# Wox: A Cross-Platform Launcher with GPU Rendering and a Plugin Store

> Wox is a fully native, open-source launcher for Windows, macOS, and Linux that uses GPU rendering and stays around 150 MB of memory while idle. It positions itself as a Raycast and Alfred alternative with a plugin system that accepts Node.js, Python, and script extensions.

**Wox-launcher/Wox** — A cross-platform launcher that simply works

- Repository: https://github.com/Wox-launcher/Wox
- Website: https://www.woxlauncher.com/
- Stars: 27,460 · Forks: 2,434
- Language: Go
- License: GPL-3.0
- Published: 2026-09-21 · Updated: 2026-09-21 · Language: en
- Canonical page: https://hysenlabs.com/projects/wox-launcher-wox

## What Wox Does and Who It Is For

Wox is a keyboard-driven application launcher that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The README describes it as a fully native launcher, meaning it does not use Electron or a browser shell for its user interface. Instead, it uses GPU rendering on all three platforms. The README states typical idle memory usage is around 150 MB, which the project highlights as a design goal so the launcher can stay resident in the background without taxing the machine.

The core feature set combines local search, keyboard-first actions, and an extensible plugin system in one focused input box. The project describes itself as an open-source alternative to Raycast and Alfred. The homepage links to a plugin store and a theme store at woxlauncher.com. The project is written primarily in Go and is released under the GPL-3.0 licence.

## Installing Wox on Windows, macOS, and Linux

The README lists install methods for each platform. On macOS via Homebrew:

```bash
brew install --cask wox
```

On Windows via Winget:

```bash
winget install -e --id Wox.Wox
```

On Windows via Scoop:

```bash
scoop install extras/wox
```

On Windows via Chocolatey:

```bash
choco install wox
```

On Arch Linux via AUR:

```bash
yay -S wox-bin
```

For macOS, Linux, and Windows without a supported package manager, the README directs to the GitHub Releases page for manual installation via the latest stable package. The latest release at the time of writing was v2.4.5, released on 2026-09-23. The README confirms support for Windows, macOS, and Linux explicitly.

## Plugin Architecture: Node.js, Python, and Scripts

Wox's extensibility model rests on plugins. The README mentions three plugin types: Node.js plugins, Python plugins, and script plugins. The top-level repository structure confirms this with separate directories for each host: wox.plugin.host.nodejs/, wox.plugin.host.python/, wox.plugin.nodejs/, and wox.plugin.python/. The wox.core/ directory handles the launcher's main logic.

Plugins are distributed through the plugin store at woxlauncher.com/store/plugins. The store-plugin.json file in the repository root appears to be the registry that lists available plugins. A store-theme.json and a store-ai-command.json file are also present, suggesting that themes and AI commands are distributed through the same store infrastructure.

## GPU Rendering and the Native Architecture

The README's feature table identifies native GPU rendering as one of the distinguishing properties of Wox. The description contrasts this with Electron-based launchers and browser-shell approaches, noting that Wox uses full native GPU rendering on all three supported operating systems.

The project is built with Go as the primary language. The repository structure includes a wox.core/ directory for the main process, separate directories for the Node.js and Python plugin hosts, and a www/ directory for the web frontend components. The Makefile shows build targets for macOS (including a bundle step), Linux (including AppImage, deb, and rpm packaging), and Windows, along with plugin-specific build targets.

## Themes and AI Commands

Beyond plugins, Wox ships a theme store linked from the README at woxlauncher.com/store/themes. The store-theme.json file in the repository root holds the theme registry. A store-ai-command.json file is also present alongside the plugin and theme registry files, which suggests that AI-powered commands are distributed through the same store infrastructure as regular plugins and themes. The README does not document the AI command format in detail.

The project documentation lives at woxlauncher.com, and the README links there for the full feature set. A CHANGELOG.md and a Chinese-language changelog (CHANGELOG.zh_CN.md) are in the repository root, reflecting a bilingual developer community. The assets/ and screenshots/ directories contain visual assets used in the repository presentation.

## When Wox Is the Wrong Choice

Wox requires the user to manage an external plugin installation when functionality beyond the built-ins is needed. Teams or individuals looking for an out-of-the-box launcher with a large built-in command set may find the store dependency adds friction.

The GPL-3.0 licence imposes a copyleft requirement: any modified version distributed to others must also be released under GPL-3.0. This matters if an organization plans to fork Wox and distribute it internally with proprietary changes.

Flow Launcher is an alternative launcher for Windows that also draws from the Wox lineage; it is built on .NET and targets Windows exclusively, while Wox covers all three desktop platforms and uses Go. Alfred is macOS-only and is not open-source. Raycast is macOS-only and has a freemium model. For users on all three platforms who want a single consistent launcher, Wox is one of the few options that covers the full range natively.

## Maintenance and the GPL-3.0 Licence

The last push to the master branch was on 2026-09-28, and the most recent releases follow a weekly cadence: v2.4.3 on 2026-09-09, v2.4.4 on 2026-09-16, and v2.4.5 on 2026-09-23. The project is under active development with regular point releases.

Code signing on Windows is provided by SignPath.io with certificates from SignPath Foundation, as noted in the README sponsors section. This matters for Windows users who encounter security prompts during installation from a downloaded installer or zip package.

Contributions are accepted through GitHub issues, discussions, and pull requests. Community channels are listed in the README: Reddit at r/WoxLauncher, a Discord server, and the GitHub Discussions and Issues pages. The repository includes an AGENTS.md file and a Wox.code-workspace file for contributors, alongside the main Makefile which shows how to build and release across all three platforms.

## Conclusion

Wox suits users on Windows, macOS, or Linux who want a keyboard-first launcher with GPU rendering, a plugin store, and a low memory footprint. The GPL-3.0 licence means any distributed modification must also be open-source. The project ships on Homebrew, Winget, Scoop, Chocolatey, and AUR, so the install method should match the package manager already in use on the target machine. The last release was v2.4.5 on 2026-09-23.

## FAQ

### What is the Wox launcher?

Wox is a fully native, open-source launcher for Windows, macOS, and Linux that uses GPU rendering and stays around 150 MB of memory while idle. It provides local search, keyboard-first actions, and a plugin store with Node.js, Python, and script extensions.

### What is Wox software?

Wox is an open-source keyboard launcher application, comparable to Raycast and Alfred, that runs natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is written in Go and released under the GPL-3.0 licence.

### How do I install Wox on Windows or macOS?

On macOS, run brew install --cask wox. On Windows, use winget install -e --id Wox.Wox, scoop install extras/wox, or choco install wox. On Arch Linux, use yay -S wox-bin. Manual installers are available on the GitHub Releases page.

## Sources

- [License: GPL-3.0](https://github.com/Wox-launcher/Wox/blob/master/LICENSE)
- [Project website](https://www.woxlauncher.com/)
- [README](https://github.com/Wox-launcher/Wox/blob/master/README.md)
- [Releases](https://github.com/Wox-launcher/Wox/releases)
- [Wox-launcher/Wox on GitHub](https://github.com/Wox-launcher/Wox)

---

Hysen Labs editorial analysis, written from the project's own repository and release notes. Cite the canonical page: https://hysenlabs.com/projects/wox-launcher-wox