The Best Everything Alternative: Discovering Top File Search Tools
“Everything” is a powerful administrative tool for Windows, renowned for its instant file and folder location capabilities by filename. Unlike standard Windows search, it initially displays every file and folder on local or removable NTFS volumes, as well as mapped network drives with an ETP server. While incredibly efficient, some users might seek an Everything alternative for various reasons, including cross-platform compatibility, additional features, or different indexing approaches. This article explores the top alternatives that can help you find your files with blazing speed and efficiency.
Top Everything Alternatives
Whether you're looking for open-source solutions, cross-platform compatibility, or specific advanced features, there's an alternative to Everything that fits your needs. Let's dive into some of the best options available.
Listary
Listary is a revolutionary search utility for Windows that excels at finding files and launching applications quickly. It's a freemium tool specifically designed for Windows and offers deep integration with Windows Explorer. Its key features include integrated search, fast file and folder search, content searching, fuzzy finder, and quick switch capabilities, making it a powerful Everything alternative for Windows users.
FSearch
FSearch is a fast, open-source file search utility built for GNU/Linux operating systems, directly inspired by Everything Search Engine. Written in C and based on GTK+3, it provides indexed search and strong support for regular expressions, making it an excellent Everything alternative for Linux users seeking speed and open-source flexibility.
DocFetcher
DocFetcher is a portable, open-source desktop search application available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. Unlike filename-only search tools, DocFetcher allows you to search the *contents* of documents on your computer, offering features like file content indexing, full-text search, and the ability to search within archives. This makes it a robust Everything alternative for users needing content-based search across multiple platforms.
Agent Ransack
Agent Ransack is a freemium tool for Windows designed for quickly and efficiently finding files and information on your hard drive. It offers features like context menu extension, file management, file searching, and search-in-files capabilities, providing a comprehensive Everything alternative with content-aware search for Windows environments.
EasyFind
EasyFind is a free tool for Mac users, serving as an alternative or supplement to Spotlight. It allows users to find files, folders, or contents within any file without needing to index them first. This feature makes it a distinct Everything alternative for macOS users who prefer on-the-fly searching without maintaining an index.
UltraSearch
UltraSearch is a free file search utility for Windows that quickly searches files and folders on local NTFS drives, delivering results within seconds. Crucially, UltraSearch does not maintain an index, which can be advantageous for some users. It's a straightforward Everything alternative focusing on speed without the overhead of indexing.
Recoll
Recoll is a free, open-source personal full-text search package available for Mac, Windows, Linux, and BSD. Based on the powerful Xapian backend, it provides an easy-to-use and feature-rich interface for file searching, indexed search, search-in-files, and full-text search. Its low memory usage and cross-platform availability make it a versatile Everything alternative for diverse computing environments.
RecentX
RecentX is a commercial launcher for Windows that provides instant access to files, folders, programs, websites, and clipboard history. It automatically remembers recent activity and offers features like file tagging, folder searching, indexed search, and image preview. While broader in scope than just file search, its robust indexing and search capabilities make it a strong Everything alternative, especially for users who appreciate a comprehensive productivity launcher.
Locate32
Locate32 is a free, open-source software for Windows that helps find files from hard drives and other locations, similar to Unix's `updatedb` and `locate` commands. It supports auto-indexing and efficient file management. For users seeking a lightweight, open-source Everything alternative that mimics familiar Unix commands, Locate32 is an excellent choice.
Catfish
Catfish is a free, open-source, versatile file searching tool for Linux environments, powered by `locate` and `find` behind the scenes. It features autocompletion and filtering, providing a user-friendly GUI. For Linux users, Catfish is a robust and flexible Everything alternative that leverages existing system tools for efficient file searching.
Choosing the best Everything alternative depends largely on your operating system, whether you prioritize open-source solutions, and if you need features beyond filename search, such as content indexing or advanced file management. Explore these options to find the perfect fit for your file search needs.