Cathy
Cathy: A focused catalog for finding files by name, date, and size across disks and media. Ranked #49 of 57 in Desktop Search Software by our editors (3.8/10); pricing: Free plan; best for cataloging files across disks and removable media.
At a glance
- Editor score3.8 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forCataloging files across disks and removable media
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Content searchNo
- Facts checked23 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Catalogs removable media, hard disks, and network drives
- Searches catalog entries by filename, date, and size
- Prints directory trees and MP3 album or song lists
Where it doesn't
- Does not search file contents
- Windows-only, with the listed release for Windows XP SP3, Vista SP2, Windows 7, and later
- Catalog searches depend on entries rather than searching unavailable media directly
Our verdict on Cathy
Cathy is a free, portable Windows utility for cataloging files across removable media, hard disks, and network drives. It suits people who want a searchable record of files spread across disks, including when the original media is not available. Searches can use file name, date, and size, with filters plus duplicate-file and single-file searches. It is a catalog and filename discovery tool, not a general content-search application.
The key distinction is what Cathy indexes and searches: catalog entries and their metadata, rather than the contents of files. That makes it useful for locating a file by its name or recorded properties, but a poor fit when the goal is to find text inside documents, email, or messages, or to search scanned material with OCR. Its additional utilities—disk-space investigation, drag and drop, and printing directory trees or MP3 album and song lists—extend the catalog workflow without changing that boundary.
Cathy is listed as a free download, and the current listed release is version 2.33 for Windows XP SP3, Vista SP2, Windows 7, and later. It can open or delete found files when they are present; when media is unavailable, the catalog supports discovery but cannot make the actual file accessible. Choose Cathy for a lightweight Windows catalog of files across disks and removable media. Choose another tool if you need file-content search or a platform beyond Windows.
Your product? Our editors can test Cathy in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Cathy pricing
Cathy fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Supported platforms | Windows |
| Index locations | Removable media, hard disks, and network drives |
| Content search | No |
| Email search | No |
| Message search | No |
| OCR search | No |
| Indexed-item limit | Not verified |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows |
| Support | |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | mtg.sk |
| Facts checked | 23 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Cathy
- 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
Used Cathy? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Cathy for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
Cathy is listed in our Desktop Search Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/cathy/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/cathy.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update