dtSearch Desktop
dtSearch Desktop: A deep Windows search tool for large document collections, with a high one-time cost. Ranked #15 of 57 in Desktop Search Software by our editors (7.4/10); pricing: 30-day trial; best for large-scale Windows investigative search.
At a glance
- Editor score7.4 / 10
- Pricing30-day trial
- Best forLarge-scale Windows investigative search
- Free planNo
- Paid from$1,225/user/yr
- Content searchYes
- Founded1991 · Bethesda, Maryland, United States
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
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
Our verdict on dtSearch Desktop
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 organizations handling legal, investigative, enterprise, and technical information, particularly where desktop-accessible content spans multiple locations and formats. Full-text and metadata search, highlighted results, document-format filters, and federated searching bring varied collections into one search workflow.
Its feature depth is the main reason to consider it. The published capabilities include terabyte-scale indexing, more than 25 search options, multithreaded searching and indexing, OCR-text PDF searching, and scheduled index updates. Searches can run across multiple indexes and data types, while indexing covers folders, emails, attachments, databases, and online data. That combination suits investigative work and large document collections better than a narrowly focused file finder. Buyers who need a Windows search application with broad content coverage and OCR support should find the feature set relevant.
Pricing separates general desktop use from investigative use. The single-user license costs $249 one time, supports use on up to two computers, and includes a 30-day free trial. The annual single individual user investigative license costs $1,225 per user per year and is intended for forensics, e-discovery, and similar investigative usage; it includes an additional dtSearch Desktop single-user license for personal usage. The product itself is Windows-only, while the vendor’s Linux and macOS offerings are separate developer-engine products. Choose dtSearch Desktop for large-scale Windows searching and investigative indexing; choose an alternative if cross-platform desktop support or a lower-cost entry point matters more.
Your product? Our editors can test dtSearch Desktop in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
dtSearch Desktop pricing
All 2 dtSearch Desktop plans and prices →
dtSearch Desktop fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $1,225/user/yr |
| Supported platforms | windows |
| Index locations | local, network |
| Content search | Yes |
| Email search | Yes |
| Message search | Not verified |
| OCR search | Yes |
| Indexed-item limit | Not verified |
| Free trial | 30 days |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows |
| Support | Email, Phone, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | 30-day trial (source) |
| Website | dtsearch.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to dtSearch Desktop
- 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
See all dtSearch Desktop alternatives →
Used dtSearch Desktop? 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 dtSearch Desktop 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
dtSearch Desktop 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/dtsearch-desktop/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/dtsearch-desktop.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