Pivit vs Alfred
Alfred is the launcher Mac users quote when they explain why they will not switch to Windows. Workflows, clipboard history, file actions, all behind one hotkey and refined over more than a decade.
There is no Windows version and there has never been one, so this is less a head-to-head than an answer to a common question: what do you use on Windows when Alfred is what you actually want?
At a glance
| Feature | Pivit | Alfred |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Built for Windows 10 and 11 | macOS only |
| Pricing | Free forever, Pro £8/month with AI included | Free, with a one-off Powerpack licence for the good parts |
| AI | Included on Pro — 70+ models, no API key, no add-on | Only through workflows you build and key in yourself |
| App and screen context | Reads your current app, screen, clipboard and media | Not offered |
| Extensions | Plugin SDK with typed commands and settings | Mature workflow ecosystem |
| Gesture launcher | Pivit Wheel — hold, flick, release | Not offered |
| Window management | Free, built in | Through workflows |
| Cloud sync | On Pro | Via your own file sync |
| Source | Closed source | Closed source |
Comparison last checked 21 July 2026. Alfred is a product of its respective owner and its features change often — check their site for the current state.
Where Pivit is stronger
- It runs on Windows, which for this comparison is the entire point
- AI across 70+ models included, with no scripting, no API key and no workflow to build
- Reads the app and screen in front of you, which no Alfred workflow can do on Windows
- The Pivit Wheel for commands you reach for constantly
- Window management, calculator and system controls without assembling anything
- A free tier that covers the launcher rather than reserving the useful parts for a licence
Where Alfred is stronger
- Over a decade of refinement and a deeply loyal user base
- Workflows that let you script almost anything, shared widely by the community
- A one-time Powerpack licence rather than a subscription
Which should you pick?
Choose Pivit if: You have moved to Windows, or work across both, and want the one-hotkey-for-everything habit back — with AI included rather than scripted.
Choose Alfred if: You are on a Mac. Alfred remains an excellent choice and Pivit is not an option there.
Common questions
No. Alfred is a macOS-only application and there is no official Windows version.
Pivit, Flow Launcher, PowerToys Run and Raycast's Windows beta all cover similar ground. Flow Launcher is closest on the open source, workflow-heavy side. Pivit is closest if what you actually liked about Alfred was having one hotkey that could do everything, and you want AI included rather than scripted.
Pivit's Plugin SDK plays a similar role for custom commands, with typed arguments and relevance scoring. Alfred's workflow library is older and larger, but much of what people build Alfred workflows for — window management, calculations, search, system controls — is built into Pivit already.
No. Pivit's Basic plan is free forever and Pro is a monthly subscription, which is what funds the AI usage included in it. Alfred's Powerpack is a one-off payment, but it does not include any AI.
Try Pivit on Windows
Free on Windows 10 and 11. The launcher, calculator, window management and themes cost nothing.