10 Free and Open-source Search Apps for macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon)
1- DocFetcher
File Search Tool
DocFetcher is an Open Source desktop search application: It allows you to search the contents of files on your computer. — You can think of it as Google for your local files. The application runs on Windows, Linux, and OS X, and is made available under the Eclipse Public License.
Read about DocFetcher 's features, license, platforms, and more.
2- KatSearch
Fast, simple, powerful filesystem search for macOS
KatSearch is a work in progress and currently only available as an alpha release. Some things will be broken. Caveat emptor!
Mac power-user app to quickly find files on entire APFS and HFS+ volumes by scanning the file system catalog.
KatSearch is written by: Sveinbjörn Þórðarson
Read about KatSearch 's features, license, platforms, and more.
3- Cerebro
Desktop Search Assistant
Cerebro is a multi-platform desktop app that helps the user to search their machine or the internet with no more than a few clicks.
The app is created by Alexandr Subbotin a Russian developer, who also created several useful plugins. Later then, the app attracted many developers who supply it with more plugins and support.
If you are a macOS user, You can notice the similarity with the built-in search app Spotlight search, which indexes all of your files and improve search and access to everything.
Cerebro is similar to Spotlight, but with more extended functions, and a rich plugin set. Like Spotlight, you can use it to access your installed apps and search Google directly without opening any browser.
Cerebro is more than just a search tool, it is a productivity booster that can help you do more.
Read about Cerebro 's features, license, platforms, and more.
4- DSFQuickActionBar
A spotlight-inspired quick action bar for macOS.
DSFQuickActionBar is a spotlight-inspired quick action bar for macOS. AppKit/SwiftUI.
Read about DSFQuickActionBar 's features, license, platforms, and more.
5- Snap
A better Spotlight search for macOS.
Snap is an application which searches your Files, Contacts and Calendar events using Spotlight Metadata. It has many customization options as well as the ability to speed up your workflow by providing features like music control, clipboard history, snippet expansion and system commands like sleeping, restarting and shutting down the computer. Snap is inspired by Alfred.
Read about Snap 's features, license, platforms, and more.
6- Tonnerre
An extensible and productive spotlight alternative
Tonnerre is a pure swift built, extensible, and productive Spotlight alternative. You can consider it as a global search bar with everything you are interested, or it is a text-based Siri who responds to all your requests.
Read about Tonnerre 's features, license, platforms, and more.
7- Sloth
Native Mac app that shows all open files, directories, sockets, pipes and devices in use by all running processes.
Sloth is a native Mac app that shows all open files, directories, sockets, pipes, and devices in use by all running processes on your system. This makes it easy to inspect which apps are using which files, etc.
Read about Sloth 's features, license, platforms, and more.
8- Spotter
🔭 Productivity tool to launch everything
Spotter is a free open-source productivity tool that allows to launch everything (e.g. switch the next song, connect bluetooth device, set a timer, etc.) so you can stay focused on your current task.
Spotter is written using Flutter and Dart language.
Read about Spotter 's features, license, platforms, and more.
9- ueli
A keystroke launcher for Windows and macOS
ueli is a free useful tool that boosts your productivity on Windows and macOS.
Read about ueli 's features, license, platforms, and more.
10- Verve
lightweight and blazingly fast launcher for accessing and opening applications, files and documents.
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.
Read about Verve 's features, license, platforms, and more.