5 Free and Open-source Spotlight alternatives Apps for macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon)

1- Cerebro

Desktop Search Assistant

Cerebro is a multi-platform desktop app that helps the user to search their machine or the internet with no more than a few clicks.

The app is created by Alexandr Subbotin a Russian developer, who also created several useful plugins. Later then, the app attracted many developers who supply it with more plugins and support.

If you are a macOS user, You can notice the similarity with the built-in search app Spotlight search, which indexes all of your files and improve search and access to everything.

Cerebro is similar to Spotlight, but with more extended functions, and a rich plugin set. Like Spotlight, you can use it to access your installed apps and search Google directly without opening any browser.

Cerebro is more than just a search tool, it is a productivity booster that can help you do more.

Read about Cerebro 's features, license, platforms, and more.

2- Quicksilver

macOS launcher

Quicksilver is a fast and free macOS productivity application that gives you the power to control your Mac quickly and elegantly. Quicksilver learns your habits, making your everyday chores simple and efficient.

Quicksilver is a launcher utility app for macOS which gives you the ability to perform common, every-day tasks rapidly and without thought. An introduction to Quicksilver's abilities include:

• Accessing applications, documents, contacts, music and much, much more.

• Browsing your Mac's filesystem elegantly using keywords and 'fuzzy' matching.

• Managing content through drag and drop, or grabbing selected content directly.

• Interacting with installed applications through plugins.

Quicksilver gives you quick access to all your important things. With only a few keystrokes, you can get to your applications, files, contacts, bookmarks, music, etc. Don't get distracted though; although Quicksilver finds and launches things quickly and extremely well, it's more about doing, not finding.

Read about Quicksilver 's features, license, platforms, and more.

3- Sol

macOS App launcher, focused on ease of use and speed.

Sol is an app launcher, focused on ease of use and speed.

It is aimed to be a replacement for Alfred, Spotlight and Raycast without too much configuration.

Read about Sol 's features, license, platforms, and more.

4- ueli

A keystroke launcher for Windows and macOS

ueli is a free useful tool that boosts your productivity on Windows and macOS.

Read about ueli 's features, license, platforms, and more.

5- Zazu App

open-source launcher for hackers

Zazu App is a fully extensible and open source launcher for hackers, creators and dabblers. It comes with sane defaults to make it useful out of the box. But everything can be changed to fit your needs. Don't let others tell you the best way to be productive, configure it to be perfect for you.

Zazu was created to be a fully open source alternative to Alfred, but also be completely plugin based. You can remove any functionality you don't like, so if you hate the built in calculator, just get a new one!

Read about Zazu App 's features, license, platforms, and more.