DocFetcher vs Fluent Search

DocFetcher is a free, open-source desktop application for searching the contents of files stored on a computer. It presents selected results with a text preview and highlighted matches, and search results can be narrowed by file size, type and location. Its query syntax supports AND, OR and NOT, wildcards, phrase and fuzzy searches, proximity search and boosting. Supported content includes Microsoft Office files, Outlook PST, OpenOffice, PDF, EPUB, HTML, plain text, RTF, media metadata, Visio and SVG. It can search ZIP, 7z, RAR and tar archives, including archives nested inside other archives. Users create indexes for folders; the application detects changes while running, and a background daemon records changes while it is closed for processing at the next launch. Portable editions keep indexes and settings in the application folder and can be moved between computers. The maker says the application collects no private data and indexes nothing by default. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. The project is legacy software: no new features are planned, though bug fixes and support continue.

Fluent Search is a free, keyboard-driven search and productivity tool for Windows 10 or 11. It searches installed apps, files, browser history and bookmarks, commands, web results, open windows, settings, calculations, and on-screen interface elements. Screen Search puts character labels over clickable items so users can navigate and interact with them from the keyboard. A built-in file indexer is designed to scan quickly while keeping CPU usage low. Its index stores file metadata by default, not file contents, unless content indexing is enabled for selected paths. Optional semantic search and summarization run locally and can be switched off in Settings. Community plugins can add search sources, previews, actions, and YAML-based task workflows. Configurable web search includes engines such as Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo, inline previews, and sending prompts to ChatGPT. The maker says searches, indexes, browser data, and most interactions are handled locally; depending on settings, diagnostics, suggestions, sync, and plugins may involve external communication. Windows x64 and ARM64 installers, APPX, portable builds, and Microsoft Store installation are listed. The maker describes ARM64 as newer and not yet battle-tested.