Alfred

Alfred is a keyboard-driven launcher and productivity application for macOS from Running with Crayons. It helps you open applications, locate files, search websites and perform quick actions without repeatedly navigating menus. It suits Mac users who want a configurable search interface, and users of its paid Powerpack who want clipboard, text-expansion and workflow automation tools.

Free core and Powerpack

The core download is free to use, including application launching, file and web searches, quick calculations and dictionary tools. It can serve as an alternative launcher interface to Spotlight, while relying on macOS metadata for file-search capabilities. Installing Alfred does not remove or replace the system Spotlight index.

Powerpack is a paid license that unlocks additional features in the same application. Its features include workflows, clipboard history, snippet expansion, enhanced file navigation/actions, custom themes and other integrations. A normal installation does not automatically grant a Powerpack license. Buy an appropriate license and activate it in Alfred's Powerpack preferences to use those features.

Installation and first use

Install with brew install --cask alfred, or download Alfred from the official website, extract the archive and move Alfred 5.app into Applications. Open the app and follow onboarding. The default search shortcut is Option-Space; type an application name and press Return to launch the selected result. Open Alfred Preferences to set your shortcut, search scope and preferred search behaviour. You can enable Launch Alfred at login if you want it always available.

If you assign Command-Space, first resolve its conflict with the macOS Spotlight shortcut in keyboard settings. You can also keep separate shortcuts and use both applications. Configure permissions through Alfred's Request Permissions menu as required for the features you use, rather than treating every permission as necessary for a basic launch search.

Permissions and workflows

Accessibility is needed for snippet expansion and simulated key events such as workflow key combinations and clipboard actions. Full Disk Access enables access to protected user files, including browser-bookmark searching. Contacts permission enables contact results. macOS requests Automation permission when an action uses AppleScript or System Events to control another application. The official guide treats Input Monitoring as an additional troubleshooting step when Accessibility-dependent actions still fail, rather than a blanket initial requirement.

Powerpack workflows can link keywords, hotkeys, file operations and executable scripts. Some work without code; others run third-party programs, call network services or require an installed interpreter, command-line tool or API credential. Read a workflow's instructions and inspect its actions before enabling it on important files or accounts. A workflow can act with the permissions available to its process; importing it is not a guarantee of isolation or harmless behaviour. Provider accounts, paid APIs and external tools are separate from an Alfred license.

Requirements and platforms

Alfred 5.8.1 supports macOS 10.14 Mojave or later, 64-bit Intel and Apple Silicon according to the official download page. It is a Mac application, with no equivalent Windows or Linux build in this package. Alfred Remote is a separate iOS companion purchase that controls the Mac; it is not the desktop application or a replacement for keeping the Mac available.

The Cask has no extra formula dependency and conflicts with alfred@prerelease. Additional dependencies belong to individual workflows, not to the packaged launcher itself. The versioned 5.8.1 build 2349 archive is 5,620,485 bytes. This is a transfer size, not a fixed installed-space requirement; no universal RAM minimum was established for all workflow use.

Accounts, cost and license

Basic local use does not require buying Powerpack or subscribing to a hosted Alfred account. Powerpack activation uses your purchased license details. Alfred is proprietary software under Running with Crayons' terms, not an open-source launcher. Third-party workflows have their own licenses and service requirements.

Powerpack is offered as a purchase rather than a general monthly subscription. The Single License and Mega Supporter options have different future-version upgrade rights; the latter includes free lifetime upgrades. Older Single License holders may need a paid major-version upgrade, subject to current promotions and eligibility. Check the official shop and license FAQ for current prices, taxes and upgrade offers rather than assuming every license covers every future major release.

The image is an official website example of the Mac search interface showing application and contact results. It is illustrative and is not a newly captured 5.8.1 screen.

Sources: Download and platform requirements, Powerpack feature scope, General preferences and hotkey, Mac permissions, Workflows, Script execution, Shop, License types, Terms.