Spotlight

Spotlight is the system-wide desktop search feature built into Apple's OS X operating system since version 10.4 (Tiger).

Free
Mac OS X

spotlight is the systemwide 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, including documents, pictures, music, applications, and system preferences. in addition, specific words in documents and in web pages in a web browser's history or bookmarks can be searched. it also allows the user to narrow down searches with file attributes (e.g. creation dates, modification dates, sizes, types) and, as of os x 10.9, tags. preinstalled plugins for the new oxford american dictionary and calculator applications also included in os x allow spotlight to define words and evaluate mathematical expressions.

Links to official Spotlight sites

Features

Extensible by Plugins/Extensions Program Launcher File search File preview Indexed search

The Best 21 Spotlight Alternatives

773 Like

Everything

"Everything" is an administrative tool that locates files and folders by filename instantly for Windows.

Free Windows

Portable Data export/import File search
209 Like

Alfred

Alfred is a quicklaunch application for Mac OS X, which aims to save you time in searching your local computer and the web.

Freemium Mac OS X

Program Launcher File search
111 Like

Quicksilver

Quicksilver is a fast and free Mac OS X productivity application that gives you the power to control your Mac quickly and elegantly. Quicksilver learns your habits, making your everyday chores simple and efficient.

Free Open Source Mac OS X
89 Like

RecentX

RecentX is an innovative launcher that gives you instant access to your files, folders, programs, websites & clipboard history. It automatically remembers your favorite & recent items so that you can launch them even faster.

Commercial Windows

Portable Tag based Tabbed interface Drag n drop Image Preview Clipboard monitoring Program Launcher File search Local Search Windows Explorer integration File tagging Indexed search Bookmark History Browser History Duplicate Files Finder Folder Search Folder Tagging
78 Like

Keypirinha

A lightning fast and flexible keystroke launcher for Windows. No installation required (portable). Extensible with Python3 plugins.

Free Windows

Customizable Lightweight Program Launcher File search Calculus solving
27 Like

Copernic Desktop Search

Instantly find files, e-mails, and attachments stored anywhere on your PC with the free Copernic Desktop Search Home.

Free Personal Windows

File search Indexed search Outlook search
20 Like

CerebroApp

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.

Free Open Source Mac OS X Windows Linux

Extensible by Plugins/Extensions Electron based
18 Like

Albert

Omnilauncher for Linux to help you quickly find and run apps and do other useful things.

Free Open Source Linux

Customizable Program Launcher
11 Like

Zazu

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...

Free Open Source Mac OS X Windows Linux

Extensible by Plugins/Extensions Electron based
9 Like

HoudahSpot

HoudahSpot is an advanced file search tool for Mac. Use HoudahSpot to locate hard-to-find files and keep frequently used files within reach. HoudahSpot builds upon Spotlight, which comes preinstalled with OS X.

Commercial Mac OS X
8 Like

Hain

hain is an alt + space launcher for windows that looks and works similar to alfred. features searching executable files us very fast with fuzzy matching plugins in pure javascript

Free Open Source Windows

Electron based Program Launcher File search
7 Like

Flashlight

The missing plugin system for Spotlight. Flashlight is an app that supercharges OS X's built-in search. Check the weather, search the web, send an iMessage, find an...

Free Open Source Mac OS X
5 Like

Scherlokk

Scherlokk is a lightning fast file search utility build for precise and reliable search of every file which meets the search criteria. Music, pictures, bookmarks, documents, etc can be found quickly and easily.

Commercial Mac OS X
4 Like

Krunner

Krunner is a multi-function command line menu for the KDE Plasma Desktop. At times, it almost seems as you could manage all your computing from Krunner.

Free Open Source Linux

Program Launcher File search Easy to add / edit categories
4 Like

Yal

Access your files, programs, browser bookmarks, search engines and windows with a few key presses.

Free Open Source Windows

Portable Program Launcher File search
3 Like

CSearcher

CSearcher is a simple and fast free non-indexing search program. Searching computer files and folders is rather common for every PC user daily.

Free Windows

Portable Lightweight Export to CSV File search Windows Explorer integration Support for regular expressions Duplicate Files Finder Export to HTML Export to XML Non Indexing search Search History
2 Like

Diamond

Diamond helps people get instant access to any of their files or emails using a keyboard hotkey. www.diamond.io .

Commercial
2 Like

Fingertips

Fingertips indexes the Windows start menu so you can launch items with a keyboard shortcut. Also custom shortcuts, shortcuts for Outlook and auto-typing text are...

Free Windows

Program Launcher Outlook integration
1 Like

Mini Run

A handy tool to start application by keyboard.

Free Windows

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Spotlight

Links to official Spotlight sites

Features

Categories

Tags

The Best 21 Spotlight Alternatives

Everything

Alfred

Quicksilver

RecentX

Keypirinha

Copernic Desktop Search

CerebroApp

Albert

Zazu

HoudahSpot

Hain

Flashlight

Scherlokk

Krunner

Yal

CSearcher

Diamond

Fingertips

Mini Run

Search app for alternative

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