Beacon
Beacon: A free Mac search app spanning files, messages, mail, notes, apps, and connected folders. Ranked #17 of 57 in Desktop Search Software by our editors (7.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for mac users searching files, messages, mail, and apps.
At a glance
- Editor score7.2 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forMac users searching files, messages, mail, and apps
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Content searchYes
- Facts checked23 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Blends search across files, messages, notes, mail, calendar, apps, and folders
- Searches iMessage, SMS, Apple Notes, and browser history
- Free, with keyboard controls, previews, and Finder reveal actions
Where it doesn't
- Available only on macOS 13 or later and Apple Silicon
- Cloud-folder search depends on desktop sync apps
- AI search requires a user-provided OpenAI, Claude, or Gemini key
Our verdict on Beacon
Beacon brings local files, apps, messages, notes, mail, calendar events, browser history, and connected folders into one search interface on Mac. It is aimed at Mac users who want to find information across those sources without switching between separate apps. Results can be searched together or narrowed with focused filters, and the keyboard-driven overlay offers Quick Look previews, clipboard search, and Finder reveal actions. Beacon requires macOS 13 or later and Apple Silicon.
The breadth of search is its defining strength: Beacon can search iMessage and SMS by word, phrase, or contact, and Apple Notes by title and body. It also covers Safari, Chrome, Brave, Edge, and Arc browsing history, alongside Office files, mail, calendar events, and connected cloud folders. The listed connections include Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; Apple Mail and Gmail; Calendar; iCloud Drive; Google Drive; OneDrive; and Dropbox. Cloud folders are accessed through desktop sync apps, so this approach suits people whose cloud files are available locally rather than those seeking a sync-independent cloud search service.
Beacon is free, with no paid tier distinction to weigh. Its AI search uses a key supplied by the user for OpenAI, Claude, or Gemini. The vendor says supported personal data is read locally and file search works without special access; the product is a desktop app, not a cross-platform search service. It fits solo users and small teams on supported Macs who want one place to search personal work context. Choose another option if you need Windows support, or if cloud-folder search without desktop sync apps is important.
Your product? Our editors can test Beacon in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Beacon pricing
Beacon fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Supported platforms | macOS |
| Index locations | Local filesystem, Desktop and Downloads, and connected cloud folders accessed through desktop sync apps |
| Content search | Yes |
| Email search | Yes |
| Message search | Yes |
| OCR search | Not verified |
| Indexed-item limit | Not verified |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | macOS |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 10 integrations: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple Mail, Gmail, Calendar … |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | beaconmac.com |
| Facts checked | 23 Sep 2026 |
Beacon integrations
Beacon lists 10 integrations on its own site.
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Apple Mail
- Gmail
- Calendar
- iCloud Drive
- Google Drive
- OneDrive
- Dropbox
Alternatives to Beacon
- EverythingA free Windows search utility for instant filename and path discovery.9.3
- Copernic Desktop SearchA Windows search tool for broad local, network, email, and cloud indexing.9.2
- DocFetcherA free, portable full-text search tool for local files, archives, and PST email.9.0
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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