Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Recoll VS AstroGrep

Compare Recoll VS AstroGrep and see what are their differences

Recoll logo Recoll

Recoll is a desktop full-text search tool. Recoll finds keywords inside documents as well as file names.

AstroGrep logo AstroGrep

AstroGrep is A Microsoft Windows GUI File Searching (grep) utility.
  • Recoll Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-21
  • AstroGrep Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-27

Recoll features and specs

  • Comprehensive Indexing
    Recoll can index a wide variety of file types and contents, including emails, documents, and multimedia files. This makes it highly versatile for different data indexing needs.
  • Highly Customizable
    Users can tweak Recoll to meet their specific needs, from defining indexing rules to configuring the GUI settings. This level of customization allows for personalized usage.
  • Powerful Search Capabilities
    It provides advanced search features such as Boolean searches, phrase searches, and filtering by file type or date, which help users find exactly what they are looking for quickly.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    Recoll is available on multiple operating systems including Linux, Windows, and macOS, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source, it allows users to view the source code and contribute to its development. It also means there are no licensing fees associated with its use.
  • Support for Multiple Languages
    Recoll supports multiple languages, which makes it a suitable choice for international users.

Possible disadvantages of Recoll

  • Resource Intensive
    The indexing process can be resource-intensive, consuming significant CPU and memory, particularly when handling large datasets.
  • Complex Setup
    Initial setup and configuration can be complex and may require a good understanding of its settings and features, which may not be user-friendly for beginners.
  • User Interface
    While functional, the user interface is considered less modern and may not be as intuitive or visually appealing as some commercial alternatives.
  • Limited Customer Support
    As an open-source project, customer support is primarily community-driven, which may not be as reliable or fast as professional support services.
  • Frequent Updates
    While frequent updates can be beneficial, they may also require users to frequently update their installations and adapt to changes, which can be inconvenient.
  • Limited Mobile Support
    Recoll has limited support for mobile platforms, which may be an important consideration for users who need cross-platform, mobile-friendly access.

AstroGrep features and specs

  • Open Source
    AstroGrep is an open-source project, which means its source code is available for anyone to inspect, modify, and enhance. This allows for community-driven improvements and trust in the software's integrity.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    AstroGrep features a graphical user interface (GUI) that makes it easier for users who are less comfortable with command-line tools, providing a more accessible way to perform search operations.
  • Customizable Search Options
    The software offers a variety of search options, including regular expressions, file size filters, and date filters, allowing for more precise and tailored search results.
  • Portable Application
    AstroGrep does not require installation and can be run from a USB drive or any other portable storage device, making it convenient to use on different machines without setup.

Possible disadvantages of AstroGrep

  • Limited to Windows
    AstroGrep is designed for Windows operating systems, which limits its usability for users on macOS or Linux platforms without the use of additional software like Wine.
  • Performance
    Compared to command-line tools like 'grep' in Unix/Linux, AstroGrep might be slower, especially for very large sets of files or complex searches due to its GUI overhead.
  • Less Powerful Than Command Line Tools
    While AstroGrep provides many features, it may not offer the same level of functionality or flexibility as some advanced command-line tools available in Unix/Linux environments.
  • Dependency on .NET Framework
    AstroGrep requires Microsoft's .NET Framework to run, which means users must have it installed on their systems. This can be a hurdle for some users or in certain environments.

Analysis of Recoll

Overall verdict

  • Recoll is generally considered a good tool for those in need of an efficient and reliable desktop search solution. Its combination of features, ease of use, and effectiveness in searching a diverse array of document types make it a commendable choice.

Why this product is good

  • Recoll is a powerful desktop search tool that indexes a wide variety of file formats and provides fast searching capabilities. It is appreciated for its comprehensive indexing, including full-text search and support for advanced queries. Users often highlight its ability to handle complex searches with precision and its user-friendly interface. Additionally, it supports a wide range of document types, which makes it versatile for varied use cases.

Recommended for

    Recoll is recommended for individuals or professionals who frequently need to search through a large number of documents on their computer. It is especially useful for researchers, students, or office workers who deal with a wide range of file types and need quick access to specific information within those files.

Analysis of AstroGrep

Overall verdict

  • AstroGrep is generally regarded as a good choice for users looking for a powerful and user-friendly file search tool on Windows.

Why this product is good

  • AstroGrep is considered a good tool by many because it offers a simple and efficient way to search through files and directories using regular expressions. It provides a graphical user interface for the grep tool, making it more accessible to users who may not be comfortable using command-line tools. Additionally, it supports a variety of search options, including searching within file contents, supporting multiple file types, and providing context for search results.

Recommended for

    AstroGrep is recommended for software developers, system administrators, and any users who need to perform complex search operations across multiple files on their Windows systems. It is particularly useful for those who prefer a graphical interface over command-line utilities.

Recoll videos

DEF CON 25 Recon Village - Dakota Nelson -Total Recoll

More videos:

  • Review - Tutorial RECOLL
  • Review - Ubuntu Total "Recoll" - HDD Volltextsuche

AstroGrep videos

Sentence Banks: yourei.jp, Subs2SRS+Anki, Astrogrep

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Recoll and AstroGrep)
File Manager
69 69%
31% 31
Clipboard Manager
63 63%
37% 37
Note Taking
60 60%
40% 40
File Management
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Recoll and AstroGrep, you can also consider the following products

DocFetcher - DocFetcher is a portable German/English open source desktop search application.

grepWin - grepWin is a simple search and replace tool which can use PCRE regular expressions to search for...

Everything by Voidtools - Everything. Locate files and folders by name instantly. Everything. Small installation file. Clean and simple user interface.

Agent Ransack - Agent Ransack is a tool for finding files and information on your hard drive fast and efficiently.

dnGREP - dnGrep allows you to search across files with easy-to-read results.

SearchMyFiles - Alternative to the standard Search For Files And Folders module of Windows. Duplicates search is also supported.