Switchbar vs. Hurl
Browser profiles found for you and clean links, on Windows and Mac.
Hurl is a free, open-source browser picker for Windows with a native WinUI 3 look, regex rules, and a Quick View preview window. Switchbar finds your browser profiles automatically, cleans up links by default, and works on Windows and Mac.
Also available on Windows.
· Compared with Hurl 0.10
At a glance
Switchbar
A free picker that opens every link in the right browser, profile, or app, with profiles detected automatically and link cleanup built in. Best for people who want it to just work, on Windows or Mac.
Hurl
A free, open-source (MIT) browser picker for Windows 11, with a native WinUI 3 window, regex rules, launch profiles you set up with custom arguments, and a Quick View preview. Its developer describes it as pre-1.0, with breaking changes possible.
Browser profiles without setup
In Hurl, profiles are launch entries you add for each browser with custom arguments, such as a profile folder or an incognito flag.
Switchbar finds the profiles in Chrome, Edge, Brave, Firefox, and other browsers on its own, including Incognito and InPrivate windows, and lists them next to your browsers.
Clean links by default
Switchbar removes tracking parameters, unwraps Outlook Safe Links, and expands common short links before a link opens, with nothing to set up.
Hurl lets you edit a link in its picker before opening it, and its Quick View window previews a page without opening a browser.
Email links, desktop apps, and Mac
Switchbar also handles email links and suggests desktop apps like Zoom and Figma when a link belongs to them. It works the same way on Windows and Mac, while Hurl is a Windows app.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Switchbar | Hurl |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A free picker that opens every link in the right browser, profile, or app | An open-source browser picker for Windows |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows | Windows 11 |
| Picker | A row of your favorite browsers, profiles, and apps, at the center of the screen or under your pointer, with keyboard shortcuts | A WinUI 3 window with an editable link and keyboard shortcuts; can open under the pointer |
| Browser profiles | Open links in a specific browser profile, or in an Incognito or InPrivate window | Launch profiles you set up with custom arguments, such as a profile folder or incognito |
| Rules | Rules by URL, domain, or email address with wildcards, set in a few clicks or right from the picker | Exact text, domain, or regex rules grouped into rulesets, in settings or JSON; off by default |
| Browser extensions | Chrome extension and bookmarklet | An experimental Chrome extension, installed manually |
| Updates | Updated regularly, with automatic updates | Pre-1.0; the README asks you to uninstall before installing a new version |
Why Switchbar
Why choose Switchbar
Profiles, found for you
Switchbar detects your browser profiles automatically, so a work or personal profile is one click away without any setup.
Clean links by default
Tracking parameters are removed and short links are expanded before a link opens.
Windows and Mac
Switchbar works the same way on Windows and Mac, free and with no account, and it updates itself.
Where Hurl may be a better fit
- You want free, open-source software you can inspect and modify.
- You want regex rules with a built-in tester, or to edit your settings as JSON.
- You want to preview links in a Quick View window before opening a browser.
Which should you choose?
Choose Hurl if you want an open-source Windows app and enjoy configuring profiles and rules yourself.
Choose Switchbar if you want profiles detected for you, clean links, and email support, on Windows and Mac.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I switch from Hurl to Switchbar?
- Download Switchbar and make it your default browser. It finds your browsers, profiles, and apps on its own. Pick your favorites, then add rules as you go by checking "Remember this choice" in the picker, or import rules you've exported from another Switchbar install.
- Can Switchbar open links in a specific browser profile?
- Yes. Switchbar lists your browser profiles alongside your browsers, so you can open a link in a specific profile, or in an Incognito or InPrivate window, with one click or a rule.
- Can I see a link before choosing a browser in Switchbar?
- Yes. The picker shows the full link at the top, so you can check where it goes before you choose a browser, profile, or app.
- Is Switchbar free?
- Yes. Switchbar is free to use, with no account needed, and it runs on both Mac and Windows.
Take control of your links today
Free to use. Available for macOS and Windows.
Also available on Windows.
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