Can I buy Alfred once and keep workflows and clipboard history?

3 apps · 6 factors

Scored for the goal: Buy once and avoid a subscription, while keeping workflows and clipboard

Compare

One judgement per cell. Click a row to read every app’s answer; click a cell to open that answer’s sources.

	Alfred 100%fit	LaunchBar 100%fit	Raycast 100%fit
Purchase
Current priceNo subscription★	£34 once +1	$29 once +1	$96/yr +5
Launcher
Custom commands / workflowsYes★	✓	✓	✓
Clipboard historyYes★	✓	✓	✓
Features
Clipboard retention	Powerpack required; disabled by…	History persists across app…	Free retention: 1 day,…
Workflow chainingYes	✓	✓	✓
Product
What it does	MacOS launcher + automation…	Keyboard-driven launcher + file/action…	Keyboard-first launcher + productivity…

✓has it–no source found!sources conflictClick a cell for the full answer

Every answer, word for word

Alfred
Website: Alfred core free; Powerpack Single License £34 once, single user, 2 Macs, current major version; Powerpack Mega Supporter £59 once, single user, own Macs, lifetime updates; Corporate License by email/checkout for 5+ device seats, 10%-40% discount from the Single User price, no monthly/annual recurring fees. Legendary+ upgrade exists for existing Alfred 5 Mega/Legendary supporters, but public price is not shown before license-code lookup. Mac App Store (US): Free Alfred 1.2; officialdocs
alfredapp.com alfredapp.com alfredapp.com alfredapp.com
LaunchBar
Website: Free unregistered use with occasional break prompts; Single License $29 once; Family License $49 once, up to 5 household computers, non-commercial. Reduced upgrades are offered after entering an existing license key, but current upgrade amounts were not visible. Mac App Store (US): no current official Objective Development LaunchBar listing found.
lets-suite.com obdev.at obdev.at obdev.at
Raycast
Website: Free; Pro $10/month or $96/year; Plus $20/month or $192/year; Max $50/month or $480/year; Teams Free $0/user; Teams Pro $15/user/month or $144/user/year; Teams Plus $25/user/month or $240/user/year; Teams Max $65/user/month or $624/user/year; Enterprise custom annual pricing.
raycast.com

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Plays from month 1 to year 10 when you scroll here. Each bar is split by year; a one-time purchase stays one block.

CheapestLaunchBar$29

Most expensiveRaycast$288

Gap9.9×after 3 yrs

Every subscription now costs more than LaunchBar, the cheapest one-time purchase.

3 yrs

$0$100$200$300

Alfred£34 once · ≈ $45 USD

$45.38

LaunchBar$29 once

$29

Raycast$96/yr

$288

One-timeYearlyMonthlyYear 1 Year 3Converted to USD: £1 ≈ $1.33 (ECB, 2026-10-26)

Each dot is a release. The hatched bar runs from the last release to today; its color says whether that gap is normal for the app.

1 of 3 apps with a dated changelog is behind its usual pace. Furthest behind: LaunchBar, 183 days since its last release (usually ~64).

MayAugNovFebMayAugToday

RaycastUsually every ~7 days

5 days since last release

On pace

AlfredUsually every ~92 days

33 days since last release

On pace

LaunchBarUsually every ~64 days

183 days since last release

Slower than usual2.9× its usual gap

One releaseLast release → todayGreen / amber / red = gap within 2× / 2–5× / over 5× the usual interval

Raycast · v2.9 · Oct 22, 2026

Improves search performance and adds commands to send Notes to AI Chat and restart the frontmost app.