CoolDeskFlow Launcher
01 · The short answer
Skip the reading — which one is for you?
Pick Flow Launcher if…
- You only use Windows and want a lean, open-source launcher
- You rely on specific plugins, or want to write your own
- You mostly search apps and files, not browser tabs
Pick CoolDesk if…
- You switch between several projects a day and want each one to come back complete
- Half your work lives in browser tabs and you want them in the same search as your apps
- You work across Windows and Mac (or Linux) and want one tool on all of them
02 · The difference
Where CoolDesk pulls ahead
It remembers your projects
Flow Launcher is stateless — every search starts fresh. CoolDesk groups tabs, apps, links and notes into project workspaces, so switching projects brings everything back where you left it.
Your browser is inside the search
CoolDesk's extension makes open tabs, history and bookmarks first-class results across Chrome, Edge and Brave, and jumps to the exact tab instead of opening a duplicate.
Windows, macOS and Linux
Flow Launcher is Windows-only. CoolDesk runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, so the same habit works on every machine you use.
Ways to keep a project in view
Beyond the search bar, CoolDesk shows a project as a sidebar, a dock at the screen edge or a full-screen workspace with notes and todos.
03 · The scoreboard
Side by side
| Flow Launcher | CoolDesk | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Price | Free, open source | Free |
| Project workspaces | — | Core concept |
| Open browser tabs as results | Via plugins | Built in, jumps to the exact tab |
| File search | Excellent (Everything) | Built in |
| Plugin ecosystem | Large | — |
| Notes & todos per project | — | Built in |
| Account required | Never | Never |
04 · Credit where it's due
What Flow Launcher does brilliantly
No point pretending otherwise — if these are what you need, Flow Launcher is excellent at them.
05 · Common questions
Still deciding?
Can I run CoolDesk and Flow Launcher together?
Yes. Give them different hotkeys — for example Flow Launcher on Alt+Space and CoolDesk on Alt+K. Many people keep Flow for plugins and quick commands, and use CoolDesk for projects and browser tabs.
Is CoolDesk open source like Flow Launcher?
CoolDesk's source is public on GitHub under the Apache 2.0 license. It's free with no account, and everything stays on your device.
Which is faster?
Both open instantly. Flow Launcher is a little leaner because it does less; CoolDesk also indexes your tabs, workspaces and notes so it can search them together.
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Try it in two minutes
CoolDesk is free, needs no sign-in, and runs alongside Flow Launcher — nothing to migrate, nothing to lose.
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