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Productivity · head to head

Alfred vs OmniFocus

Alfred logo

Alfred

Productivity

Mac launcher and automation tool sold as a one-time Powerpack licence rather than a subscription

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OmniFocus logo

OmniFocus

Calendars

Professional-grade task management for power users

From
$99.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Alfred has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Alfred there is no official built in AI assistant, so anything AI related depends on a community workflow calling an external API key you supply yourself.; OmniFocus exclusive to Apple ecosystem with no Windows or Android support
  • They diverge on capability: Alfred covers Workflows, OmniFocus covers Custom perspectives.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Alfred and OmniFocus actually diverge.

Attributes where Alfred and OmniFocus differ
AttributeAlfredOmniFocus
Starting priceFree$99.99/year
Pricing modelOne-time purchaseUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsMacmacOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, Web
CategoryProductivityCalendars
FoundedUnknown1989

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Alfred

  • Workflows
  • Clipboard history
  • Snippets
  • File actions
  • Universal actions
  • Theming

Only in OmniFocus

  • Custom perspectives
  • Review mode
  • Forecast view
  • Tags
  • Automation
  • Apple Calendar
  • Siri
  • Shortcuts

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Alfred

  • A developer who wants to trigger scripts, run shell commands and search files from one hotkey without a subscriptionnot OmniFocus
  • A writer who wants text snippets and clipboard history and does not want built in AInot OmniFocus
  • A long time Alfred user with a large personal library of custom workflows built up over yearsnot OmniFocus
  • A user who prefers paying once per major version over a recurring monthly chargenot OmniFocus

OmniFocus

  • Schedulingnot Alfred
  • Appointment bookingnot Alfred
  • Time trackingnot Alfred
  • Resource managementnot Alfred
  • Team coordinationnot Alfred

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Alfred

  • There is no official built in AI assistant, so anything AI related depends on a community workflow calling an external API key you supply yourself.
  • The workflow format is older XML and script filters, which is less approachable for a beginner than a modern extension store with typed APIs.
  • It is Mac only, so a user who splits time between Mac and Windows needs a second tool on the other machine.
  • The free tier is quite limited, with no workflows or clipboard history, so most serious users end up paying for the Powerpack anyway.
  • Because upgrades to a new major version are a separate purchase for Single Licence holders, users who skip the Mega Supporter tier can face a further one-time charge every few years.

OmniFocus

  • Exclusive to Apple ecosystem with no Windows or Android support
  • No collaboration features make it unsuitable for team task management or delegation
  • Setting up repeating tasks is cumbersome with multiple configuration options
  • Lacks AI-powered features for advanced project management, load balancing, or contextual awareness

Pricing, plan by plan

Alfred

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic app and file launching
    • Web searches and system commands
    • No workflows or clipboard history
  • Powerpack Single Licence$34/one-time
    • 1 user on up to 2 Macs
    • Workflows, clipboard history and snippets
    • Free updates within the same major version
  • Powerpack Mega Supporter$59/one-time
    • 1 user on up to 4 Macs
    • Free upgrades to all future major versions
    • Early access to betas

OmniFocus

$99.99/year
  • Subscription$99.99/year
    • All Pro features
    • Web access
    • Cloud sync
  • Standard (Perpetual)$74.99/one-time
    • Basic task management
    • Projects and contexts
    • Perspectives
  • Pro (Perpetual)$149.99/one-time
    • Custom perspectives
    • Advanced automation
    • Plugins support

Which should you pick?

Choose Alfred if

  • You need workflows.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want clipboard history.
Alfred review

Choose OmniFocus if

  • You need custom perspectives.
  • You work on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, Web.
  • You also want review mode.
OmniFocus review

Questions people ask

Is Alfred or OmniFocus better?
Neither clearly leads. Alfred starts at Free and OmniFocus at $99.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Alfred or OmniFocus?
Alfred has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Alfred and $99.99/year for OmniFocus.
Does Alfred or OmniFocus run on more platforms?
Alfred runs on Mac. OmniFocus runs on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, Web.
Can I use Alfred for free?
Yes. Alfred has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OmniFocus starts at $99.99/year.
What is Alfred best used for?
Alfred is most often used for a developer who wants to trigger scripts, run shell commands and search files from one hotkey without a subscription, a writer who wants text snippets and clipboard history and does not want built in ai, a long time alfred user with a large personal library of custom workflows built up over years, a user who prefers paying once per major version over a recurring monthly charge. Of those, a developer who wants to trigger scripts, run shell commands and search files from one hotkey without a subscription and a writer who wants text snippets and clipboard history and does not want built in ai are not what OmniFocus is typically brought in for.
What can Alfred do that OmniFocus cannot?
Alfred covers Workflows, Clipboard history, Snippets, File actions. OmniFocus covers Custom perspectives, Review mode, Forecast view, Tags.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Alfred: Is Alfred a subscription?

No. The Powerpack is a one-time purchase per major version, or a one-time Mega Supporter purchase that includes all future major version upgrades.

OmniFocus: Does OmniFocus offer a free tier?

No, OmniFocus does not offer a free tier. It requires purchase or subscription: $99.99/year subscription or one-time perpetual licenses at $74.99 (Standard) or $149.99 (Pro).

Source
Alfred: Does Alfred replace Spotlight?

It can. Alfred can take over the system-wide hotkey and generally returns results faster with more configurable behaviour than Spotlight.

OmniFocus: What is the free trial period for OmniFocus?

OmniFocus offers a 14-day free trial allowing full access to all features before requiring payment.

Source
Alfred: Does Alfred have AI features?

Not officially built in. Some community workflows add AI chat or completion by calling an external API with a key you provide.

OmniFocus: What platforms does OmniFocus support?

OmniFocus is exclusive to Apple ecosystem: Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro, and web access. Not available on Windows or Android.

Source
OmniFocus: Can teams collaborate in OmniFocus?

No, OmniFocus lacks collaboration features and is designed as a solo task management tool. Users cannot delegate tasks, share projects, or assign work to team members.

Source
OmniFocus: Does OmniFocus support Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology?

Yes, OmniFocus is built specifically to support GTD with projects, contexts (tags), folders, perspectives, and a focus view for prioritization. It includes weekly review support and automation features.

Source
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