Best Desktop Search Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Recoll is ranked #1 of 59 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Open Semantic Desktop Search and Buddi. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Open Semantic Desktop Search. The lowest first paid tier on this page is FilePulse at $1.58/mo.
Finding information on a computer may require more than searching filenames. Compare desktop search options on content, email, message, and OCR search, and consider which index locations they cover and any indexed-item limit. Supported platforms, free plans, and listed paid starting points offer further points of comparison. The ranking begins with Recoll, Open Semantic Desktop Search, and Agent Ransack, followed by DocFetcher and Searchmonkey III. Use the listed search coverage and platform details to consider which software fits the material you need to find and the devices you use.
59 desktop search software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
#1 Recoll Top pick · 7.4 Free plan · Free
#2 Open Semantic Desktop Search Runner-up · 7.3 Free plan · Free #3 Buddi Also great · 7.2 Free plan · Free- Free plan AndroidapiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- web, Windows, macOS, Linux
- Index locations
- local filesystem, removable volumes, shared or otherwise computer-accessible storage
- Content search
- Yes
- Email search
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan LinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- web, windows, macos, linux
- Index locations
- local folders, file servers, file shares
- Content search
- Yes
- Email search
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- Windows
- Index locations
- Local NTFS volumes
- Content search
- No
- Email search
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- Index locations
- local, removable, synced
- Content search
- Yes
- Email search
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- windows, macos, linux
- Index locations
- local
- Content search
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- windows
- Index locations
- local, removable, network
- Content search
- Yes
- Email search
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan LinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- macOS, Windows, Linux; web interface when run from source
- Index locations
- User-selected document folders; other location types not specified
- Content search
- Yes
- Email search
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan macOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- macos
- Index locations
- Volumes, top-level folders, home folder, and Desktop folders
- Content search
- Yes
- Email search
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- windows, macos, linux
- Index locations
- local
- Content search
- Yes
- Email search
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free trial apiWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Supported platforms
- Windows
- Index locations
- local, network
- Content search
- Yes
- Email search
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - LinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Supported platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux, web interface
- Index locations
- Local folders and files; mapped remote folders and cluster nodes
- Content search
- Yes
- Email search
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$1.58/mofirst paid tier About FilePulseVisit site - LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Supported platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- Index locations
- Local drives and folders; mapped network drives and NAS; synced cloud storage (Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive)
- Content search
- Yes
- Email search
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - macOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - LinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- web, Windows, macOS (Apple Silicon), Linux
- Index locations
- Allowed local directories; Docker-mounted media directories
- Content search
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Supported platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- Index locations
- Selected folders on the computer; local storage
- Content search
- Yes
- Email search
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$3.25/mofirst paid tier About ProntoVisit site - Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- Windows
- Index locations
- Removable media, hard disks, and network drives
- Content search
- No
- Email search
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Linux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- linux
- Index locations
- local, network
- Content search
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - macOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- macOS
- Index locations
- Local filesystem, Desktop and Downloads, and connected cloud folders accessed through desktop sync apps
- Content search
- Yes
- Email search
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- Windows
- Index locations
- Folders explicitly added by the user; local folders
- Content search
- Yes
- Email search
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - macOSiOS
- Free plan
- No
- Supported platforms
- macOS, iOS
- Index locations
- Local folders, connected/removable volumes, network drives, NAS, synced index files
- Content search
- Yes
- Email search
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - WindowsmacOSLinux
- Supported platforms
- Linux, macOS, Windows
- Index locations
- Local directories
- Content search
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Linux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- Linux
- Index locations
- Local block devices; mounted filesystems
- Content search
- No
- Email search
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which desktop search software is ranked first on Everything Xiaomi?
Recoll is ranked #1 of 59 with a score of 7.4. Open Semantic Desktop Search is second and Buddi third.
How many of these have a free plan?
10 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, FilePulse has the lowest first paid tier we found: $1.58/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes: documentation depth, a free tier and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.