When comparing PowerToys vs WinLaunch, the Slant community recommends WinLaunch for most people. In the question“What are the best app launchers for Windows?” WinLaunch is ranked 1st while PowerToys is ranked 13th. The most important reason people chose WinLaunch is:
You can do anything, from launching applications, to adding, grouping and removing them without using the keyboard. There are also keyboard shortcuts available for those that do not like using the mouse, either way the app will work with whatever workflow works best for the user.
Specs
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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 Works with anyone's workflow
You can do anything, from launching applications, to adding, grouping and removing them without using the keyboard. There are also keyboard shortcuts available for those that do not like using the mouse, either way the app will work with whatever workflow works best for the user.
Pro Fast access and setup
It enables you to launch any application with very few clicks. If you organize your apps well, you get them in one single click. You may need two or three at most if you need to open a folder or move to another page. HotCorners is a great idea, allowing you to view WinLaunch without even clicking.
Even setting up your apps in it is fast and intuitive, with simple clicks and drag-n-drops.
Pro Anyone can use it
It is free to use as it is donation-funded.
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.
Con Lack of tabbing windows in the same FancyZone
Con Sometimes buggy
Con Inconvenient manual setup
After installed the first time you pull the launcher up there will be no apps contained within, this means every user will have to manually add the apps they would like in the launcher, which is time consuming. An auto population feature would be more convenient, sadly there is none.