LaunchOS

LaunchOS vsBuhoLaunchpad

If you want to bring back the classic Launchpad experience and muscle memory on macOS 26 Tahoe, care about visual polish and the Liquid Glass design language, and want a more personal experience built on top of native Launchpad habits, LaunchOS is likely the better fit.

BuhoLaunchpad is also built around bringing back the classic Launchpad, but it is more restrained than LaunchOS. It focuses more on recreating the native Launchpad look and feel, preserving familiarity while offering relatively limited personalization improvements.

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Quick Answer

The core difference is design and product philosophy

LaunchOS

LaunchOS restores the classic Launchpad as fully as possible while reimagining what Launchpad should feel like on macOS 26. It deeply blends in Liquid Glass visuals, fills in details such as F4, gestures, hot corners, folders, sorting, migration, and multi-display behavior, while still keeping the product restrained and focused.

Best for users who:

  • Use Launchpad muscle memory such as trackpad gestures and hot corners, and also rely on the F4 key
  • Want to keep custom ordering while gaining newer advantages such as name sorting and vertical scrolling
  • Want familiar visual symbols such as the native grid icon and rocket icon
  • Want to choose whether Launchpad returns to the first page or stays where it was closed
  • Use multiple displays and want control over which screen Launchpad appears on

BuhoLaunchpad

BuhoLaunchpad puts more emphasis on recreating the native Launchpad look and feel, staying close to each visual detail and keeping personalization enhancements modest. Its existing feature set leans stable, clear, and lightweight.

Best for users who:

  • Want an alternative that looks closer to the original Launchpad
  • Are already satisfied with the native Launchpad feature set
  • Are less sensitive to Pro pricing and do not need many advanced customization options

Reasons To Choose

Why People Choose LaunchOS

It restores the native experience and rebuilds visual expression for macOS 26

LaunchOS brings back the full-screen grid, familiar folder management, drag-and-drop custom ordering, mouse and trackpad interactions, and F4 launch, while blending with the macOS 26 design language for a familiar experience that visually evolves.

Migrate your data automatically instead of starting from scratch

LaunchOS can import the native Launchpad layout, preserve familiar folders and ordering, support layout backup and restore, and show alias apps, making it well suited for users who want to quickly regain a complete Launchpad experience.

Flexible pricing

LaunchOS offers Basic and Pro plans. Basic is free forever, while Pro is a one-time purchase with lifetime updates. Every user gets a 7-day Pro free trial with no credit card required.

Actively maintained with steady iteration

LaunchOS continues to evolve and adopt user suggestions that started in the native Launchpad era, including custom sources, hidden apps, custom app names, and custom timing for returning to the initial page.

Feature Comparison

LaunchOS vs BuhoLaunchpad

LaunchOS
BuhoLaunchpad
Launch And Close
Dock icon
Add to Dock in one click
Manually drag to Dock
Menu bar icon
Global keyboard shortcut
Trackpad gesture launch
Three-finger / four- or five-finger / five-finger
Four-finger / five-finger
F4 key
Hot corner activation
Browsing And Paging
Paged mode
Scroll mode
Next launch display
Last closed position / first page
Last closed position
App Management
Custom app order
Sort by name
Sort by added time
Sort by last opened time
Mouse drag reorder
Hide apps
Folder Management
Mouse drag to create folders
Right-click to disband folders
Appearance
Liquid Glass adaptation
Light support
Glass background
Wallpaper background
Disable wallpaper blur
Native Launchpad grid icon
Native Launchpad rocket icon
Data And Migration
Import native Launchpad layout
Layout backup and restore
Extended app sources
Alias apps
Pricing Model
Lifetime Pro
$11.99
$7.99
Pro free trial
Support
Supported systems
macOS 26+
macOS 26+
Supported chips
Intel and Apple silicon
Intel and Apple silicon

Testimonial

What People Say About LaunchOS

Great app… well done! Tried many launchers and often buggy or laggy. None of that with LaunchOS… nice interface and smooth!!

No_Builder_1977
No_Builder_1977From Reddit

LaunchOS is a very nicely made, solidly implemented version of the classic Launchpad. If you still miss Launchpad, you'll be very happy with it.

MacStories
MacStoriesApple Tech Media

Very satisfied with LaunchOS. It’s the most feature-rich and stable, well worth the modest price if you miss Launchpad.

46from1971
46from1971From Reddit

LaunchOS achieves pixel-level restoration of Apple's native "Launchpad" in both interface and interaction logic, and even makes it more user-friendly.

黄杨ME
黄杨MEInfluencer Content Creator

Purchased and absolutely love it. It’s nearly a pixel perfect replacement in look, form, function, and speed. It even has hot corners!

Ethan Matthews
Ethan MatthewsIndie Developer

LaunchOS changes everything. It basically brings back the classic Launchpad we all remember, but rebuilt and refined for Tahoe.

ThisIsE
ThisIsEInfluencer YouTuber

Literally signed-up to Reddit to write a thank you post here! Absolutely love the app. LaunchOS was extremely trackpad-friendly.

Beginning_Green_740
Beginning_Green_740From Reddit

LaunchOS is fluid and works very fast, performing like the native application would, just like we have Launchpad back in macOS Tahoe.

Brandon Butch
Brandon ButchInfluencer YouTuber

I think I’ve tried all the alternatives that have been created. Your app is the most beautiful, neat, and fastest.

什么时候
什么时候From RedNote

It’s absolutely perfect copy and even better than the original launchpad, no lags, auto refresh when a new app is installed, and more all in a descent price.

Immediate_Ad_9690
Immediate_Ad_9690From Reddit

LaunchOS brings back the classic, well-organized Launchpad experience on the latest macOS, making it the familiar launchpad I loved but better.

AppleTheme
AppleThemeInfluencer YouTuber

You lovely people have given me my Mac back. I came close to tears of joy - certainly a welling up. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

PG
Pete GraysonFrom Email

LaunchOS makes macOS Tahoe feel like it never lost the old Launchpad, looks and behaves like a native system feature, but not a 3rd-party launcher.

Tech Ghost
Tech GhostInfluencer YouTuber

Oh wow!! Thats the most polished Launchpad replacement I’ve come across! Just bought a pro license :) Thanks for your work! <3

jfbecker
jfbeckerFrom Reddit

LaunchOS effectively restores the native system launchpad experience with smooth performance. Even the free version is still quite capable.

Mac 张
Mac 张Influencer Content Creator

LaunchOS brings back the classic Launchpad—but rebuilt and refined. Fully customizable and beautiful, it feels tailored to my workflow.

Conor Butkovic
Conor ButkovicInfluencer YouTuber

LaunchOS - Best Launchpad Alternative
for macOS 26 (Tahoe)

DOWNLOAD
Download LaunchOS from App Store
brew install --cask launchos

Requires macOS 26 (Tahoe)Last updated Apr 9, 2026Download BetaAlternative Download