Instant Search
Claim this toolFind text inside files, scans, and images, all offline on your Mac
Free, no paid tierFree File Management
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Tracked since 2026
The Bottom Line
- Price
- Free, no paid tier. Compare plans
Key facts
- Search files by their content, not just filenames, with full-text and OCR support.
- Fully offline and private: no account, no cloud, no data leaves your Mac.
- Works with a wide range of file types including documents, images, and scanned PDFs.
Pros
- Privacy-first: all searches and indexing stay on your Mac
- Fast indexing and search, with results updating per keystroke
- Supports a wide range of file types including images and scanned documents
Cons
- Mac-only, requiring macOS 15+ and Apple Silicon
- Requires initial indexing time for large file collections
What is Instant Search?
Instant Search is a Mac application that indexes your files and lets you search by what's inside them, not just by filename. Type a phrase you remember, and it finds matching documents, notes, images, and scans, highlighting the relevant text. It works entirely offline, with no account or cloud service, ensuring your data never leaves your Mac.
The app supports a wide range of file formats including PDF, scanned PDF, DOCX, RTF, ODT, Markdown, plain text, source code, and image formats like HEIC, JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, and TIFF. It uses OCR to read text from photos and scanned documents. A customizable keyboard shortcut (default ⌥ Space) lets you summon the search from any app, with results updating as you type.
Key Features
- Full-text search across documents (PDF, DOCX, Markdown, etc.)
- OCR for images and scanned PDFs to read text from photos
- Supports multiple file formats: PDF, scanned PDF, DOCX, RTF, ODT, Markdown, text, source code, HEIC, JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, TIFF
- Instant results with a customizable keyboard shortcut from any app
- No internet connection required; all indexing and searching happen locally
- Privacy-focused with no account creation or cloud sync
Pricing Plans
| Plan | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 / mo |
+6 more Show less
|
Is Instant Search worth the price?
Great value
This pricing is exceptionally generous: the entire product is free at $0/mo with no account or subscription required.
It offers fully offline semantic search across many file types, which is rare for a zero-cost tool. Best for privacy-conscious Mac users who need instant content search without sending data to the cloud.
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Instant Search FAQ
Can Instant Search read text from images and scanned documents?
Yes, it uses OCR to read text from image files (HEIC, JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, TIFF) and scanned PDFs, making their content searchable.
Does Instant Search require an internet connection?
No, it works fully offline. All indexing and searching happen locally on your Mac, and no data is sent to any server.
What file formats does Instant Search support?
It supports PDF, scanned PDF, DOCX, RTF, ODT, Markdown, plain text, source code, and image formats (HEIC, JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, TIFF).
How do I trigger Instant Search?
Press the configured keyboard shortcut (default ⌥ Space) from any app to open the search window. The shortcut is customizable in settings.
Is my data sent to the cloud or shared with anyone?
No, all indexing and searching are performed locally on your Mac. There is no account, no cloud service, and no data ever leaves your device.
How long does the first index take?
The initial index typically takes minutes for an average document collection. Subsequent updates are incremental and faster.
What macOS version and hardware are required?
Instant Search requires macOS 15 or later and is optimized for Apple Silicon (M1 or later).
Can I search by content in photos that have no text layer?
Yes, Instant Search reads text in photos and scans using OCR, even if the image has no embedded text layer.
Source: useinstantsearch.com