App launcher privacy ratings
Keyboard launchers and command palettes for opening apps, files and commands.
10 app launchers are rated against 4 public criteria, and 10 have enough evidence for a letter grade. Of the 5 with a known jurisdiction, 4 are based in a Five Eyes country, and 5 in the wider Fourteen Eyes.
Open-source app launchers only · Criteria for this category · Suggest an addition · Markdown
| Name | Grade | Score | Data | Jurisdiction | Open source | No trackers or telemetry | No ads or data sales | Independent audit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A plugin-based keyboard launcher for Linux and macOS, written in C++ and Qt, with plugins for apps, files, calculations, web searches and Python extensions. |
Grade B | 80 | 100% | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
An open source keyboard launcher for Windows that searches apps, files and bookmarks and supports plugins, themes and web searches. |
Grade B | 80 | 100% | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
KDE Plasma's search and launcher for starting apps, finding files and running commands, calculations and conversions through plugins called runners. |
Grade B | 80 | 100% | Germany Fourteen Eyes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
A window switcher, application launcher and dmenu replacement for X11 and Wayland that can be scripted to build custom menus. |
Grade B | 80 | 100% | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
An open source application launcher for Linux with fuzzy search, shortcuts, themes and Python extensions. |
Grade B | 80 | 100% | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
A keyboard launcher in Microsoft PowerToys for Windows that searches apps, files and settings and runs commands and extensions. It replaces PowerToys Run. |
Grade C | 65 | 100% | United States Five Eyes | Yes | Partial | Yes | No |
An open source launcher for macOS with app search, custom shortcuts, calendar, clipboard history, window management and scripted commands. |
Grade D | 50 | 100% | – | Yes | No | Yes | No |
The search and launcher built into macOS and iOS for finding apps, files, settings and information, with online suggestions from Apple that can be turned off. |
Grade F | 35 | 100% | United States Five Eyes | No | Partial | Yes | No |
A keyboard launcher for macOS and Windows with extensions, clipboard history, snippets and window management. An account is needed only for Pro, Teams, AI and cloud sync features. |
Grade F | 30 | 100% | United Kingdom Five Eyes | No | No | Yes | Partial |
A macOS launcher for searching apps, files and the web, with a paid Powerpack that adds workflows, clipboard history, snippets and other features. |
Grade F | 20 | 100% | United Kingdom Five Eyes | No | No | Yes | No |
Questions
What is the most private option among app launchers?
No pick has been made yet. The table above is sorted by score, based on public evidence.
How are app launchers rated?
Each entry answers 4 questions: open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales and independent audit. Answers need links to evidence. See the full criteria.
Does jurisdiction matter?
Jurisdiction decides which laws can compel a provider to hand over data. Each entry shows its country and whether it is in the Five, Nine or Fourteen Eyes. The data a provider can hand over depends mostly on what it stores and who holds the keys. Read about jurisdictions and the CLOUD Act.