Side by side

Executor vs Launchy

Both stand on start menu customization software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

Executor

Free plan Open source Self-hostedWindows

Executor combines customizable launching with small built-in utilities in a free Windows application. Check the installer warning and Windows requirement before choosing it.

Visit Executor

Launchy brings program and file launching into a keyboard-driven search, with skins, plugins, and a portable mode. Its calculator is limited to basic operations, and third-party plugins come without a functionality guarantee.

Visit Launchy

The facts

	Executor	Launchy
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Yes	Yes
Runs on	Self-hosted, Windows	Android, API, Linux, Mac, Windows
Lowest paid plan	Free or on request	Free or on request
Plans published	2	1
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	executor.dk	launchy.net
On start menu customization software	#2 of 39	#1 of 39

Executor: what it does well

Free under the MIT license, including commercial use.
One command or hotkey can trigger multiple actions.
Indexes apps, Control Panel items, and custom locations.
Portable version runs without installation.
Includes clipboard tools, calculations, and system commands.

What to know first

Windows 7 or later is required.
Installer may trigger SmartScreen or Defender warnings.

Launchy: what it does well

Indexes start-menu programs and user-selected directories.
Opens files, folders, websites, and programs by search.
Supports customizable skins and a plugin architecture.
Portable mode stores configuration alongside the application.

What to know first

Calcy handles only basic arithmetic and parentheses.
Plugin developers are third parties; functionality is not guaranteed.
Binary-compatible plugin development requires Visual Studio 2005.

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