Spotlight Alternatives

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 100 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, Vicinae, Raycast and Alfred.

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Alternatives list

  1. KRunner icon
     17 likes

    Krunner is a multi-function command line menu for the KDE Plasma Desktop.

    97 KRunner alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
     
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  2. FileMinutes icon
     4 likes

    Enables rapid file search by name or content, intuitive keyboard navigation, integrated file actions, direct Finder window and tab management, instant results, saved recent searches, data privacy with no tracking, and Apple Notarized safety for secure macOS use.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  3. SOL icon
     5 likes

    If you ever liked tools like Raycast and Alfred, but wanted to own them and tweak them yourself, then SOL is the tool for you. All the affordances of complex tools now made open source.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  4. Indexes and quickly searches over 170 file types and emails, including attachments and multimedia files, on desktops, external and network drives, as well as cloud environments, offering sub-second results and a 75,000 file index size limit in the free version.

    83 Copernic Desktop Search alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  5. SuperCmd icon
     5 likes

    Open-source macOS launcher featuring direct Raycast extension compatibility, voice dictation, AI actions, inline suggestions, text-to-speech, clipboard manager, snippet vault, quick links, file search, notes, freeform canvas, window tiling, system controls, and localization.

    51 SuperCmd alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Homebrew
     
  6. Designed for beginners and professionals alike, Monarch is a command center that makes it easier than ever to switch apps, run calculations, search clipboard history, take notes and more with only a single hotkey. No complicated setup or configuration required.

    70 Monarch Launcher alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  7. Mage, originally a Raycast clone, is a lightweight and fast app launcher for Windows, built with Electron, Vite, and Vue 3. It features custom applications, live activities, a modern UI and a batteries-included SDK for developers.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  8. SupaSidebar icon
     6 likes

    SupaSidebar is a macOS app that brings Arc's sidebar to every browser - one sidebar for tabs, bookmarks, files, and apps across Safari, Chrome, and even Finder.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  9. EasyFind icon
     38 likes

    EasyFind is an alternative to (or supplement of) Spotlight to find files, folders, or contents in any file without indexing.

    60 EasyFind alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
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  10. TextSeek icon
     9 likes

    TextSeek is a professional full-text desktop search tool for Windows and MacOS. It supports PDF, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, RTF and other formats.

    104 TextSeek alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
     
  11. Lacona icon
     16 likes

    Lacona is a docker app for Mac OSX that accepts natural language commands. Call up Lacona with a keyboard shortcut and type whatever you want to do. It gives intelligent suggestions as you type and then follows your orders.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  12. Scherlokk icon
     6 likes

    Performs high-speed file searches using a proprietary engine across built-in, portable, and network drives, including hidden and non-indexed files, supports detailed result filtering, provides file comparison, hex editing, autosave, advanced sorting, and multitasking.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
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