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Recoll VS Text Workbench

Compare Recoll VS Text Workbench 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.

Text Workbench logo Text Workbench

Text Workbench is the universal search and replace tool featuring full Unicode and UTF-8 support.
  • Recoll Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-21
  • Text Workbench Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-06

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.

Text Workbench features and specs

  • Advanced Search Capabilities
    Text Workbench offers powerful search functionalities with support for regular expressions and the ability to search across multiple files, making it efficient for locating specific text within vast datasets.
  • Batch Processing
    Users can perform actions such as search and replace on multiple files simultaneously, saving time and enhancing productivity when dealing with large volumes of text.
  • Customization Options
    The software provides a variety of settings and configurations that allow users to tailor its functionality to meet their specific needs and preferences.
  • Integration with Other Tools
    Text Workbench can work smoothly with other software tools and platforms, enhancing its utility and flexibility in diverse workflows.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The interface is designed to be intuitive, making it accessible to users of varied technical skills without a steep learning curve.

Possible disadvantages of Text Workbench

  • Price
    Text Workbench is not free software, which might be a barrier for individuals or small businesses with limited budgets, especially when free alternatives are available.
  • Windows-Only
    The software is only available for Windows, which limits accessibility for users of other operating systems like macOS or Linux.
  • Resource Intensive
    Some users may find that Text Workbench consumes significant computer resources, which can impact performance on less powerful machines.
  • Outdated Interface Design
    While functional, some users might find the interface design outdated compared to more modern software applications, which can affect user experience.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    Despite the user-friendly basic interface, mastering the more advanced features may require time and effort, which can be challenging for users without technical expertise.

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

Text Workbench videos

No Text Workbench videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Recoll and Text Workbench)
File Manager
82 82%
18% 18
Note Taking
77 77%
23% 23
Clipboard Manager
76 76%
24% 24
File Management
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

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

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

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

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

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

dtsearch - dtSearch - The Smart Choice for Text Retrieval since 1991.

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