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Recoll

recoll.org

Free plan Open source WebWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidAPI
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Spec score 8.4 #4 of 57 in Desktop Search Software

What it is

Recoll is free desktop search software that finds documents by their contents and file names. It indexes many common document formats and compressed files, including email attachments nested inside archives. Search supports Boolean queries, phrases, proximity, wildcards, and filters for file type or directory tree. Indexing can run periodically as a batch job or continuously for real-time updates. Users can search through a Qt desktop interface, a web browser, the command line, GNOME Shell, KDE KIO, or KRunner; the browser interface queries a Recoll index. A Python 3 extension can query or update that index. Recoll can index PDF attachments and annotations, extract custom XMP metadata, and apply OCR to image-only PDFs using Tesseract or ABBYY FineReader. It supports multiple languages and UTF-8, and users can choose a stemming language at query time. Linux and source are free under the GPL. A contribution is requested for the Windows binary, but no amount is stated. Some formats on Linux and macOS need external applications or libraries, and the Windows port lacks some features, including multithreaded execution.

Spec sheet

What it does
Recoll is a desktop full-text search program that searches document contents and filenames.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Purpose
Recoll is desktop full-text search software that finds documents by their contents and file names.Read 30 Sep 2026 · recoll.org
Support
Users can report problems through the issue tracker, mailing list, or direct email.Read 30 Sep 2026 · recoll.org
Maker
Official credits identify Jean-Francois Dockes as the project maintainer and contact.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Android companion
RecollDroid is an Android front end using a thin REST server, Recoll's Python API and FastAPI.Read 20 Oct 2026 · f-droid.org
Android licence
RecollDroid is licensed under GNU GPL version 3 or later.Read 20 Oct 2026 · f-droid.org
Android requirements
RecollDroid version 1.1 requires Android 8.0 or newer and supports arm64, armeabi-v7a, x86 and x86_64.Read 20 Oct 2026 · f-droid.org
Android security model
RecollDroid supports basic authentication over HTTPS through a reverse proxy, with Nginx recommended for authentication.Read 20 Oct 2026 · f-droid.org
API users
The Python search API is used by the GNOME Shell provider, WebUI, upmpdcli and other scripts.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Browser integration
A Firefox extension can add visited web-page history to the index.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Build requirements
Source builds require a C++ compiler, Xapian development libraries, Qt 5.3 or newer, zlib, X11 and usually Python3 development files.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Dataset scale
The project reports a user managing 11 million documents with a 250 GB index.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Document coverage
It indexes common document formats, compressed archives, email stores and nested attachments.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Download integrity
Official downloads are accompanied by GPG signatures and SHA-256 checksums.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Extensibility
Developers can add document input handlers for new formats and customize metadata fields.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
File coverage
Recoll indexes many common document types and compressed files, including email attachments inside nested archives.Read 30 Sep 2026 · recoll.org
Format dependencies
On Linux and macOS, some file formats require external applications or libraries for text extraction.Read 30 Sep 2026 · recoll.org
Index scheduling
Indexing can run as periodic batch work or as a continuously running real-time task.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Indexing
The indexer can run periodically as a batch job or continuously for real-time indexing.Read 30 Sep 2026 · recoll.org
Interfaces
Interfaces include a Qt desktop GUI, web browser UI, command line, GNOME Shell provider, KDE KIO and krunner.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Language support
Recoll supports multiple languages and character sets using Unicode UTF-8, and stemming language can be selected at query time.Read 30 Sep 2026 · recoll.org
Languages
The index uses Unicode UTF-8 and supports multilingual and multi-character-set searching.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Licence
Recoll source is free software distributed under the GPL; a public repository identifies GPL-2.0.Read 20 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limit: interface age
It's FOSS says Recoll is not especially modern or flashy despite its strong search capabilities.Read 20 Oct 2026 · itsfoss.com
Limit: manual updates
TechRadar notes that the default index is static, so users must update it manually or configure scheduled monitoring.Read 20 Oct 2026 · techradar.com
Limit: setup
TechRadar says dependency requirements can discourage users and that external helpers are needed for several file formats.Read 20 Oct 2026 · techradar.com
Limit: storage
Heise reports that the Xapian index can become roughly as large as the original documents and larger when archives or mailboxes are included.Read 20 Oct 2026 · heise.de
Local privacy
The Windows page states Recoll does not connect to external locations and that user data stays on the computer.Read 30 Sep 2026 · recoll.org
macOS support
A universal macOS bundle is built on Sequoia with Qt 6.9 and is intended for Intel and Apple-arm64 Macs.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
PDF and OCR
Recoll can index PDF attachments and annotations, extract custom XMP metadata, and perform OCR on image-only PDFs using Tesseract or ABBYY FineReader.Read 30 Sep 2026 · recoll.org
PDF support
PDF indexing and OCR require supported external helper applications and configuration.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Platform limitation
The Windows port lacks some features, including multithreaded execution.Read 30 Sep 2026 · recoll.org
Praise: flexibility
It's FOSS characterizes Recoll as precise and flexible, with fast indexed results, advanced operators and extensive configuration.Read 20 Oct 2026 · itsfoss.com
Praise: search power
Heise described Recoll as a powerful Linux search tool with strong syntax, reliable results and unusually thorough documentation.Read 20 Oct 2026 · heise.de
Programming interface
A Python 3 extension can query or update the index, and the Web UI and Joplin notes indexer are built on it.Read 30 Sep 2026 · recoll.org
Python API
A Python API supports both searching and creating or updating indexes through the recoll and rclextract modules.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Query tools
Queries support Boolean logic, phrases, proximity, wildcards, file-type filters and directory-tree filters.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Recent issue
The project reported recurring Qt display problems on Wayland in July 2026 and suggested using the X11 platform backend.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Release
Version 1.44.2 was announced on September 1, 2026.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Search backend
Recoll uses the Xapian search engine library beneath its Qt interface.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Search features
Search supports Boolean queries, phrases, proximity, wildcards, and filters by file type and directory tree.Read 30 Sep 2026 · recoll.org
Security note
The Windows page reports a fixed security problem in the bundled unrtf translator and advises upgrading.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Self-hosting
Recoll runs locally and its Windows documentation says it does not connect externally unless the user explicitly checks for updates.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Web access
The Recoll Web UI lets users query a Recoll index from a web browser.Read 30 Sep 2026 · recoll.org
Web integration
The WebUI offers remote searching with preview and download features.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Windows limitation
The Windows port lacks some features, including multithread execution.Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org

