Desktop full-text search for documents by content and file name on Linux, macOS, Windows and more.
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Best Desktop Search Software 2026
Facts read 28 Sep 2026 – 20 Oct 2026
Recoll leads this list of 57 (record score 5.9, free plan). GitHub CodeQL is next (record score 5.6, free plan), and Open Semantic Desktop Search is the next highest-placed with a free plan (record score 5.6).
Desktop search software helps you find indexed content across files, email, messages and scanned text. This guide helps buyers compare tools before choosing one.
The standings: top 10
| Name | In a line | Record score | Price from | Try it free | Runs on | Facts read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Recoll | Desktop full-text search for documents by content and file name on Linux, macOS, Windows and more. | 5.9 | Free plan | Free plan | Android, Web, Windows, Mac | 20 Oct 2026 |
| 02 GitHub CodeQL | CodeQL suits developers and security researchers who need to analyze code for security and other quality issues. | 5.6 | Free plan | Free plan | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux | 28 Sep 2026 |
| 03 Open Semantic Desktop Search | Open-source desktop full-text and exploratory search for large document sets in a VirtualBox appliance. | 5.6 | Free plan | Free plan | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 04 Everything | It suits Windows users who want fast name-based searches across local, removable, or network locations. | 5.3 | $49 a year | Free plan | Windows | 9 Oct 2026 |
| 05 FileSeek | FileSeek searches Windows files with text queries, regular expressions and saved search profiles, without background indexing. | 5.3 | $19 one-time | Free plan | Windows | 9 Oct 2026 |
| 06 FileLocator Pro | FileLocator Pro finds information in documents and archives on Windows, with Boolean, regular-expression, and indexed search options. | 5.2 | $79 one-time | Free plan | Windows, API | 3 Oct 2026 |
| 07 WizFile | WizFile suits Windows users who want quick searches across local, removable, or network locations. | 5.2 | $20 one-time | Free plan | Windows | 9 Oct 2026 |
| 08 Agent Ransack | Windows and network-drive file search with Boolean operators and Perl-compatible regular expressions. | 5.1 | $20 one-time | Free plan | Windows | 2 Oct 2026 |
| 09 UltraSearch | 5.0 | $30 a year | Free plan | Windows | 8 Oct 2026 | |
| 10 FoxTrot Search | macOS document search and categorization with metadata search, previews and highlighted matches. | 4.9 | $35 one-time | Free trial | iPhone & iPad, Mac | 5 Oct 2026 |
Compare free plans, paid-from prices, trials, supported platforms, index locations, search types and indexed-item limits. The list is rebuilt nightly, so check current details before choosing.
02
GitHub CodeQL
CodeQL suits developers and security researchers who need to analyze code for security and other quality issues.
WebWindowsMac+3 Record5.6 Visit
03
Open Semantic Desktop Search
Open-source desktop full-text and exploratory search for large document sets in a VirtualBox appliance.
WebWindowsMac+4 Record5.6 Visit
04
Everything
It suits Windows users who want fast name-based searches across local, removable, or network locations.
Windows Record5.3 Visit
05
FileSeek
FileSeek searches Windows files with text queries, regular expressions and saved search profiles, without background indexing.
Windows Record5.3 Visit
6
FileLocator Pro
WindowsAPI $79 one-time Record5.2 Visit FileLocator Pro finds information in documents and archives on Windows, with Boolean, regular-expression, and indexed search options.
7
WizFile
Windows $20 one-time Record5.2 Visit WizFile suits Windows users who want quick searches across local, removable, or network locations.
8
Agent Ransack
Windows $20 one-time Record5.1 Visit Windows and network-drive file search with Boolean operators and Perl-compatible regular expressions.
10
FoxTrot Search
iPhone & iPadMac $35 one-time Record4.9 Visit macOS document search and categorization with metadata search, previews and highlighted matches.
11
Scherlokk
Mac $9.95 a year Record4.9 Visit Scherlokk finds and compares files on Mac storage, including iCloud Drive and network volumes.
13
DocFetcher
WindowsMacLinux Free plan Record4.8 Visit Open-source desktop content search for Linux, macOS and Windows with previews, filters and advanced queries.
15
PowerGREP
Windows £119 one-time Record4.8 Visit Windows search and replace for text, binary data, regular expressions, archives, and logs.
18
monkeSearch
WindowsMacLinux Free plan Record4.6 Visit monkeSearch is an offline desktop app for finding local files with queries that combine file types, time, and keywords.
19
ProFind
iPhone & iPadMac $6.99 one-time Record4.6 Visit ProFind searches files on macOS and iOS by names, metadata, content, Boolean or natural-language terms, with optional OCR.
20
Listary
Windows $19.95 one-time Record4.5 Visit Listary may suit Windows users who want to find files, folders, and apps from a search interface or navigate folders from file dialogs.
21
Magpie
Windows Free plan Record4.5 Visit Magpie enlarges Windows windows with selectable scaling algorithms and image filters.
22
Windows File Recovery
Windows Free plan Record4.5 Visit It suits Windows users who need to try recovering deleted files from local drives or removable storage.
Before you choose
Compare free plans and trials
Check the pricing model, paid-from amount and pricing note for each tool. A free plan and a free trial are separate details, so review both before deciding.
If you need paid features, use the paid-from field as a starting point rather than a final cost.
Match the platform to your setup
Supported platforms include Windows, macOS, Linux, web, self-hosted and API options. Check the platform field against where you need to search.
A tool that supports a desktop operating system may not offer the same option for web, self-hosted or API use.
Check what the index can search
Compare support for content search, email search, message search and OCR search. Choose the coverage that matches the material you need to find.
Index locations show where a tool can look. Review that field alongside the search types before choosing.
Review indexed-item limits
The indexed-item limit indicates how much content a tool can include in its index. Compare that limit with the size of the material you plan to search.
If your library may grow, keep the limit in view when weighing otherwise similar options.
Questions
Which platforms appear in this list?
Listings cover Windows, macOS, Linux, web, self-hosted and API options. Check the supported-platforms field for a specific tool.
How are prices presented?
The table shows pricing model, paid-from price and pricing note. Notes can include a free plan or a free-trial period.
Is a free plan the same as a free trial?
No. Free plan and free trial are separate fields. Read the pricing note to see which option a tool provides.
What kinds of search can I compare?
The comparison covers content, email, message and OCR search, along with index locations.
What does indexed-item limit mean?
It is the listed limit for content included in a tool's index. Compare that field with the amount of material you need to search.
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