FileSeek vs HoudahSpot
FileSeek
fileseek.caHoudahSpot
houdah.comSide by side
| Figure | FileSeek | HoudahSpot |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 5 |
| Spec score · Desktop Search Software | 8.0 (#10) | 7.8 (#16) |
| Purpose | FileSeek searches files using simple queries, regular expressions, or advanced text queries. | HoudahSpot searches Mac files using advanced criteria and Spotlight indexing. |
| Refunds | The purchase page says customers can request a refund within 30 days of purchase. | The maker offers a 15-day money-back guarantee on purchases. |
| Support | The license comparison says support is included with the free and Pro licenses. | Support is available by email, and the maker says it does not provide telephone support. |
Plans
FileSeek
- FreeFree
- Pro Standard$19, paid once
- Pro Personal$29, paid once
- Pro Site$199, paid once
- Pro Enterprise$899, paid once
HoudahSpot
- Single-User License (upgrade)$24, paid once
- Family License (upgrade)$39, paid once
- Family LicensePrice not published
- Single-User LicensePrice not published
- Site LicensePriced on request
In their own words
FileSeek
FileSeek is a Windows file-search app that can look through local paths, network shares, and synced cloud folders such as Dropbox and OneDrive. Queries can be simple, use regular expressions, or use advanced text syntax. It uses multithreading and does not depend on background indexing. Advanced IFilters allow searches to process non-text files such as Excel and PDF. Pro adds saved search profiles that can sync between computers, multiple search tabs, and CSV or HTML result exports. The free plan is limited to personal use and lacks those Pro features. Pro Standard costs $19, paid once for a lifetime license for one computer; other lifetime licenses cover personal computers, a site, or company-owned sites. The current release supports Windows 10 version 1607 or higher, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2016, 2019, and 2022. Downloads include an installer, ZIP build, and MSI installer, and FileSeek can also be installed using WinGet. SHA1 hashes are published to help check downloads. Support is included with free and Pro licenses.