Best Desktop Search Software in 2026
Updated
59 desktop search software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
59ranked
2free plans on this page
€0.75/molowest paid tier
8 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Desktop Search Software 25 channels on this page · 122 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromSupported platformsIndex locationsContent searchEmail searchMessage searchOCR search Spec sheet Score
26 Pronto Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS, LinuxIndex locationsSelected folders on the computer; local storageContent searchYesEmail searchYesMessage searchNoOCR searchYes 7/8spec lines stated 6.4
27 Panoptikon Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsweb, Windows, macOS (Apple Silicon), LinuxIndex locationsAllowed local directories; Docker-mounted media directoriesContent searchYesEmail searchnot statedMessage searchnot statedOCR searchYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.3
28 WhatInStartup Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsnot statedIndex locationsnot statedContent searchnot statedEmail searchnot statedMessage searchnot statedOCR searchnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.3
29 FileVault Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsnot statedIndex locationsnot statedContent searchnot statedEmail searchnot statedMessage searchnot statedOCR searchnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.1
30 Cathy Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindowsIndex locationsRemovable media, hard disks, and network drivesContent searchNoEmail searchNoMessage searchNoOCR searchNo 7/8spec lines stated 6.0
31 Beacon Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsmacOSIndex locationsLocal filesystem, Desktop and Downloads, and connected cloud folders accessed through desktop sync appsContent searchYesEmail searchYesMessage searchYesOCR searchnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 5.9
32 Dowse Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindowsIndex locationsFolders explicitly added by the user; local foldersContent searchYesEmail searchNoMessage searchNoOCR searchYes 7/8spec lines stated 5.9
33 Kerything Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsLinuxIndex locationsLocal block devices; mounted filesystemsContent searchNoEmail searchNoMessage searchNoOCR searchNo 7/8spec lines stated 5.9
34 KFind Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformslinuxIndex locationslocalContent searchYesEmail searchNoMessage searchNoOCR searchNo 7/8spec lines stated 5.9
35 LocalSearch Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsLinuxIndex locationsUser home directory by default; configurable indexed locationsContent searchYesEmail searchNoMessage searchNoOCR searchnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 5.9
36 LocalSynapse Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOSIndex locationsnot statedContent searchYesEmail searchYesMessage searchnot statedOCR searchnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.9
37 Lookeen Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsweb, windowsIndex locationslocal, removable, networkContent searchYesEmail searchYesMessage searchnot statedOCR searchYes 6/8spec lines stated 5.9
38 SwiftSearch Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindowsIndex locationsLocal NTFS volumesContent searchNoEmail searchNoMessage searchNoOCR searchNo 7/8spec lines stated 5.9
39 UltraSearch Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindowsIndex locationsLocal drives; network drives; external drives; USB sticks; SD cards; SharePoint; Google DriveContent searchYesEmail searchnot statedMessage searchnot statedOCR searchnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.9
40 Unlost Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, LinuxIndex locationsUser-selected local folders and subfoldersContent searchYesEmail searchnot statedMessage searchnot statedOCR searchnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.9
41 Windows Backup Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsnot statedIndex locationsnot statedContent searchnot statedEmail searchnot statedMessage searchnot statedOCR searchnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 5.9
42 WizFile Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformswindowsIndex locationslocal, removable, network, syncedContent searchNoEmail searchnot statedMessage searchnot statedOCR searchnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.9
43 bodle.ai Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows 10 and 11 (64-bit)Index locationsLocal folders; OneDrive folders and network drives may be selectedContent searchYesEmail searchYesMessage searchnot statedOCR searchnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 5.8
44 FileSeek Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformswindowsIndex locationsLocal paths, network shares, and synced cloud folders such as Dropbox and OneDriveContent searchYesEmail searchnot statedMessage searchnot statedOCR searchnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.8
45 Windows Search Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindowsIndex locationsLocal PC folders and files; PC drives; OneDrive results; selectable folders or entire PC depending on indexing modeContent searchYesEmail searchYesMessage searchnot statedOCR searchnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 5.8
46 X1 Search Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindowsIndex locationsLocal files, removable media, network shares, cloud-synced and remote data sourcesContent searchYesEmail searchYesMessage searchYesOCR searchnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 5.8
47 AstroGrep Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformswindowsIndex locationslocal, removable, networkContent searchYesEmail searchnot statedMessage searchnot statedOCR searchnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.7
48 Copernic Desktop Search Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSupported platformswindowsIndex locationslocal, network, cloudContent searchYesEmail searchYesMessage searchnot statedOCR searchYes 6/8spec lines stated 5.7
49 dnGrep Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformswindowsIndex locationslocal folders and files; network paths; cloud-backed foldersContent searchYesEmail searchnot statedMessage searchnot statedOCR searchnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.7
50 Everything Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformswindowsIndex locationslocal, removable, networkContent searchYesEmail searchnot statedMessage searchnot statedOCR searchnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.7
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | Index locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Pronto | 6.4 | No | $3.25/mo | No | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | Selected folders on the computer; local storage |
| 27 | Panoptikon | 6.3 | No | — | Yes | — | web, Windows, macOS (Apple Silicon), Linux | Allowed local directories; Docker-mounted media directories |
| 28 | WhatInStartup | 6.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 29 | FileVault | 6.1 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 30 | Cathy | 6.0 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows | Removable media, hard disks, and network drives |
| 31 | Beacon | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | macOS | Local filesystem, Desktop and Downloads, and connected cloud folders accessed through desktop sync apps |
| 32 | Dowse | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows | Folders explicitly added by the user; local folders |
| 33 | Kerything | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Linux | Local block devices; mounted filesystems |
| 34 | KFind | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | linux | local |
| 35 | LocalSearch | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Linux | User home directory by default; configurable indexed locations |
| 36 | LocalSynapse | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, macOS | — |
| 37 | Lookeen | 5.9 | No | €0.75/mo | No | — | web, windows | local, removable, network |
| 38 | SwiftSearch | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows | Local NTFS volumes |
| 39 | UltraSearch | 5.9 | Free plan | $2.50/mo | Yes | — | Windows | Local drives; network drives; external drives; USB sticks; SD cards; SharePoint; Google Drive |
| 40 | Unlost | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, Linux | User-selected local folders and subfolders |
| 41 | Windows Backup | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 42 | WizFile | 5.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | windows | local, removable, network, synced |
| 43 | bodle.ai | 5.8 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit) | Local folders; OneDrive folders and network drives may be selected |
| 44 | FileSeek | 5.8 | No | — | Yes | — | windows | Local paths, network shares, and synced cloud folders such as Dropbox and OneDrive |
| 45 | Windows Search | 5.8 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows | Local PC folders and files; PC drives; OneDrive results; selectable folders or entire PC depending on indexing mode |
| 46 | X1 Search | 5.8 | No | — | No | — | Windows | Local files, removable media, network shares, cloud-synced and remote data sources |
| 47 | AstroGrep | 5.7 | No | — | Yes | — | windows | local, removable, network |
| 48 | Copernic Desktop Search | 5.7 | No | — | No | — | windows | local, network, cloud |
| 49 | dnGrep | 5.7 | No | — | Yes | — | windows | local folders and files; network paths; cloud-backed folders |
| 50 | Everything | 5.7 | No | — | Yes | — | windows | local, removable, network |
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