When comparing PowerToys vs Fluent Search, the Slant community recommends Fluent Search for most people. In the question“What are the best app launchers for Windows?” Fluent Search is ranked 11th while PowerToys is ranked 13th. The most important reason people chose Fluent Search is:
Most things can be tweaked, including the interface, the default search engines, the prioritization of search results, the search tags, and more.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Create your own "Fancy Zones"
Fancy Zones are the places that application windows snap to into. You may choose a pre configured set of zones or create your own ones. You also have to use a shortcut instead of mouse to snap windows into the grid.
Pro Native and supported by Microsoft
No need to install third-party tools, and is efficiently integrated with Windows 10.
Pro Free
Pro Includes various helpful features and tools
Not just a tiling window manager, includes search box, keyboard command remapper, and more
Pro Includes Keyboard remapper
Remap your keyboard or well known shortcuts to work with other combinations. Are you used to copy paste on a Mac? Add Alt+C / Alt+V for copy and paste!
Pro Get an OS level color picker
Turn it on or off, it's your choice.
Pro Every Feature can be enabled or disabled to your liking
Pro Windows button shortcut cheat sheet
Press Windows+G to see all shortcuts that can be used with the Windows button.
Pro Easily customizable
Menu to add/edit zones is very intuitive.
Pro 'Wox' launcher is bundled
The popular open source launcher Wox is included in PowerToys and can be toggled on or off. It takes less resources or time at launch than the stand alone version of Wox.
Pro Global Push to talk
Currently experimental.
Pro Customizable
Most things can be tweaked, including the interface, the default search engines, the prioritization of search results, the search tags, and more.
Pro Modern
The developer works for Microsoft and is already developing with an eye toward Windows 11 (while maintaining functionality under Windows 10)
Pro Powerful filename search
It has a built-in indexer, but can also use others (including Everything)
Pro Active development
The developer is very responsive to the community, and releases new versions on a regular basis
Pro Free
There are no ads, and no paid version
Pro Plugin system
Users can develop their own plugins to extend the functionality
Cons
Con Doesn't remember window locations after monitors turn off
If monitors get turned off or are disabled, windows tend to get cluttered when they adjust to the changes, which does make sense, but window locations aren't remembered if the configuration changes back to how it was.