Best Alfred Workflows for Mac in 2026 (Official Gallery)
Alfred’s real power on macOS is not the launcher. It is workflows. With a Powerpack license you chain triggers, actions, and scripts into custom commands: rename files, jump a GitHub repo, convert units, flip Dark Mode. This is the 2026 shortlist of Alfred workflows for Mac, installed from the official Gallery wherever a Gallery page exists.
Two facts before the list. Powerpack is £34 (single) or £59 (Mega Supporter, lifetime upgrades) as of 2026-08-27, cited from the Alfred shop. Workflows themselves are free. The base Alfred app without Powerpack cannot run them.
This page is the workflow gallery. The replacement field is Alfred alternatives for Mac. The two-launcher duel is Raycast vs Alfred. The first-person swap story is I Replaced Spotlight, Alfred, and Siri.
TL;DR
| Job | Install |
|---|---|
| Math, units, currency | Calculate Anything (GitHub) or the Gallery Unit Converter + Currency Converter |
| Find other workflows | Workflow Finder |
| GitHub repos / PRs | GitHub (2,917 stars, pushed 2026-05-10) |
| Menu bar commands | Menu Bar Search |
| VS Code / Cursor projects | VSCode Workspace Explorer |
| Skip workflows entirely | Dottie (Apple Silicon agent, 134 tools) |
How to install Alfred workflows on Mac in 2026
The official source is the Alfred Gallery. Search, then Install in Alfred. Gallery workflows update from Alfred Preferences. The Gallery workflow itself searches the catalog from the bar.
Packal is still up. It is no longer the place the Alfred team points to. Prefer Gallery. GitHub remains valid when a workflow has no Gallery page, which is the case for Calculate Anything (last GitHub push 2024-02-20, 600 stars) and the GitHub workflow.
You need Powerpack. Full license types: alfredapp.com/help/powerpack/license-types.
Workflow vs agent (so you pick the right tool)
Workflows are deterministic. Same keyword, same steps. You built the graph. That is why they feel instant and why they break when an app path changes.
Agents pick tools from a sentence. Dottie is a native Mac AI agent (Apple Silicon, macOS 15.4+) with 134 system tools. You say “rename every PDF on the Desktop with today’s date.” You do not wire a File Action. Cumulative downloads 1,069 (api.dottie.ai, 2026-08-27).
Keep Alfred for keywords you fire twenty times a day. Use Dottie for ad-hoc Mac work you will not productize. They do not conflict. First 10 minutes: Getting Started with Dottie on Mac. What the agent is: What Is Dottie Desktop.
Three model paths if you try Dottie:
| Path | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Local (MLX / Ollama) | Privacy, offline, zero API cost | Open weights on Apple Silicon |
| BYOK | You already pay OpenAI / Anthropic / xAI / Cerebras | Your key, provider ToS |
| Dottie Pro ($20/mo) | Managed models without key plumbing | Same email as desktop register |
Productivity
1. Calculate Anything
The one most people install first. Type math, unit conversions, currency, dates, percentages, and crypto into the bar. Replaces a calculator, a conversion site, and a timezone lookup for a lot of queries.
Install: github.com/biati-digital/alfred-calculate-anything (600 stars; last push 2024-02-20). Not in the Gallery as of 2026-08-27.
Gallery stand-ins if you want first-party updates: Unit Converter and Currency Converter, both by the Alfred team.
2. Workflow Finder
Search and jump to workflows you already installed. Essential after you pass about ten.
Install: alfred.app/workflows/mayjunejuly/workflow-finder
Creator tools sit next to it: Workflow Actions (Alfred team) searches installed workflows by recently edited.
3. Menu Bar Search
Fuzzy-search the menu bar of the front Mac app. Faster than hunting a buried command when you know it exists.
Install: alfred.app/workflows/benziahamed/menu-bar-search
4. Strong Password / Password Generator
Generate a password from the bar instead of opening a manager for a throwaway account. Prefer a manager for anything you will reuse.
Install: alfred.app/workflows/vitor/strong-password or fedecalendino/password-generator. 1Password users: Alfred’s 1Password workflow.
Developer
5. GitHub
Search repos, issues, and pull requests from the launcher. Open in Finder, browser, or Terminal.
Install: github.com/gharlan/alfred-github-workflow (2,917 stars, last push 2026-05-10). Gallery-adjacent: Gitfred.
6. VSCode Workspace Explorer
Lists VS Code workspaces and recent folders; opens the one you pick. Same idea works if you live in Cursor.
Install: alfred.app/workflows/acidham/vscode-workspace-explorer
7. Run Command
Run a shell command without opening Terminal. Quick git, npm, and Homebrew one-liners.
Install: alfred.app/workflows/vitor/run-command. Homebrew search: chrisgrieser/homebrew-search.
8. Color Picker
Pick a color from screen, get hex / RGB / HSL.
Install: alfred.app/workflows/zeitlings/color-picker
Search and reference
9. World Clock
City times without a separate menubar clock app.
Install: alfred.app/workflows/fedecalendino/world-clock
10. UTF / Unicode Search
Search and copy Unicode symbols, emoji-adjacent characters, and math.