Plans and prices

Linux Free Free software on Linux · GPL licensed Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org
Recoll (Linux and source) Free Free and open source under the GPL Read 30 Sep 2026 · recoll.org
Recoll for Windows Priced on request A small contribution is requested; no amount is stated Windows binary download; source code is free under the GPL Read 30 Sep 2026 · recoll.org
Windows binary Priced on request Small contribution requested; fee amount not stated Self-contained installer · Windows 10/11 supported · Windows 7 only with older versions Read 20 Oct 2026 · recoll.org

Every Recoll plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Searches file contents and names with advanced query options.
  • Indexes compressed files and nested email attachments.
  • Can OCR image-only PDFs.
  • Offers desktop, browser, command-line, and shell interfaces.
  • Linux and source are free under the GPL.

Limits

  • Windows port lacks multithreaded execution.
  • Some Linux and macOS formats need external extraction tools.
  • A contribution is requested for the Windows binary.

Who it suits

Recoll suits people who want to search documents stored on local, removable, shared, or otherwise computer-accessible storage. It also offers several interfaces for users who prefer a browser, command line, or desktop search integration.

Recoll in depth

Read the full write-up

Overview

Recoll is free, open-source desktop search for people who need to find material across documents, email, and file names rather than browse folder by folder. Its breadth of search interfaces and indexing options is a strong fit for technically comfortable users; platform-specific gaps and extraction dependencies make it less turnkey on some systems.

It can index local, removable, and computer-accessible shared storage. Search is available through a Qt desktop interface, a browser, the command line, and integrations with GNOME Shell, KDE KIO, and KRunner. That range makes Recoll useful both as a desktop search tool and as an index that other interfaces can query.

For a broader category view, see Desktop Search Software.

