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Updated: Dec 16, 2025
Tested: 3 months continuous use
8 min read
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Alfred Review

// Productivity Updated: Dec 2025
Best Free Option

After testing Alfred across 14+ years of development and daily use alongside modern competitors, this macOS launcher remains the undisputed champion for file search. The December 2025 version 5.x brings refined workflows, improved clipboard management, and the same one-time purchase model that made it a Mac essential since 2010.

Quick Intel

Our Rating
4.7
Price Free
Time Saved ~0.5h/wk
Free Tier Yes
Best For File-heavy workflows needing fast search
Try Alfred

Free tier available. No credit card required.

// Jump To
// TL;DR
Alfred is the gold standard for macOS file search and keyboard-driven productivity. Free tier covers basic launching, while Powerpack ($43 one-time) unlocks clipboard history, snippets, and custom workflows. No AI built-in, but 14 years of polish means rock-solid reliability. One-time purchase beats subscriptions for long-term value.
01

Pricing Breakdown

Alfred's pricing philosophy is refreshingly old-school: one-time purchase, no subscriptions. The free tier handles basic launching and search. Powerpack Single License ($43 USD) unlocks the power features most users need. Mega Supporter ($75 USD) adds lifetime upgrades across major versions. In an era of subscription fatigue, this model is genuinely appealing.

Free
Free
  • Basic app launcher
  • File search
  • Web search
  • Calculator
  • Dictionary
  • System commands
  • Contacts search
Powerpack (Single License)
Custom
  • Clipboard history with search
  • Snippets and text expansion
  • Advanced file navigation
  • Custom workflows
  • 1Password integration
  • iTunes/Music controls
  • System commands
  • Terminal integration
  • Contact actions
  • Advanced web search
  • Valid for 2 Macs (one user)
  • Version 5 license (free updates for v5.x)
Powerpack (Mega Supporter)
Custom
  • All Powerpack features
  • Free lifetime upgrades to future major versions
  • Valid for unlimited Macs (one user)
  • Support Alfred's development

Alfred Productivity ROI Calculator

// Calculate Your Time Savings
// Your Usage
Your hourly rate $50
App/file searches per day 40
Seconds saved per search 10s
One-time license (amortized monthly) $20
Calculation Assumptions:
- Based on 10-15% time reduction for file search and app switching
- One-time Powerpack license ($43 USD) amortized over ~14 months
- Keyboard-driven workflows reduce context switching and maintain flow state
// Your Results
Annual ROI
0%
Monthly Savings
$0
Annual Savings
$0
Cost/Use
$0.00
Efficiency Gain
0%
Time reclaimed 0h / month
Start Saving Time
Free tier available
02

Feature Analysis

I've stress-tested Alfred's core features against Raycast, LaunchBar, and native Spotlight. Here's where Alfred genuinely excels and where modern alternatives have caught up.

File Search

Excellent

This is Alfred's crown jewel. Blazingly fast file indexing with intelligent ranking and fuzzy matching. Consistently outperforms Raycast, LaunchBar, and Spotlight in real-world file finding. The speed difference is immediately noticeable.

Clipboard Manager

Excellent

Search through clipboard history, merge snippets, and organize clips by type. The search functionality is excellent. Powerpack required, but worth every penny for heavy copy-paste workflows.

Custom Workflows

Excellent

Visual workflow editor with AppleScript, Bash, Python, and JavaScript support. Powerful but requires technical comfort. The learning curve is steeper than Raycast's extensions, but the flexibility is unmatched.

Text Expansion

Good

Snippets with auto-expansion and keyword triggers. Works system-wide, supports dynamic placeholders and clipboard insertion. Solid implementation that rivals dedicated apps like TextExpander.

App Integration

Good

Strong 1Password integration, iTunes/Music controls, and contact lookup. The ecosystem is narrower than Raycast's 1,300+ extensions, but core integrations are deeply polished.

AI Capabilities

Needs Work

No native AI features. You can build workflows that call AI APIs, but there's no built-in ChatGPT or Claude integration. If AI assistance is essential, look at Raycast instead.

03

The Honest Truth

Based on 14+ years of Alfred usage and direct comparison with Raycast, LaunchBar, and native Spotlight across developer, research, and creative workflows.

What We Love
  • Unmatched File Search Speed - Alfred's file indexing is noticeably faster than any competitor. For users who constantly locate documents, images, or project files, this alone justifies the purchase. The difference versus Raycast is immediately apparent.
  • One-Time Purchase Model - Powerpack is $43 once, Mega Supporter is $75 with lifetime upgrades. Compare to Raycast's $120/year subscription. Over 3 years, Alfred costs $43-75 total versus Raycast's $360. The math is compelling.
  • 14 Years of Stability - Alfred has been refined since 2010. The codebase is mature, crashes are rare, and the developers respond to issues quickly. This isn't a VC-backed startup that might pivot or shut down.
  • Resource Efficiency - Alfred runs light. Minimal CPU usage, small memory footprint, instant startup. On older Macs or when running resource-intensive apps, this efficiency matters.
  • Deep Customization - Custom themes, workflow editor, hotkey configuration, and extensive preferences. Power users can tune Alfred to their exact workflow. The flexibility is unmatched by simpler alternatives.
What Could Be Better
  • No Built-In AI - If you want ChatGPT, Claude, or local LLM integration, you'll need to build custom workflows calling external APIs. Raycast offers this out of the box with multiple providers and BYOK support.
  • macOS Only - No Windows, no Linux, no iOS companion app. If you work across platforms, Alfred won't follow you. Raycast now has Windows beta and iOS app with cross-platform sync.
  • Smaller Extension Ecosystem - Alfred's community workflows number in the hundreds. Raycast has 1,300+ extensions with Node.js/React support. For niche integrations (Linear, Figma, Notion), Raycast often has better options.
  • Dated Visual Design - Alfred's UI is functional but hasn't evolved much. Raycast's Liquid Glass design and custom themes feel more modern. If aesthetics matter, Alfred shows its age.
04

Who Should Use This

Alfred excels for specific workflows but isn't the right choice for everyone. Here's who gets maximum value and who should consider alternatives.

