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.

filter to find the best alternatives

Spotlight alternatives are mainly File Search Utilities, but if you're looking for Application Launchers or File Managers you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Linux, Windows, Mac and Linux + File Search. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Spotlight.
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Spotlight alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Findr icon
     5 likes

    AI-powered search that works across apps. Get instant answers to all questions with references to your app sources.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
     
  2. XMenu icon
     5 likes

    XMenu adds one or more global menus to the right side of the menu bar. They give you access to your preferred applications, folders, documents, files, and snippets. Launch any application, or insert text snippets or URLs into your email messages or Pages documents with a single...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  3. Flashlight icon
     8 likes

    Flashlight gives you control over Spotlight. There are tons of options for customization so you can do things how you want to. Flashlight is designed to make enhancing Spotlight easy and enhance it's usefulness on macOS 10.9 and up.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  4. Zazu icon
     15 likes

    Zazu is a new open source productivity app, that allows developers to be in the drivers seat. Unlike other solutions, there is no built-in integrations, so every plugin has the full scope of what Zazu has to offer.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  5. Dragthing icon
     7 likes

    DragThing is the original dock designed to tidy up your Macintosh desktop.

    It puts all your documents, folders, and applications just a single click away. Highly flexible, it allows multiple docks, each customised to suit your exact needs.

    It stores frequently-used clippings su.

    70 Dragthing alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  6. Diamond icon
     3 likes

    All of your files and emails at your fingertips. Diamond launches from a keyboard shortcut and allows instant, secure access to any of a user's files and emails. View a demo at https://youtu.be/uXxQszNKaqw.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
     
  7. Verve icon
     2 likes

    Verve is a lightweight and blazingly fast launcher for accessing and opening applications, files and documents. It serves as a replacement for popular tools such as Spotlight, Raycast, and Alfred, and is written in the Rust programming language using the Tauri Framework.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  8. Fenn icon
     1 like

    Fenn is a powerful, AI-driven desktop search engine for macOS that makes your files instantly searchable—including videos, audio, PDFs, Word documents, Excel sheets, and images. Just type or upload an image to find exactly where any object, person, or concept appears.

    59 Fenn alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  9. GoToFile icon
     1 like

    GoToFile is a fast, flexible and accurate utility to find files and folders on your Mac.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
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    1
    Comments about GoToFile as an Alternative to Spotlight
    raf_jaf
    Positive
    0

    GoToFile can index any folder, including network or Cryptomator volumes

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    GoToFile icon
    GoToFile icon
    • GoToFile is Freemium and ProprietarySpotlight is Free and Proprietary
  10. Findspot icon
     Like

    Findspot helps you to find files and launch apps quickly. Just press a shortcut and input some keywords. Findspot will search through your Mac and find the best matches in no time.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  11. Selectric icon
     Like

    Private search for Outlook, Gmail, Drive, Slack and more. Spend less time hunting with search that actually works!

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
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