Spotlight replacements for MacHead to head
Alfred vs rcmd
Alfred ranks #2 and rcmd ranks #3 in our guide to the best Spotlight replacements for Mac. Alfred is the better pick for most people.
AlfredPick Alfred if you prefer a one-time price and want to plug in workflows built by other Alfred users.Free to start#3 in the guide
rcmdPick rcmd if you only need to switch between the same few apps fast, not search for files or commands.Free to startWhat decides it
- On price: Alfred is free. The Powerpack is £34 once, or £59 with lifetime upgrades. rcmd is free. Pro is €15 once.
- Both run on Mac.
Side by side
Prices are checked every day.
| At a glance | Alfred | rcmd |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free. The Powerpack is £34 once, or £59 with lifetime upgrades | Free. Pro is €15 once |
| How you pay | Free, with paid upgrades | Free, with paid upgrades |
| Free trial | Free to start | Free to start |
| Runs on | Mac | Mac |
| Where to buy | Developer | Developer |
| Features | None flagged | Free trial |
| Last updated | Not tracked | 2 Nov 2026 |
Who should get which
Get Alfred if
You live on the keyboard and want apps, files, snippets and automations a few keystrokes away.
Get rcmd if
You bounce between the same handful of apps all day and Command-Tab feels slow.
Skip Alfred if
You open a handful of apps a day, and Spotlight on Command-Space already does that free.
Skip rcmd if
You keep 2 or 3 apps open at a time, and Command-Tab already gets you there in 1 press.
Our verdicts
Alfred
Thousands of community-shared workflows plug into this Mac launcher once you buy the £34 Powerpack, which also adds clipboard history and text snippets and includes the free upgrade to Alfred 6. The free version already launches apps, finds files and runs web searches from 1 hotkey. Raycast covers similar ground for free with a newer look, but its extras sit behind a $10 monthly Pro plan, while Alfred's are a one-time purchase priced in pounds.
rcmd
Most Macs have a Right Command key that almost nobody presses, and rcmd turns it into an app switcher: hold it, press S, and Safari jumps to the front or launches. The free version also replaces Command-Tab and jumps to Spaces by number. Pro is €15 once for fuzzy search and Stages, which restores a saved set of windows, and AltTab is the better pick if you switch windows, not apps.
What each one helps you do
Alfred
- Open any app or file by typing a few letters
- Paste something you copied an hour ago
- Expand short keywords into full replies
- Automate repetitive tasks with community workflows
rcmd
- Jump to any app with 1 key combo
- Open an app that isn't running yet
- Move to a Space by its number
- Save and restore sets of apps
Where to get them
Neither one quite right?
The other picks in our guide to the best Spotlight replacements for Mac.
Read the full guideAll Alfred alternativesAll rcmd alternatives
More comparisons
Raycast vs AlfredPick this if you prefer a one-time price and want to plug in workflows built by other Alfred users.
Keyboard Maestro vs AlfredPick it if you want automations you start by typing a keyword, plus community workflows to borrow.- Raycast vs rcmdPick it if you only need to switch between the same few apps fast, not search for files or commands.