The real decision here is subscription versus buy-once. Raycast Pro is $10/month ($120/year). Alfred's Powerpack is roughly $40–45 as a one-time purchase — it pays for itself against Raycast in about four months. PowerToys Run is free, and it's Windows-only.
| Cost | Platform | AI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raycast | free core; Pro $10/mo | macOS (Windows in beta) | yes, in Pro |
| Alfred | free; Powerpack ~$43 once (£59 for lifetime updates) | macOS only | no |
| PowerToys Run | free | Windows | no |
Raycast is the modern one: 2,000+ community extensions, a clean design, and — with Pro — AI (ask questions, run models from the launcher) and cloud sync of your settings. Its core features are free and genuinely capable; you only pay for AI and team features. It's the pick if you want the biggest extension ecosystem and don't mind a subscription for the AI layer.
Alfred is the classic macOS power-user launcher: exceptional file search, powerful custom "workflows," and a one-time price. No AI at any tier, but if what you want is a fast, scriptable launcher you buy once and own, Alfred is that — and the £59 Mega Supporter option throws in lifetime updates across future major versions.
PowerToys Run is Microsoft's free quick-launcher for Windows, bundled in the PowerToys utility pack. It's not as extensible as the other two, but it's free and it's the obvious starting point on Windows.
On macOS and you want AI in your launcher plus the largest extension library: Raycast, accepting the $10/month. On macOS and you'd rather pay once for a fast scriptable launcher: Alfred. On Windows: PowerToys Run, free.