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smolcast
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Command Palette

smolcast vs PowerToys Command Palette

Command Palette, the successor to PowerToys Run, reaches deep into Windows: WinGet, services, the registry. smolcast adds clipboard history, emoji and snippets instead.

Updated 23 Oct 2026 Checked against Microsoft’s docs (PowerToys 0.102). Sources

smolcast

Open source

Free
Open source
7 MB
Standalone

Best for clipboard, emoji and snippets in one tiny app

PowerToys Command Palette

Microsoft

Free
Open source
Part of PowerToys
Extensions

Best for Windows admin and extensions

Get PowerToys Command Palette

Feature by feature

Bold marks where smolcast comes out ahead, and only where the other side publishes the fact.

The basics
	smolcast	PowerToys Command Palette
Price	Free	Free
Source	Open source (MIT)	Open source (MIT)
Runs on	Windows 11	Windows 10 and 11
Account	None	None
Default hotkey	`CtrlAltSpace`	`WinAltSpace`
Features
Clipboard history	Built inText and images. Encrypted on disk	Built inRecent entries
Snippets	Built inFind by name or keyword. No auto-expand (the better pick)	NoBookmarks with {query} instead
Emoji picker	Built inEvery emoji, in color (the better pick)	NoWindows has `Win.`
File search	Built inThrough Windows Search	Built in
Calculator	Built inUnits too. Enter pastes	Built inMath and functions
Quicklinks	Built inKeywords with {query}	Bookmarks
Extensions	NoScripts and quicklinks instead	Extension Gallery
AI	No	No
Window management	No	Window switching
Under the hood
Download	7 MB, one .exeNo installer (the better pick)	309 MB installerThe whole PowerToys suite
Idle	0% CPU while hidden	Not published
Privacy	No telemetryOne daily update check, can be turned off (the better pick)	Diagnostic dataCan be turned off

Pick the one that fits

Go with smolcast if

You want clipboard, emoji and snippets without add-ons
You want unit conversions like 40cm to in
You want one small app, not a suite
You want no telemetry

Go with Command Palette if

You already run PowerToys
You want WinGet, services, the registry and Settings in the launcher
You want extensions or the Dock
You’re on Windows 10

Get PowerToys Command Palette

Coming from Command Palette

PowerToys RunCommand Palette replaced it, so this page covers both; smolcast’s CtrlAltSpace won’t clash with Run’s AltSpace
BookmarksQuicklinks: [quicklinks.<keyword>] with a URL, file or folder and {query}
HotkeyCtrlAltSpace by default, so you can run both while you try it
Shell commandsTracked script files, each with an optional hotkey

Try smolcast

Windows 11, x64
7 MB
Free and open source

Download