Compare · updated July 2026
Orbital vs Loopty
Loopty is the closest free cousin to Orbital's trigger philosophy — it supports mouse-button combos and even defaults to the same ⌥ Space hotkey. It launches apps, folders, files, and websites with generous customization; Orbital adds the rest of the desk: windows, clipboard, workspaces, and actions.
Pick Loopty if
- You want a free radial launcher with deep visual customization
- Launching apps, folders, files, and websites covers your needs
- Notification badges on the ring appeal to you
Pick Orbital if
- You want open-window switching, clipboard history, and workspaces on the dial
- You want a 1.0-grade, signed, auto-updating product
- Middle click as a guaranteed, documented default matters
Side by side
| Orbital | Loopty | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €9.99 one-time · 2 Macs | Free |
| Free trial | 7 days, every feature, no card | — (free) |
| Trigger | Middle click (default) or ⌥ Space | ⌥ Space default · hotkeys and mouse-button combos |
| Opens at the cursor | Yes — radial dial at the cursor | Yes — radial menu |
| Middle-click support | Yes — default, any mouse | Mouse-button combos supported; middle click not documented |
| Scope | Apps · Windows · Clipboard · Workspaces · Actions | Apps · Folders · Files · Websites · Terminal commands |
| Platform | macOS 15+ (Apple silicon & Intel) | macOS (minimum version not stated) |
Loopty details from www.loopty.app and public listings, last checked July 2026. Spotted something outdated? Tell us and we'll fix it.
Where Loopty shines
Loopty is free with no strings, surprisingly customizable — concentric rings, multiple menus, badge counts, JSON config backups — and it takes mouse triggering seriously, which is rare. A genuinely likeable indie project.
Where Orbital differs
Orbital covers what Loopty leaves out: focusing any open window, encrypted clipboard history, one-gesture workspace restore, and a system-action library — plus a stable, notarized 1.x product with Sparkle updates and support. The dial is a workspace, not only a launcher.
Common questions
- Is Loopty really free?
- Yes — Loopty is free with all features included. Orbital is €9.99 one-time; the difference buys window switching, clipboard history, workspaces, system actions, and a supported, notarized product.
- Does Loopty support mouse triggers?
- Yes — Loopty documents hotkeys and mouse-button combos, though middle click specifically isn't documented. Orbital's default is exactly that: middle click, on any mouse.
- Does Loopty have clipboard history or window management?
- No — Loopty launches apps, folders, files, and websites and can run terminal commands. Orbital's dial adds open windows, clipboard history, workspaces, and system actions.
Try the middle-click dial.
Every feature free for 7 days — no card, no account.
Download Orbital 0.2.6