Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Recoll VS GNU Find Utilities

Compare Recoll VS GNU Find Utilities 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.

GNU Find Utilities logo GNU Find Utilities

The GNU Find Utilities are the basic directory searching utilities of the GNU operating system.
  • Recoll Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-21
  • GNU Find Utilities Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-08-03

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.

GNU Find Utilities features and specs

No features have been listed yet.

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.

Recoll videos

DEF CON 25 Recon Village - Dakota Nelson -Total Recoll

More videos:

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

GNU Find Utilities videos

No GNU Find Utilities videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Recoll and GNU Find Utilities)
File Manager
93 93%
7% 7
Clipboard Manager
90 90%
10% 10
Note Taking
90 90%
10% 10
File Management
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Recoll and GNU Find Utilities, you can also consider the following products

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

mlocate - Indexes filesystems allowing you to search for files.

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

RecentX - RecentX is an innovative launcher that gives you instant access to your files, folders, programs...

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

fd - A simple, fast and user-friendly alternative to 'find'.