The Best macOS Launcher? I Compared Look, Raycast, Alfred and Spotlight (and Look Won)

Description and use

Look is a fast, free, open‑source launcher for macOS, Windows, and Linux that runs AI locally and keeps all data on the device.

Problem

Mac users rely heavily on the Cmd+Space launcher, but existing options (Spotlight, Raycast, Alfred) have trade‑offs in speed, privacy, cost, and cross‑platform support.

Outcome

Look outperforms competitors in speed, privacy, and cross‑platform consistency while offering local AI and built‑in productivity tools.

Workflow

• 1. Install Look via Homebrew or download binaries
• 2. Launch with Alt+Space (macOS: Cmd+Space)
• 3. Use natural language queries or built‑in commands (e.g., calc, pomo, todo)
• 4. Add custom sources by dropping TOML files into ~/.look/sources/
• 5. Configure AI settings (Apple Intelligence or Ollama)
• 6. Use control strip shortcuts (Cmd+W for Wi‑Fi, Cmd+B for Bluetooth, etc.)

Evidence

Under 1 ms per query on a 2000 item index

Source

No background daemon

Source