Key features

Search and indexing

Boolean queries, phrases, proximity searches, and wildcards offer more control than a simple keyword box, while file-type and directory-tree filters help narrow broad result sets. Recoll covers many common document formats and compressed files, including email attachments nested inside archives. The indexer can run periodically or continuously, so users can choose a batch workflow or real-time indexing.

More than one way to reach the index

The Web UI allows browser searches against a Recoll index, and a Python 3 extension can query or update that index. The extension also underpins the Web UI and Joplin notes indexer. These options give developers and users with varied workflows room to extend access, though they add configuration choices that may be unnecessary for someone who only wants a simple file finder.

PDFs, OCR, and languages

Recoll can index PDF attachments and annotations, extract custom XMP metadata, and OCR image-only PDFs through Tesseract or ABBYY FineReader. That is valuable for scanned records, but OCR depends on an external engine. Unicode UTF-8 support and query-time stemming selection serve multilingual collections more flexibly than a fixed-language search setup.

Pricing

Recoll is free and open source under the GPL. The Linux and source plan costs nothing, making it a straightforward choice for users who can install or build the software themselves.

The Windows binary is offered with a requested contribution, but no amount is stated; its source code remains free under the GPL. Windows users should weigh that contribution against a port that lacks some features, including multithreaded execution. There are no paid tiers or seat-based plans described.

Platforms

Recoll supports Linux, macOS, Windows, and web access, with Android, API, and self-hosted also included among its platforms. The browser interface searches an existing index rather than replacing the indexing software. On Linux and macOS, extracting text from some formats requires external applications or libraries, so format coverage can depend on the surrounding software. Windows offers a binary download but omits some capabilities, including multithreading.

On Windows, Recoll states that it does not connect to external locations and that user data stays on the computer. Download files are signed with GPG and checksummed. Users can report problems through the issue tracker, mailing list, or direct email.

Who it's for

Recoll suits people with large or varied document collections who value detailed query controls, email and archive indexing, OCR, and a choice of desktop, web, or command-line access. It is particularly compelling when local search needs to span more than one folder or storage device. It is a weaker fit for someone who wants a uniform, low-configuration experience across platforms or depends on Windows multithreading.

Pros and cons

Pros: Flexible query operators and filters help locate specific material in large collections.

Pros: Indexing can include compressed archives and email attachments buried within nested archives.

Pros: Scheduled and continuous indexing support both periodic and near-current search workflows.

Pros: OCR, PDF annotations, custom metadata, and multilingual stemming broaden what can be searched.

Cons: Some Linux and macOS format extraction depends on external software, which can complicate setup.

Cons: The Windows port lacks features, including multithreaded execution.

Cons: OCR requires Tesseract or ABBYY FineReader rather than being a self-contained capability.

Alternatives

Open Semantic Desktop Search is another free option across Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web, and Windows; choose it if a VirtualBox virtual-machine image for a single desktop computer or notebook suits your deployment better.

Buddi is also free and runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, but it is GPLv2 budgeting software rather than a desktop search tool.

DocFetcher is a free, open-source desktop search option for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Choose it if creating indexes for selected folders fits your workflow.

Precision File Search is a free and open-source alternative for Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Agent Ransack offers a free Windows Lite plan for personal or commercial use, with no support; choose it if Windows-only searching and that support trade-off suit you.

DocFinder is a free AGPL-3.0-licensed desktop application for Linux, macOS, web, and Windows.

FileLocator Pro is a paid Windows alternative with a free plan and trial; its Standard License costs $79 as a one-time purchase and covers up to three Windows installations for one named user.

Searchmonkey III is a freemium option for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with separate one-time plans for PDF extraction and office documents; consider it if buying only the file-format coverage you need is preferable.

Verdict

Choose Recoll if you need free, content-based search across varied local and shared files, with detailed queries, multiple interfaces, and optional OCR. Look elsewhere if you need a more consistent Windows feature set or want file extraction to work without managing platform dependencies.

Verdict

Recoll provides several search interfaces, indexing modes, and support for varied document content. Check format dependencies and the Windows feature limitation before choosing a platform.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to RecollAll alternatives →