Compare · updated July 2026
Orbital vs LaunchBar
LaunchBar's own tagline says it all — it is the keyboard purist's launcher, refined for over two decades. Orbital is its mirror image: keep your hand on the mouse. If LaunchBar's abbreviation magic never clicked for you, a dial at the cursor might be why.
Pick LaunchBar if
- You want adaptive abbreviation search that learns your habits
- Deep file browsing, calculator, and scriptable actions from the keyboard
- Decades-mature software from an established company
Pick Orbital if
- Typing abbreviations feels like friction, not flow
- You want open windows, clipboard, and workspaces on a mouse click
- You want modern radial UI with themes and presets
Side by side
| Orbital | LaunchBar | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €9.99 one-time · 2 Macs | About $29 single / $49 family (as of July 2026) |
| Free trial | 7 days, every feature, no card | 30 days, then continues as “relaxware” with reminders |
| Trigger | Middle click (default) or ⌥ Space | Keyboard hotkey (commonly ⌘ Space) |
| Opens at the cursor | Yes — radial dial at the cursor | No — centered bar |
| Middle-click support | Yes — default, any mouse | No |
| Scope | Apps · Windows · Clipboard · Workspaces · Actions | Launcher · Files · Clipboard · Snippets · Scripted actions |
| Platform | macOS 15+ (Apple silicon & Intel) | macOS Monterey through Tahoe |
LaunchBar details from obdev.at/products/launchbar/ and public listings, last checked July 2026. Spotted something outdated? Tell us and we'll fix it.
Where LaunchBar shines
LaunchBar has been refining keyboard launching since before the Dock existed; its abbreviation engine learns you, its file navigation is superb, and Objective Development still ships regular updates. It's honest, local, one-time-priced software.
Where Orbital differs
Orbital asks a different question: what if the launcher lived where your cursor already is? Middle click opens the dial; windows, apps, clipboard history, workspaces, and actions are one flick away. No abbreviations to learn — the layout is spatial and yours.
Common questions
- Is LaunchBar still maintained?
- Yes — LaunchBar shipped v6.24 in April 2026 and supports macOS through Tahoe. It remains keyboard-first; Orbital's difference is the mouse-first radial dial at the cursor.
- What happens after LaunchBar's trial vs Orbital's?
- LaunchBar continues working as “relaxware” with occasional pause reminders after its 30-day trial. Orbital's 7-day trial includes everything, then requires a €9.99 one-time license.
- Does LaunchBar work with the mouse?
- LaunchBar is deliberately keyboard-centric. Orbital is deliberately mouse-first: middle click (or any spare button) opens the dial at the cursor, with ⌥ Space as the keyboard route.
Try the middle-click dial.
Every feature free for 7 days — no card, no account.
Download Orbital 0.2.6