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monkeSearch

Free#52 of 57 in Desktop Search Software

monkeSearch: A macOS desktop search tool for private, metadata-based file discovery. Ranked #52 of 57 in Desktop Search Software by our editors (3.5/10); pricing: Open source; best for offline natural-language file discovery on macOS.

3.5/10Editor score

Visit monkeSearch

monkeSearch3.5 Visit monkeSearch

At a glance

Editor score
3.5 / 10
Pricing
Open source
Best for
Offline natural-language file discovery on macOS
Paid from
Free
Content search
No
Facts checked
20 Sep 2026

Where it wins
- Natural-language queries parse file types and temporal expressions.
- Runs locally without cloud API calls or sending files away.
- Uses macOS Spotlight for read-only local file discovery.
Where it doesn't
- The current main implementation targets macOS only.
- Search is metadata-only; file-content search is planned.
- The cross-platform vector-database work is experimental.

Our verdict on monkeSearch

monkeSearch is an open-source desktop search tool for people who want to find local files on macOS using natural-language queries. It interprets file types, temporal expressions, and keywords, then uses macOS Spotlight to identify matching files. The current approach is read-only and operates on local metadata, making it suited to private file discovery without cloud API calls. Local language-model inference supports the query experience while keeping the search process offline.

Its standout feature is the combination of natural-language parsing and Spotlight predicate search. Users can express searches through file types and time-related terms rather than relying only on conventional keyword matching. The product also integrates with llama.cpp for local inference. This keeps the tool focused on macOS’s existing file-search infrastructure while adding a language-model layer for interpreting queries. The published project also documents a vector-database branch intended for cross-platform experimentation across macOS, Linux, and Windows.

The main boundary is the current search scope: the primary implementation is macOS-only and metadata-only. It does not currently provide file-content search, so it is better suited to locating files by attributes and metadata than finding text inside documents. The vector-database branch broadens the intended platform direction, but it is described as experimental work rather than the main implementation. Choose monkeSearch if offline operation, local inference, Spotlight integration, and natural-language file queries matter most. Choose another tool if you need content search or a current implementation for Linux or Windows.

Your product? Our editors can test monkeSearch in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

monkeSearch pricing

Plans Open sourceFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.

See plans on monkesearch.github.io

monkeSearch fact sheet

Free plan	Not verified
Paid from	Free
Supported platforms	macos
Index locations	local
Content search	No
Email search	Not verified
Message search	Not verified
OCR search	Not verified
Indexed-item limit	Not verified
Deployment	Desktop
Platforms	macOS
Support	Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business (editorial estimate)
Integrations	2 integrations: macOS Spotlight, llama.cpp
Pricing	Open source
Website	monkesearch.github.io
Facts checked	20 Sep 2026

monkeSearch integrations

monkeSearch lists 2 integrations on its own site.

macOS Spotlight
llama.cpp

Alternatives to monkeSearch

See all monkeSearch alternatives →

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Featured on iTechGuides

monkeSearch is listed in our Desktop Search Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update