Spotlight AlternativesApplication Launchers & File Search Utilities like Spotlight

Spotlight is described as 'The system-wide desktop search feature built into Apple's OS X operating system since version 10.4 (Tiger). Backed by an index of all items and files on the system, it's designed to allow the user to quickly locate a wide variety of items on the computer' and is a application launcher in the file management category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Spotlight for a variety of platforms, including Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and iPad apps. The best Spotlight alternative is Everything, which is free. Other great apps like Spotlight are Flow Launcher, Alfred, Vicinae and Raycast.

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Alternatives list

  1. Everything icon
     1235 likes
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    An administrative tool that finds files and folders by filename instantly, displaying all files on local or network drives. Supports filters, 19 languages, portable usage, lightweight resource consumption, no tracking, and dark mode.

    115 Everything alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
    • Everything is the most popular Windows alternative to Spotlight.

    • Everything is the most popular free alternative to Spotlight.

    • Everything is Free and ProprietarySpotlight is also Free and Proprietary
    • Everything is Lightweight and Privacy focusedSpotlight is not according to our users
  2. Flow Launcher icon
     85 likes
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    Dedicated to make your workflow flow more seamlessly. Aimed at being more than an app launcher, it searches, integrates and expands on functionalities. Flow will continue to evolve, designed to be open and built with the community at heart.

    44 Flow Launcher alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Chocolatey
     
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    1
    Comments about Flow Launcher as an Alternative to Spotlight
    xaver-mue
    Positive
    0

    flow launcher is super fast and does everything very good. It can connect "everything search" and find everything on your windows superfast. You can also customize it very much

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Spotlight Icon
    Flow Launcher icon
    • Flow Launcher is the most popular Open Source alternative to Spotlight.

    • Flow Launcher is Free and Open SourceSpotlight is Free and Proprietary
    • Flow Launcher is Customizable, Lightweight and Privacy focusedSpotlight is not according to our users
  3. Alfred icon
     302 likes
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    Alfred is a productivity application for macOS, which boosts your efficiency with hotkeys, keywords and text expansion. Search your Mac and the web, and control your Mac using custom actions with the Powerpack.

    131 Alfred alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
     
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    7
    • Most users think Alfred is a great Spotlight alternative.

    • Alfred is the most popular Mac, iPhone & iPad alternative to Spotlight.

    • Alfred is Freemium and ProprietarySpotlight is Free and Proprietary
    • Alfred is CustomizableSpotlight is not according to our users
  4. Vicinae icon
     29 likes
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    High-performance native launcher for Linux built with C++ and Qt delivers fast keyboard-driven system access, an efficient modular core, built-in modules, support for server-side React or TypeScript extensions, and reuse of Raycast extensions with minimal changes.

    51 Vicinae alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Arch Linux
     
    • Vicinae is the most popular Linux alternative to Spotlight.

    • Vicinae is Free and Open SourceSpotlight is Free and Proprietary
    • Vicinae is Privacy focused and LightweightSpotlight is not according to our users
  5. Raycast icon
     61 likes
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    Raycast revolutionizes Mac productivity with AI-driven task automation, command shortcuts, and customizable workflows. Create snippets, manage clipboard history, translate text, and maintain sync across devices. Discover day planning, distraction-free focus, and versatile virtual assistance.

    71 Raycast alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Safari
     
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    1
    Comments about Raycast as an Alternative to Spotlight
    Florian Wendelborn
    Positive
    0

    It’s much more predictable, powerful, fast, and beautiful than Spotlight. Raycast has a big focus on extensions and new ones are coming every day. If you have a little bit of programming experience, you can even develop your own extension very easily. Their documentation, tooling, and code examples are some of the best I’ve ever seen.

    Spotlight Icon
    Raycast icon
    • Raycast is Freemium and ProprietarySpotlight is Free and Proprietary
    • Raycast is Customizable, Lightweight and Privacy focusedSpotlight is not according to our users
  6. DocFetcher icon
     129 likes
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    DocFetcher is an Open Source desktop search application: It allows you to search the contents of files on your computer. — You can think of it as Google for your local files. The application runs on Windows, Linux and macOS, and is made available under the Eclipse Public License.

    129 DocFetcher alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
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    1
    Comments about DocFetcher as an Alternative to Spotlight
    Temak
    Negative
    0

    It is not an alternative to Spotlight or to KRunner.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Spotlight Icon
    DocFetcher icon
    • Some users think DocFetcher is a great Spotlight alternative, some don't.

    • DocFetcher is Free and Open SourceSpotlight is Free and Proprietary
    • DocFetcher is Privacy focusedSpotlight is not according to our users
  7. Ulauncher icon
     54 likes
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    • Ulauncher provides instant search results. It also remembers your previous choices and automatically selects the best option for you.
    64 Ulauncher alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
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    1
    Comments about Ulauncher as an Alternative to Spotlight
    ThunderFox
    Positive
    0

    It's a great alternative for Linux users

    Spotlight Icon
    Ulauncher icon
    • Ulauncher is Free and Open SourceSpotlight is Free and Proprietary
    • Ulauncher is Lightweight and Privacy focusedSpotlight is not according to our users
  8. Fluent Search icon
     43 likes
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    Fluent Search is a fast and easy-to-use search application that lets you search for running applications, browser tabs, bookmarks, files, and more. Unlike Windows Start Menu, Fluent Search focuses on continuing existing work, it let you jump easily between running application...

    123 Fluent Search alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  9. ueli icon
     71 likes
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    Developed with the Electron framework, ueli is the type of tool that adopts simplicity, leaving out any unnecessary options and configuration settings. It creates an icon in the system tray at startup, where it sits silently throughout its runtime, without disturbing you with...

    83 ueli alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
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    1
    Comments about ueli as an Alternative to Spotlight
    lonke
    Negative
    0

    As the words "Electron framework" would imply, it's a surprisingly large download at 100-150MB (install size may be larger still) and since it's essentially a web browser running in the background; it may not be a good choice for those short on disk space or trying to squeeze all the performance out of their system.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Spotlight Icon
    ueli icon
    • ueli is Free and Open SourceSpotlight is Free and Proprietary
  10. Cerebro icon
     59 likes
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    Cerebro is an open source and free electron-based productivity software alternative to Alfred and Spotlight. It is focused on speed and good UI and UX. In most cases you don't even need to open another application, because you can see results right in Cerebro, like google...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
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    7
12 of 90 Spotlight alternatives