Best Dowse Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 platforms from desktop search software ranked against Dowse on the same published basis.
- 1Dowse vs Recoll
- 2Dowse vs Microsoft Quick Assist
- 3Dowse vs Agent Ransack
- 4Dowse vs Buddi
- 5Dowse vs FileLocator Pro
- 6Dowse vs Mousepad
- 7Dowse vs Open Semantic Desktop Search
- 8Dowse vs DocFetcher
- 9Dowse vs DocFinder
- 10Dowse vs Fluent Search
- 11Dowse vs Listary
- 12Dowse vs Magpie
- 13Dowse vs Precision File Search
- 14Dowse vs FoxTrot Search
- 15Dowse vs ProFind
- 16Dowse vs Scherlokk
- 17Dowse vs dtSearch Desktop
- 18Dowse vs EasyFind
- 19Dowse vs Searchmonkey III
- 20Dowse vs ProtonSearch
Dowse alternatives compared
| # | Platform | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Recoll | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Android, API, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| 2 | Microsoft Quick Assist | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Mac, Web, Windows |
| 3 | Agent Ransack | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Windows |
| 4 | Buddi | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 5 | FileLocator Pro | 7.0 | No | — | API, Windows |
| 6 | Mousepad | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Linux |
| 7 | Open Semantic Desktop Search | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| 8 | DocFetcher | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 9 | DocFinder | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 10 | Fluent Search | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Windows |
| 11 | Listary | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Windows |
| 12 | Magpie | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Windows |
| 13 | Precision File Search | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 14 | FoxTrot Search | 6.8 | No | — | iOS, Mac |
| 15 | ProFind | 6.8 | No | — | iOS, Mac |
| 16 | Scherlokk | 6.8 | No | $0.83/mo | Mac |
| 17 | dtSearch Desktop | 6.7 | No | $102.08/mo | Windows |
| 18 | EasyFind | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Mac |
| 19 | Searchmonkey III | 6.6 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 20 | ProtonSearch | 6.5 | No | — | Windows |
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Questions about Dowse alternatives
What is the best alternative to Dowse?
Recoll, number 1 in desktop search software with a score of 7.4 out of 10. The others here: Microsoft Quick Assist, Agent Ransack, Buddi and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to Dowse?
Recoll is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 13 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How are these alternatives ranked?
Ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on.