Install: alfred.app/workflows/adamkiss/utf-search. Companion: What Unicode Character Is This.
11. Dash
Search Dash docs from the bar. If you already pay for Dash, this is the integration.
Install: alfred.app/workflows/kapeli/dash
System
12. Switch Appearance
Flip macOS light/dark appearance from a keyword.
Install: alfred.app/workflows/alfredapp/switch-appearance (Alfred team).
13. Clipboard History Extender
Alfred’s built-in clipboard history is a Powerpack feature. The Gallery extender adds filters and extras on top.
Install: alfred.app/workflows/alfredapp/clipboard-history-extender. Snippets: Rich Snippets.
14. Watch List
Queue local files, folders, and streams; play them from the bar. Needs ffmpeg and yt-dlp (Alfred can prompt Homebrew).
Install: alfred.app/workflows/vitor/watch-list
AI
15. Do not bolt ChatGPT onto Alfred first
Community “ask ChatGPT from the bar” workflows exist. They need an API key and they return text. That is not Mac automation.
If the reason you opened this page is “I want AI in my launcher,” try Raycast AI (from $8/mo, keyboard-only) or Dottie if the job is actually doing things on the Mac. Head-to-head: Raycast AI vs Dottie.
Where to find more
- Alfred Gallery: official catalog, signed/notarized binaries, in-app updates
- Alfred Forum: where new workflows get tested before Gallery
- GitHub: still the home for Calculate Anything and the GitHub workflow
- Packal: legacy directory; use only if Gallery has no match
Vítor’s old monorepo (vitorgalvao/alfred-workflows, 2,401 stars) is deprecated. Current workflows live on alfred.app/workflows/vitor or the Alfred team page.
Natural language instead of workflows
Every new capability in Alfred is a workflow you find, install, and memorize. That is the right model for a command you fire all day. It is the wrong model for a one-off Finder job.
Dottie takes the other path. Instead of gh myrepo, you say “open my dottie-landing repo.” Instead of a timezone workflow, you ask “what time is it in Tokyo?” Instead of a VS Code picker, “open the dottie project in VS Code.”
What Alfred does with workflows, Dottie does with 134 built-in tools and natural language: files, apps, System Settings-adjacent actions, Safari, calendar, Mail, clipboard, voice with a wake word.
The honest split: Alfred (and Raycast scripts) are deterministic. Dottie is probabilistic. Keep the keyword for sequences that must fire identically. Use the agent for variable inputs. They run side by side. Product definition: What Is Dottie Desktop. Broader field: Alfred alternatives, Raycast alternatives, Keyboard Maestro alternatives.
Which Alfred workflows should you install first?
If you just bought Powerpack, start with four:
- Calculate Anything (or the two official converters)
- Workflow Finder
- GitHub if you are a developer
- Menu Bar Search
Everything else waits until you hit a job you wish you had.
Related posts
- Alfred alternatives for Mac
- Raycast vs Alfred on Mac
- I Replaced Spotlight, Alfred, and Siri
- Getting Started with Dottie on Mac
- What Is Dottie Desktop
- Keyboard Maestro alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Alfred workflows for Mac in 2026?
Start with Calculate Anything (math, units, currency), Workflow Finder, the GitHub workflow, Menu Bar Search, and VSCode Workspace Explorer. Install from the official Alfred Gallery at alfred.app when a Gallery page exists. Calculate Anything and the GitHub workflow still live on GitHub.
Do Alfred workflows require the Powerpack?
Yes. Workflows, clipboard history, snippets, and themes need the Alfred Powerpack. As of 2026-08-27 the shop lists £34 for a single license and £59 for Mega Supporter with lifetime upgrades. The base Alfred app is a free launcher only.
Where do I download Alfred workflows in 2026?
The official source is the Alfred Gallery at alfred.app. Search and use Install in Alfred so updates come from Preferences. Packal still loads but is no longer the official catalog. GitHub is the fallback for workflows with no Gallery page.
Are Alfred workflows still worth it on Mac in 2026?
Yes, for keywords you fire every day. They are fast and deterministic. They are not worth it for one-off Finder jobs you will not productize. For those, a Mac agent such as Dottie runs the same class of file, app, and system tasks from natural language without a workflow graph.
Is there a free alternative to Alfred workflows on Mac?
Raycast ships clipboard history, snippets, and community extensions on the free tier. Dottie is free and open source on Apple Silicon and replaces many ad-hoc workflows with 134 native Mac tools. Both can run next to Alfred. Powerpack is still a one-time £34 if you want to stay in Alfred.
Can I use Alfred workflows and Dottie together?
Yes. They do not conflict. Keep Alfred for instant keywords. Use Dottie for variable, multi-step Mac work you do not want to encode as a workflow. Dottie needs Apple Silicon and macOS 15.4 or later.
How do I update Alfred workflows?
Gallery workflows update inside Alfred Preferences. Outdated items show an arrow; right-click and choose Update from the Alfred Gallery. GitHub-installed workflows need a manual re-download unless the author ships an updater, which the Gallery style guide discourages.