A native C++ command palette — app launcher, clipboard history, calculator, emoji picker, and window management — that runs Raycast extensions without Electron.
Vicinae is a native launcher written in C++ with Qt Widgets, built around a single shortcut that opens app search, file search, clipboard history, an inline calculator, an emoji picker, window and workspace switching, and browser tab search. It ships its own React/TypeScript extension system and a compatibility layer for the Raycast store, so a large share of existing Raycast extensions and script commands run out of the box — no Electron, no browser overhead underneath.
Why it makes the list
It started as a way to bring a Raycast-shaped workflow to Linux, and macOS is now a first-class target alongside it — a genuinely native, GPL-licensed alternative for anyone who wants Raycast's extension ecosystem without an Electron runtime or an account. With close to 10,000 GitHub stars and active releases, it's one of the more credible native rewrites in this space.
Standout features
-
Raycast-compatible extensions — runs many existing Raycast extensions and script commands unmodified
-
Native C++/Qt UI, no Electron or Chromium runtime
-
Clipboard history, calculator, emoji picker, and file search built in
-
Window and workspace switching, plus browser tab search
-
Theming, snippets, and a browsable extension gallery
-
Cross-platform — Linux, macOS, and (soon) Windows, from one codebase
Pricing
Free and open source under GPL-3.0. Installed via Homebrew (brew install --cask vicinae) or a direct .dmg download. Requires macOS Tahoe (26) or later on Apple silicon.
More in AI & Automation
AI & Automation · Free · Pro $8
A blazing-fast, keyboard-first launcher that folds clipboard history, window management, snippets, an extension store, and AI into one command bar.
AI & Automation · $79 · one-time
A private, fully native AI workspace for Mac — bring your own keys for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and local models, and use them in a proper app instead of a browser tab.
AI & Automation · Free & open source
A tiny, fully native macOS launcher — fuzzy app search, clipboard history, an inline calculator, snippets, and window management, with no Electron and no telemetry.