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 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, Vicinae, Alfred and Raycast.

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Alternatives list

  1.  1 like

    Application launcher for wlroots based Wayland compositors, similar to rofi's drun mode.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  2.  Like

    rga is a line-oriented search tool that allows you to look for a regex in a multitude of file types. rga wraps the awesome ripgrep and enables it to search in pdf, docx, sqlite, jpg, zip, tar.*, movie subtitles (mkv, mp4), etc.

    10 rga alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Mac
     
  3. gnome-search-tool is a utility for finding files on your system. To perform a basic search, you can type a filename or a partial filename, with or without wildcards. To refine your search, you can apply additional search options.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • GNOME
     
  4. Klu icon
     Like

    Connect your Google Drive, Gmail, Google Calendar, Slack, Notion, and more, search and ask questions from a single search bar.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Google Chrome
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Online
     
  5.  2 likes

    Dynamic menu library and client program inspired by dmenu.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  6. Pinpoint icon
     2 likes

    Pinpoint is the Windows equivalent of Spotlight and Alfred for macOS. It is an extensible keystroke launcher and productivity tool. Existing functionality provided via plugins include file and app search, currency conversion, stock ticker look up, Spotify control, control panel...

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
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    Pinpoint vs Spotlight Comments
    Gustav
    Positive
    0

    Fast, extensible, native (not Electron), small memory footprint, small file size

    • Pinpoint is Free and Open SourceSpotlight is Free and Proprietary
  7. Mini Run icon
     1 like

    A handy tool to start application by keyboard.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  8. Rocket is an application launcher for KDE Plasma. It sorts all of your applications in a horizontal grid alphabetically, so you will always find what you are looking for at first glance. No more menu navigation, only scrolling.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • KDE
     
  9. Optain icon
     1 like

    Optain is an AI-powered app that analyzes PC usage in real-time, offering optimized pop-ups and gestures. It enhances workflows by mapping hotkeys and customizing UIs, boosting user productivity.

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
     
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