Download Search Tools for Mac - Best Software & Apps

  • Adobe Reader

    XI 11.0.09

    License
    free Download
    Platform
    Windows
    Android
    Mac
    iPhone
    Palm OS

    The industry standard PDF reader

    6
    210 votes
    • PROS: The PDF industry standard viewing app, Good at navigating PDF documents, Share documents instantly via Acrobat.com
    • CONS: Slow to open, Loaded with too many extensions and plugins, Doesn't work well with 64-bit machines, Reformatting issues when reopening PDFs made in Word
  • EasyFind

    4.8.1

    License
    free Download
    Platform
    Mac

    Powerful search tool for reaching hard-to-find files

    8
    7 votes
    Download
    • PROS: Performs very in depth searches, Will find files that Spotlight can't, Easy to use, No indexing
    • CONS: No organization in the way results are presented, Lack of indexing means searches take a while
  • File Viewer

    1.4

    License
    free Download
    Platform
    Mac
    Windows

    Free and Streamlined File Viewing Software for Personal Computers

    7
    15 votes
    • PROS: File viewer is free to download, This software package will recognise nearly every file type
    • CONS: The contents of files cannot be modified, There can be rare occasions when a specific format is not recognised
  • TSearch

    1.0.1

    License
    free Download
    Platform
    Mac

    Add a torrent search to Camino

    6
    92 votes
    Download
    • PROS: Very simple, Searches multiple sites at once
    • CONS: Requires you to use AppleScript editor, Instructions are for older Mac versions, No refining of results
  • Search and Replace

    1.5

    License
    free Download
    Platform
    Mac

    Search and replace text in multiple files and filenames

    8
    15 votes
    Download
    • PROS: Simple to use but powerful, Much quicker than going through files one by one, Replaces file names as well as text within files
    • CONS: Doesn't work so well with unusual characters, Can't search and replace phrases
  • Grep

    1.1.6

    License
    free Download
    Platform
    Mac

    Find and search in very large text files

    6
    1 vote
    Download
    • Torrent.search Widget

      1.5

      License
      free Download
      Platform
      Mac

      Search for torrents from your dashboard

      7
      13 votes
      Download
      • PROS: Checks 27 different sites at once, Allows you to filter sites
      • CONS: Not clear how it selects which torrent site to download from, No way to "select all" torrent sites
    • Ziplight Spotlight Plugin

      1.3

      License
      free Download
      Platform
      Mac

      Search ZIP files with Spotlight

      10
      1 vote
      Download
      • PROS: Free and fast, Integrates perfectly with Spotlight
      • CONS: Doesn't search the contents of files
    • Quick Search Box

      2.0.0.3789

      License
      free Download
      Platform
      Mac

      Google's official search box and launcher for Mac

      5
      9 votes
      Download
      • PROS: Very lightweight, Searches both hard drive and the web, Allows you to customize searches, Launches programs, Searches your Google account
      • CONS: Google account searches can be slow or return nothing, Search results not quite as well organized as with Spotlight
    • SpotInside

      1.0.1

      License
      free Download
      Platform
      Mac

      Preview search and word highlighting with Spotlight

      6
      4 votes
      Download
      • Inquisitor

        v62 3.2

        License
        free Download
        Platform
        Windows
        Mac

        Instant search for Safari

        9
        9 votes
        • PROS: Stable and fast, Remembers searches, Customize and choose search engines
        • CONS: Shows affiliate links, Limited to Safari
      • Spotify Search

        0.5.1

        License
        free Download
        Platform
        Windows
        Mac

        Listen to the group you're reading about, fast!

        -
        No votes yet
        • PROS: Easy to use and install, Invisible
        • CONS: No options
      • Searchy

        0.5.1

        License
        free Download
        Platform
        Windows
        Mac

        Search the web like a ninja

        -
        No votes yet
        • Wajam

          1.0

          License
          free Download
          Platform
          Windows
          Mac

          10
          1 vote
          • Spotify Chrome Extension

            1.0.1

            License
            free Download
            Platform
            Windows
            Mac

            Instantly search for Spotify artists in Chrome

            -
            No votes yet
            • PROS: Easy to use, Makes it easy to sample tracks from artist, Sorts results by album name, artist etc, Opens Spotify automatically
            • CONS: Not much quicker than copy-pasting
          Softonic’s Best Rated Software for this topic
          #NameVersionVotesRatingPlatform
          11.5158.3Mac
          21.5137.4Mac
          31.4157.2Mac, Windows
          4XI 11.0.092105.8Windows, Android, Mac, iPhone
          51.0.1925.8Mac

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