Best X1 Search Alternatives in 2026
The top X1 Search alternatives are Everything, Copernic Desktop Search and DocFetcher: 15 desktop search software our editors would look at instead of X1 Search, in our ranking order.
X1 Search: A Windows-focused search hub for email, files, chats, and cloud data. Where it falls short: windows only; macOS is not currently supported.
Switching from X1 Search? For most desktop search software buyers the best X1 Search alternative is Everything, built for free instant filename search on Windows.
Why People Look for an X1 Search Alternative
- Windows only; macOS is not currently supported
- No free plan; paid access starts at $79 per user per year
- The 3-year term requires a longer commitment
- No free plan — 10 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallEverything9.3
Free instant filename search on Windows
Visit Everything - Best free optionEverything9.3
Has a free plan (X1 Search has none)
Visit Everything
All 15 X1 Search Alternatives, Ranked
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.
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Best forFree instant filename search on Windows
- Better than X1 Search:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.3 vs 7.9
A free Windows search utility for instant filename and path discovery.
- Content search
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Everything -
Best forWindows users searching local, network, and cloud data
- Better than X1 Search:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 7.9
A Windows search tool for broad local, network, email, and cloud indexing.
- OCR search
- Email search
- Content search
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Copernic -
Best forFree portable search across major desktop platforms
- Better than X1 Search:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.0 vs 7.9
A free, portable full-text search tool for local files, archives, and PST email.
- Email search
- Content search
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit DocFetcher -
Best forFree basic filename search on Windows drives
- Better than X1 Search:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.8 vs 7.9
A focused, free filename search tool for local and removable Windows drives.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Wise JetSearch -
Best forSimple free full-text search on Linux
- Better than X1 Search:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.6 vs 7.9
A capable free search utility for Linux users who want simple local and network file discovery.
- Content search
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Catfish -
Best forLinux users indexing file metadata locally
- Better than X1 Search:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.4 vs 7.9
A GNOME search framework for Linux users who want queryable local file metadata.
- Content search
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit LocalSearch -
Best forLinux users who need basic local file search
- Better than X1 Search:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.2 vs 7.9
A focused KDE utility for filtering local file searches by name, location, and properties.
- Content search
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit KDE -
Best forBusiness Outlook and Exchange search
- Better than X1 Search:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 7.9
A Windows-focused search layer for Outlook, Exchange, files, and network data.
- OCR search
- Email search
- Content search
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Lookeen -
Best forFree Windows search across local and cloud locations
- Better than X1 Search:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.0 vs 7.9
A capable Windows search tool with broad location support and a focused free edition.
- Content search
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit UltraSearch -
Best forFree, cross-platform full-text desktop search
- Better than X1 Search:
- Free plan
A broad, free and open-source search tool for local files, email and archives.
- OCR search
- Email search
- Content search
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Recoll -
Best forFree search across mixed document stores
- Better than X1 Search:
- Free plan
A capable free search layer for mixed local, shared, and email archives.
- OCR search
- Email search
- Content search
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Open Semantic -
Best forWindows users needing deep content search
- Better than X1 Search:
- Free plan
A capable Windows search utility with broad content coverage and perpetual paid licenses.
- OCR search
- Email search
- Content search
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Agent Ransack -
Best forWindows professionals needing indexed and live search
A deep Windows search tool with perpetual licensing and broad file-format coverage.
- OCR search
- Email search
- Content search
7.5/10★★★★☆Try FileLocator Pro -
Best forLarge-scale Windows investigative search
A deep Windows search tool for large document collections, with a high one-time cost.
- OCR search
- Email search
- Content search
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit dtSearch -
Best forMac users searching files, email, and messages
A focused Mac search tool for files, email, messages, metadata, and network content.
- Message search
- OCR search
- Email search
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit FoxTrot Search
X1 Search Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to X1 Search?
Everything: #1 in our Desktop Search Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.3 out of 10. A free Windows search utility for instant filename and path discovery.
Is there a free alternative to X1 Search?
Yes. Everything, DocFetcher, Wise JetSearch, Catfish and LocalSearch have a free plan or a free tier (10 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for X1 Search alternatives?
Windows only; macOS is not currently supported; No free plan; paid access starts at $79 per user per year; The 3-year term requires a longer commitment.
How do I switch from X1 Search?
Export your data from X1 Search (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel X1 Search.
How to Switch from X1 Search
- Export your data from X1 Search (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel X1 Search.
X1 Search vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | Index locations | Content search | Email search | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | X1 Search | No | $79/user/yr | Windows | Local files, removable media, network shares, cloud-synced and remote data sources | Yes | Yes | 7.9 |
| 1 | Everything | Yes | Free | windows | local, removable, network | Yes | 9.3 | |
| 2 | Copernic Desktop Search | No | $28.99/user/yr | windows | local, network, cloud | Yes | Yes | 9.2 |
| 3 | DocFetcher | Yes | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux | local, removable, synced | Yes | Yes | 9.0 |
| 4 | Wise JetSearch | Yes | Free | windows | local drives, removable drives | 8.8 | ||
| 5 | Catfish | Yes | Free | linux | local, network | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 6 | LocalSearch | Yes | Free | Linux | User home directory by default; configurable indexed locations | Yes | No | 8.4 |
| 7 | KFind | Yes | Free | linux | local | Yes | No | 8.2 |
| 8 | Lookeen | No | €9/user/mo | web, windows | local, removable, network | Yes | Yes | 8.1 |
| 9 | UltraSearch | Yes | Windows | Local drives; network drives; external drives; USB sticks; SD cards; SharePoint; Google Drive | Yes | 8.0 | ||
| 10 | Recoll | Yes | Free | web, Windows, macOS, Linux | local filesystem, removable volumes, shared or otherwise computer-accessible storage | Yes | Yes | 7.8 |
| 11 | Open Semantic Desktop Search | Yes | Free | web, windows, macos, linux | local folders, file servers, file shares | Yes | Yes | 7.7 |
| 12 | Agent Ransack | Yes | windows | local, removable, network | Yes | Yes | 7.6 | |
| 13 | FileLocator Pro | No | $79/user one-time | Windows | local, network | Yes | Yes | 7.5 |
| 14 | dtSearch Desktop | No | $1,225/user/yr | windows | local, network | Yes | Yes | 7.4 |
| 15 | FoxTrot Search | No | $35 one-time | macOS, iOS | Local folders, connected/removable volumes, network drives, NAS, synced index files | Yes | Yes | 7.3 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update