Head-to-head · Desktop Search Software
Recoll vs dtSearch Desktop
Recoll leads on 1 check, dtSearch Desktop on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreRecoll · 7.8/10
- Free planonly Recoll
- Free trialonly dtSearch Desktop
Recoll scores higher on our rubric for desktop search software: 7.8 against 7.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #11 and #15.
Recoll offers free plan; dtSearch Desktop doesn't.
Recoll is the better fit for free, cross-platform full-text desktop search. dtSearch Desktop is the better fit for large-scale Windows investigative search.
- Recoll fits best
Free, cross-platform full-text desktop search
- dtSearch Desktop fits best
Large-scale Windows investigative search
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Side by side
| Feature | Recoll 7.8/10 Visit ↗ | dtSearch Desktop 7.4/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 7.8 | 7.4 |
| Ranking | #11 in Desktop Search Software | #15 in Desktop Search Software |
| Best for | Free, cross-platform full-text desktop search | Large-scale Windows investigative search |
| Pricing model | Free | Paid |
| Starting price | Free plan | $1,225/user/yr |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | — | 30 days |
| Deployment | Desktop, Browser extension | Desktop |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Support | Email, Tickets, Docs | Email, Phone, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Recoll 3/4 · dtSearch Desktop 3/4 | ||
| Content search | ✓ | ✓ |
| Email search | ✓ | ✓ |
| Message search | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| OCR search | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Supported platforms | web, Windows, macOS, Linux | windows |
| Index locations | local filesystem, removable volumes, shared or otherwise computer-accessible storage | local, network |
| Indexed-item limit | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Recoll is an open-source desktop search application for people who need to find information inside files, email and archives rather than search filenames alone. It runs on Linux, Windows and macOS, with a WebUI plus graphical, command-line… Read the review → |
dtSearch Desktop is a Windows application for indexing and searching substantial collections of locally or network-accessible files, folders, email messages, attachments, databases, and other supported data. It is aimed at individuals and… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Recoll — where it wins
- Searches file names, contents, email, attachments and archives
- Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, WebUI and multiple interfaces
- Indexes removable volumes with optional OCR for PDFs and images
Where it doesn't
- OCR requires supported external software and configuration
- The Windows binary download requests a contribution
- The breadth of options may require more setup than simpler search tools
dtSearch Desktop — where it wins
- Federated search across files, email, databases, and online data
- Terabyte-scale indexing with multithreaded searching and indexing
- OCR PDF search, highlighted hits, and scheduled index updates
Where it doesn't
- Windows-only desktop application
- No free plan and a $249 one-time starting price
- Investigative licensing costs $1,225 per user per year
- Recoll7.8/10 · Free plan
A broad, free and open-source search tool for local files, email and archives.
Visit RecollFull verdict → - dtSearch Desktop7.4/10 · 30-day trial
A deep Windows search tool for large document collections, with a high one-time cost.
Visit dtSearchFull verdict →
All desktop search software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update