# 2 Best Open Source Alternatives for Raycast

Canonical: https://caniforkit.com/raycast
Last updated: 2026-11-07

Looking for the best open source alternative for Raycast? Compare 2 verified free and open source alternatives to Raycast (Ueli, Sol) with license details, self-hosting requirements, and practical trade-offs.

## Raycast Overview & Subscription Cost
- **Product**: Raycast
- **Category**: [design](https://caniforkit.com/category/design)
- **Paid Subscription Price**: $20/month per seat
- **1-Seat Annualized Cost**: $240/year
- **5-Person Team Annualized Cost**: $1,200/year
- **10-Person Team Annualized Cost**: $2,400/year
- **Can I Vibe-Code / Rebuild It Myself?**: NO (use a free alternative, save the tokens)
- **Rebuild Verdict**: Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for Raycast or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 2 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Ueli.

## Verified Free & Open Source Alternatives

| Alternative | Type | License | Runs On | GitHub Stars | Head-to-Head |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Ueli](https://caniforkit.com/fork/ueli) | Open Source | Open Source | Local | ★ 4.6k | [Compare vs Raycast](https://caniforkit.com/vs/raycast-vs-ueli) |
| [Sol](https://caniforkit.com/fork/sol) | Open Source | Open Source | Local | ★ 3.2k | [Compare vs Raycast](https://caniforkit.com/vs/raycast-vs-sol) |

## In-Depth Alternative Profiles

### Ueli
- **Fork Page**: [Ueli Profile](https://caniforkit.com/fork/ueli)
- **Head-to-Head Comparison**: [Raycast vs Ueli](https://caniforkit.com/vs/raycast-vs-ueli)
- **Official Website**: https://ueli.app
- **Source Code Repository**: https://github.com/oliverschwendener/ueli
- **License**: Open Source
- **Runs On**: Local
- **GitHub Stars**: 4.6k
- **Maintenance Activity**: nov 2026
- **Supported Platforms**: desktop, cross-platform, one-click install
- **Summary**: A keyboard-driven launcher that helps you quickly find and open applications, files, and bookmarks across Windows, macOS, and Linux
- **The Catch vs Raycast**: Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
- **Installation**: Clone https://github.com/oliverschwendener/ueli or deploy with Docker Compose
- **Setup**: Download the native package or installer for your operating system.
- **Data Storage**: All application data lives locally on your own machine.

### Sol
- **Fork Page**: [Sol Profile](https://caniforkit.com/fork/sol)
- **Head-to-Head Comparison**: [Raycast vs Sol](https://caniforkit.com/vs/raycast-vs-sol)
- **Official Website**: https://sol.ospfranco.com
- **Source Code Repository**: https://github.com/ospfranco/sol
- **License**: Open Source
- **Runs On**: Local
- **GitHub Stars**: 3.2k
- **Maintenance Activity**: nov 2026
- **Supported Platforms**: desktop, cross-platform, one-click install
- **Summary**: A modern macOS launcher that provides instant access to applications, utilities, and system functions through an elegant and efficient interface.
- **The Catch vs Raycast**: Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
- **Installation**: Clone https://github.com/ospfranco/sol or deploy with Docker Compose
- **Setup**: Download the native package or installer for your operating system.
- **Data Storage**: All application data lives locally on your own machine.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the best free alternative to Raycast?
The top free alternative to Raycast is Ueli (open source, Open Source). A keyboard-driven launcher that helps you quickly find and open applications, files, and bookmarks across Windows, macOS, and Linux Other popular Raycast replacements include Sol.

### How much does switching from Raycast to a free alternative save?
Raycast starts at $20/month per seat ($240/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Ueli saves $1,200 per year in software subscription fees.

### What is the catch when switching away from Raycast?
While Ueli replaces core Raycast features without subscription fees, the real-world trade-off is: Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.

## Related

- [design Software Category Hub](https://caniforkit.com/category/design)
- [All Paid SaaS Alternatives Index](https://caniforkit.com/alternatives)
- [Self-Hosted Software Directory](https://caniforkit.com/self-hosted)
- [Homepage](https://caniforkit.com)