Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Recoll VS TagSpaces

Compare Recoll VS TagSpaces 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.

TagSpaces logo TagSpaces

TagSpaces is an open source platform for personal data management. With TagSpaces you can manage and organize the files on your laptop, tablet or smart phone.
  • Recoll Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-21
  • TagSpaces Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-22

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.

TagSpaces features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    TagSpaces is available on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, making it accessible across various devices.
  • No Vendor Lock-In
    The application does not lock users into any specific ecosystem, offering more freedom in choosing storage solutions and ensuring data portability.
  • Offline Functionality
    Works offline without requiring internet access, which enhances privacy and allows continuous access to files without dependency on cloud services.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source software, its code is publicly available for inspection, modification, and enhancement, fostering transparency and community-driven improvements.
  • File-Based Tagging
    Tags are stored within the file names or in sidecar files instead of in a centralized database, which makes the data portable and not dependent on the application.

Possible disadvantages of TagSpaces

  • Limited Collaboration Features
    Unlike some cloud-based services, TagSpaces does not offer extensive collaboration tools, making it less ideal for team environments.
  • User Interface
    The user interface can be less intuitive and polished compared to other more mature file management and note-taking software.
  • Lack of Integration
    There are limited integrations with other software/services, which might require additional manual steps for users who depend on a broader ecosystem of tools.
  • Performance with Large Libraries
    Performance can degrade when dealing with very large libraries of files, as the application may struggle to index or retrieve files efficiently.
  • Feature Set
    While it covers basic needs, some advanced features available in paid or more mature software are absent, which can limit its utility for power users.

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 TagSpaces

Overall verdict

  • TagSpaces is a good choice for individuals looking for a straightforward and flexible file tagging and management solution, especially for users who value privacy and prefer open-source software. However, it may lack some advanced features found in more specialized or commercial software.

Why this product is good

  • TagSpaces is a versatile, open-source file manager with tagging capabilities, making it ideal for users who want to organize files across various platforms without vendor lock-in. It offers features like offline access, cross-platform compatibility, and a user-friendly interface for efficient file management and organization.

Recommended for

  • Users who need a cross-platform file organization tool.
  • People looking for a non-cloud-based solution.
  • Individuals who prefer open-source software and value privacy.
  • Those who want to organize files using a tagging system.

Recoll videos

DEF CON 25 Recon Village - Dakota Nelson -Total Recoll

More videos:

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

TagSpaces videos

Tagspaces: Your open source, offline evernote killer

More videos:

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Recoll and TagSpaces)
File Manager
59 59%
41% 41
Note Taking
34 34%
66% 66
Clipboard Manager
100 100%
0% 0
File Sharing
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Recoll and TagSpaces

Recoll Reviews

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TagSpaces Reviews

10 Best Open Source Note-Taking Apps for Linux
Designed primarily as a privacy-aware, cross-platform file browser, TagSpaces also offers note-taking capabilities. It’s free and open-source and works on Linux systems, Windows, MacOS, and Android. As the name implies, it assists you to organize your files and folders with tags and colors.
Source: www.tecmint.com
14 Alternative File Managers To Replace Windows 10 File Explorer
TagSpaces takes a bit different approach to productivity by letting you add tags and colors to files and folders to manage them easily. It may not make it easier to move and edit files, but you can group similar files/folders using tags and colors.
Source: geekflare.com
The 7 Best Lightweight OneNote and Evernote Alternatives
TagSpaces is free, although you can unlock extra features by upgrading to the Pro edition. The app supports three note types: plain text (TXT), rich text (HTML), and Markdown (MD). The interface is a bit overwhelming at first, but once you get used to it, it will all make sense and boost your productivity.

What are some alternatives?

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

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

Evernote - Bring your life's work together in one digital workspace. Evernote is the place to collect inspirational ideas, write meaningful words, and move your important projects forward.

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

Tabbles - Tabbles use tags to organize and find files along with your colleagues.

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

OneNote - Get the OneNote app for free on your tablet, phone, and computer, so you can capture your ideas and to-do lists in one place wherever you are. Or try OneNote with Office for free.