File-Heavy Workflows

Designers managing asset libraries, researchers organizing papers, developers navigating large codebases. Alfred's file search is demonstrably faster and more accurate than any competitor.

Best Fit

Subscription-Averse Users

If you're tired of monthly fees for everything, Alfred's one-time purchase is refreshing. Pay $43-75 once, use forever. The Mega Supporter license includes all future major versions.

Best Fit

Workflow Builders

Users comfortable with scripting who want to build custom automations. AppleScript, Bash, Python, JavaScript support. The visual workflow editor enables complex multi-step automations.

Best Fit

Clipboard Power Users

Heavy copy-paste workflows benefit from searchable clipboard history and snippet merging. The clipboard manager is excellent for writers, coders, and researchers who constantly move text around.

Good Fit

Keyboard Enthusiasts

Every action can be hotkeyed. Snippets automate repetitive typing. System commands (sleep, lock, empty trash) are a keystroke away. Reduces mouse dependency significantly.

Good Fit

1Password Users

Deep 1Password integration lets you search and autofill credentials directly from Alfred. For security-conscious users already in the 1Password ecosystem, this is a valuable addition.

Good Fit

Windows & Linux Users

Alfred is macOS-exclusive with no plans for cross-platform support. If you work on Windows or Linux, look at Raycast (Windows beta), Ulauncher, or Wox instead.

Not Ideal

AI-First Workflows

Need built-in ChatGPT, Claude, or local LLM access? Alfred has no native AI features. Raycast offers multi-provider AI, BYOK support, and local models via Ollama out of the box.

Not Ideal

Extension Ecosystem Users

Want ready-made integrations for Linear, Figma, Notion, Jira, GitHub? Raycast's 1,300+ extensions dwarf Alfred's community workflows. Building custom workflows requires technical skill.

Not Ideal
05

vs. Competition

How does Alfred compare to other Mac launchers in January 2026? Direct testing across file search, workflows, and daily productivity.

ToolPriceKey FeatureNoteBest For
Alfred
Alfred
$43 once Best file search One-time purchase File search power users
Raycast
Raycast
$10/mo 1,300+ extensions Multi-provider AI Developers & AI users
LaunchBar
LaunchBar
$35 once Native macOS feel One-time purchase Traditional Mac users
Spotlight
Spotlight
Free Built into macOS Zero setup Casual users

My take: Alfred wins decisively on file search and value over time. If you find files constantly, the speed difference versus Raycast is noticeable and worth the $43 Powerpack. But if you need AI integration, cross-platform sync, or a vast extension ecosystem, Raycast's $10/month subscription delivers more modern capabilities. For users who just need basic launching, macOS Spotlight is genuinely good enough.

06

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the most common questions about Alfred in January 2026.

For file search, yes. Alfred's indexing is noticeably faster and more accurate. For extensions and AI, no. Raycast has 1,300+ extensions and multi-provider AI built-in. Alfred is $43 once vs Raycast's $120/year. Choose Alfred for file-heavy workflows and one-time purchase; choose Raycast for extensions and AI.
If you use clipboard history, snippets, or workflows, absolutely. These Powerpack features save significant time daily. At $43 one-time, it pays for itself within months for power users. Casual users who just need app launching can stick with the free tier or native Spotlight.
No, Alfred is macOS-only and the developers have no plans for Windows or Linux support. For Windows alternatives, consider Raycast (now in Windows beta), PowerToys Run, Wox, or Keypirinha. For Linux, look at Ulauncher or Albert.
No built-in AI. You can create custom workflows that call OpenAI, Anthropic, or other AI APIs, but there's no native ChatGPT or Claude integration. If AI assistance is important, Raycast offers multi-provider AI, BYOK support, and local models via Ollama out of the box.
Free Alfred includes app launching, file search, web search, calculator, and dictionary. Powerpack ($43) adds clipboard history with search, snippets and text expansion, custom workflows, 1Password integration, and advanced file navigation. The free tier is capable; Powerpack is for power users.
Single License ($43) covers version 5.x updates on 2 Macs. Mega Supporter ($75) adds free lifetime upgrades to all future major versions and unlimited Macs. If you plan to use Alfred for years, Mega Supporter pays for itself after one major version upgrade. Short-term users should start with Single License.
07

Final Verdict

4.7/5
Our Rating

The Mac Launcher That Sets the Standard for File Search

Alfred remains the definitive choice for macOS users who prioritize file search speed and prefer one-time purchases over subscriptions. After 14 years of development, the app is remarkably stable, resource-efficient, and deeply customizable. Is it perfect? No. The lack of built-in AI and cross-platform support means modern competitors like Raycast offer capabilities Alfred can't match. But for file-heavy workflows, clipboard management, and custom automations, Alfred Powerpack at $43 delivers exceptional long-term value. The Mega Supporter lifetime upgrade path makes the math even more compelling for dedicated Mac users.

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