Is LaunchDeck cheaper than Happy Folders?

Yes, slightly. LaunchDeck is about $5.99 on the Mac App Store, while Happy Folders is $14.99 sold directly. LaunchDeck is launch-only; Happy Folders also organises and customises your desktop.

Can Happy Folders open websites and apps with a shortcut?

Yes. A tile can open apps and links together, and a tile can also trigger any Apple Shortcut, so you can drive it from a keyboard shortcut too.

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Happy Folders vs LaunchDeck

Q: What is the difference between Happy Folders and LaunchDeck?

LaunchDeck is a lightweight launcher that opens groups of apps and websites by hotkey or from the menu bar. Happy Folders also opens files, folders and saved window layouts, lives on your desktop as big custom tiles you design, and can run Apple Shortcuts.

Short answer: LaunchDeck is a fast, no-frills launcher: open groups of apps and websites with a hotkey. Happy Folders does that and opens files, folders and window layouts, lives on your desktop as big tiles you design, and runs Apple Shortcuts. One is a keyboard launcher; the other is a whole happy desktop.

Happy Folders tiles on a Mac desktop — A launcher you can see, organize and customize.

What LaunchDeck does

LaunchDeck (about $5.99 on the Mac App Store) keeps things lean: create Launch Modes (named groups like “Work” or “Deep Focus”) and fire them with a hotkey or from the menu bar to open your apps and websites at once. If a quick, invisible, keyboard-first launcher is all you want, it's lovely.

What Happy Folders adds

Opens more than apps + sites: also files, folders and saved Finder window layouts.
Lives on your desktop as big, custom tiles you draw, sticker and animate (not just a hidden menu).
Organises while it launches: tiles double as real folders you can drop files into.
Runs Apple Shortcuts from a tile.
Shareable as .happy packs.

Side by side

	LaunchDeck	Happy Folders
Price	~$5.99 (App Store)	$14.99 once (direct)
Open apps + websites at once	Yes	Yes
Open files & folders	No	Yes
Restore window layouts	No	Yes
Visual tiles on the desktop	No (menu / hotkey)	Yes, big, custom, animated
Organise the desktop too	No	Yes

Which should you choose?

Choose LaunchDeck if you want the cheapest, lightest keyboard launcher for apps and websites, and you don't need anything on the desktop. Choose Happy Folders if you want a desktop you can see and enjoy: one that organises, customises and launches your whole workflow.

FAQ

What's the difference between Happy Folders and LaunchDeck?

LaunchDeck opens groups of apps and websites by hotkey or menu bar. Happy Folders also opens files, folders and window layouts, lives on the desktop as big custom tiles, and runs Apple Shortcuts.

Is LaunchDeck cheaper?

Slightly. About $5.99 on the App Store vs $14.99 for Happy Folders (direct). LaunchDeck is launch-only; Happy Folders also organises and customises your desktop.

Can Happy Folders be driven by a shortcut?

Yes. A tile can trigger any Apple Shortcut, and it opens apps and links together, so you can launch a whole setup from a keyboard shortcut too.

More than a launcher. A happy desktop

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