Blog
Notes from the launcher
Product updates, deep dives into keyboard-first workflows, and the occasional rant about Spotlight. Written by the CmdSpace team.
Hidden macOS keyboard shortcuts in 2026 that Apple doesn't advertise
macOS ships with hundreds of keyboard shortcuts. Apple documents maybe 60 of them. The rest live in source code, in obscure Apple Developer notes, and in long-tenured Mac users' muscle memory.
Looking for a free Raycast alternative in 2026? Read this first
"Free Raycast alternative" is one of the highest-volume launcher queries in 2026, and most of the results are misleading. Half of them recommend Raycast's own free tier (which is fine but is still Raycast). The other half recommend whateve…
CmdSpace vs Raycast in 2026: one is local-only, the other went AI-focused
Raycast and CmdSpace are both modern macOS launchers, both keyboard-first, both deeply customizable. From a screenshot on the App Store you could swap them and not immediately notice. After a week of daily use you will absolutely notice. T…
CmdSpace vs Alfred: a 2026 comparison from someone who used Alfred for 10 years
I bought my first Alfred Powerpack license in 2014, when the Mega Supporter tier was £35 and the workflow system was the most exciting thing on the platform. I used Alfred daily through five jobs, three major macOS releases, and roughly fo…
The best macOS launcher in 2026: a tested, no-AI-hype roundup
A modern macOS launcher should do four things well: open apps and files in under a quarter second, run a few high-impact actions without leaving the keyboard, stay out of the way when you do not need it, and never quietly ship your text to…
Where is Alfred in 2026? A look at the v6 era
Alfred is the original macOS launcher. It shipped in 2010, hit its stride in the 2014-2018 era with the Powerpack and workflows, and is still around in 2026 in its v6 generation. For long-time users the question "is Alfred still good" rare…