Any recommendations for desktop Search tools (with a perpetual license)?

[Ship169]

Hello everyone,

I’m looking for recommendations for a desktop search application to replace X1 Search on my Surface Laptop 7 running Windows 11 (64 bit) on an ARM processor.

[EDIT: To get clear, I need something that searches file contents, not just file names! I use a wide variety of file types including, text, PDF, MindManager, Ms Office (Excel, Word, PPTX, OneNote etc), XaraDesigner Pro. For just filenames, IMHO "Everything" from VoidTools is king!]

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Indexed Searches – I need a tool that builds an index to allow fast, efficient searches, rather than relying on real-time searching from scratch.
2. Field-Specific Searches – My work involves a variety of data formats, so the ability to search within specific fields (e.g., within emails, documents, PDFs etc.) is crucial.
3. Boolean Logic – I need simple Boolean options, particularly "NOT" logic, to help narrow down search results effectively.
4. Budget – I’d happily pay up to $50 for a perpetual license to avoid ongoing costs, as I don’t want to risk losing access to my tools if I can’t cover subscription fees in the future!

BACKGROUND
Unfortunately, X1.com have let me down by no longer hosting the installation files for my perpetual license version (v8.6), leaving me unable to reinstall software I’d paid to use indefinitely. i.e. They now only offer subscription-based licenses with time-bombed access, which I want to avoid.

EXPLANATION (WHY I HATE TIME-BOMBED LICENSING!)
This is a matter of principle.

• All these subscription fees have a nasty way of adding up to more than you might think.
• As a freelancer/entrepreneur I may or may not actually use each of these tools.
• My own time is more valuable than my money! Having invested in learning these tools, I don’t want to lose that investment.
• I don't want the hassle of remembering to turn on /off my subscriptions
• (WORSE, if/when times are tight, I need to rely on my tools without worrying they’ll vanish just because of a missed payment!)

Any recommendations for (ARM-compatible) search tools with a perpetual license?

Thanks in advance!

J

 

[RogerOver]

I do not know whether it fullfills all your specific needs, but I am very happy with "Everything" from voidtools !

voidtools

www.voidtools.com

 

[Ship169]

I do not know whether it fullfills all your specific needs, but I am very happy with "Everything" from voidtools !

Yes, I agree that for just searching file names only, "Everything" from voidtools.com is king.

But I need something for searching file contents too.

J