation search and extensive feature set that caters to both everyday users and power users seeking to optimize their workflows. While it may require some initial setup and learning to fully leverage its advanced features, the time investment pays off in significant productivity gains. For users who prefer a text-focused, highly efficient launcher with a deep feature set, LaunchBar remains a top contender in the macOS productivity landscape, often compared favorably to alternatives like Alfred and Raycast.
