We stand with Ukraine to help keep people safe. Join us
HoudahSpot
HoudahSpot
4.0
0.0
HoudahSpot free download for Mac

HoudahSpot

Version 6.5

Advanced file-search tool.

4.0
Based on 98 user ratesRead reviews & comments
$34.00
One-Time Purchase
Buy Now

HoudahSpot overview

HoudahSpot is a versatile desktop search tool. Use HoudahSpot to locate hard-to-find files and keep frequently used files within reach.

HoudahSpot is a productivity tool. It is the hub where all the files related to your current task come together. From here, you also can take a deep dive to fetch further information from your archives.

HoudahSpot will immediately feel familiar. It works just the way you expect search to work. Start with a simple search. Refine it by adding and combining criteria. Browse search results. Add columns. Preview files and text matches. Pick the files you really need.

  • Find files by name, text, content kind, author, recipient, pixel count, etc.
  • Combine criteria to narrow down search results
  • Specify which folders to search and which ones to exclude
  • Add any of the hundreds of columns available
  • Apply filters to reduce search results to only the relevant items
  • Preview files and text matches
  • Open files and, where the application supports it, continue searching for text matches by pressing command-G (Find Next)
  • Set up templates for recurring searches

HoudahSpot gives you the tools to get manageable search results from even the most extensive collection of files: an easy-to-use search criteria editor, customizable results displays, search templates, a preview of text matches, and more.

HoudahSpot builds upon Spotlight, which comes pre-installed with macOS. It helps you find the files you need:

  • Word processing files containing the word "invoice" or "estimate"
  • Image files named "logo" more than 512 pixels wide
  • Files created, modified or opened within the last 7 days

What’s new in version 6.5

Updated on Dec 18 2023

  • Addresses a change in macOS Sonoma where HoudahSpot fails to load file tag colors
  • Updated ForkLift integration to work with the latest version of ForkLift
  • Fixes a bug displaying files with multiple tag colors
  • Fixes a problem where Text Preview failed to show .eml mail message files
  • Various minor fixes and enhancements

Information

License

Shareware

Size

12.3 MB

Downloads

135889

App requirements

  • Intel 64
  • Apple Silicon
  • macOS 10.14 or later
  • Spotlight indexing enabled
Try our new feature and write a detailed review about HoudahSpot. All reviews will be posted soon.

Write your thoughts in our old-fashioned comment

MacUpdate Comment Policy. We strongly recommend leaving comments, however comments with abusive words, bullying, personal attacks of any type will be moderated.
0.0

(0 Reviews of )

There are no reviews yet
  • Comments

  • User Ratings

Ry-ma
Ry-ma
Dec 4 2021
6.1.8
3.0
Dec 4 2021
3.0
Version: 6.1.8
Good live search, many setting options. But ProFind can do that too and costs six times less. Houdahspot is simply too expensive for a search engine. - My opinion.
Hldwizard
Hldwizard
Feb 13 2021
6.0.4
5.0
Feb 13 2021
5.0
Version: 6.0.4
Convenient and relatively fast searching made easy.
xcoxco
xcoxco
Jan 10 2021
6.0.1
4.0
Jan 10 2021
4.0
Version: 6.0.1
Great app. Well worth buying ...
Frodo-life
Frodo-life
Dec 11 2020
6.0
2.0
Dec 11 2020
2.0
Version: 6.0
supported app for many years, but not much new in recent updates with a quite steep $29 upgrade price I stick to version 5x
Funjoy
Funjoy
Dec 10 2020
6.0
5.0
Dec 10 2020
5.0
Version: 6.0
Just upgraded to v.6. All sorts of nice features, like being able to get around Apple's blocking of mail search, tag clouds, Recent Searches and more. Definitely worth the $19 upgrade price.
bobembry
bobembry
Jun 11 2020
5.1.2
5.0
Jun 11 2020
5.0
Version: 5.1.2
Very useful !!! ★★★★★ Give it a try
DRNash
DRNash
May 16 2020
5.1.1
0.0
May 16 2020
0.0
Version: 5.1.1
Link is still to vesrion 5.1 - MacUpdate, you can't just tack the current version number on to the end of the previous version and expect it to be the new version (the file available from MacUpdate is "HoudahSpot_latest_5.1.1.zip", but decompesses to give the 5.1 version from 14 April) - this is happending far too often these days - MacUpdate you need to invest in some quality control.
Svenster
Svenster
Sep 25 2019
5.0.9
5.0
Sep 25 2019
5.0
Version: 5.0.9
Another reason not to use Apple Mail. HoudahSpot is much more efficient at what it can do than Apple Mail is or ever has. Perhaps Mail might be able to search its own database in Catalina. Now that would be useful and a first for Mail.
Macbookpro
Macbookpro
Jul 5 2019
5.0.6
5.0
Jul 5 2019
5.0
Version: 5.0.6
This is the app to go to first when you are looking for that hard to find file that you know is on the hard drive somewhere. It is an essential tool that saves a ton of searching time. Do watch the tutorial created by ScreenCastsOnline as suggested on the Houdah Spot tips and tricks page.
Biox
Biox
Apr 19 2019
5.0.2
3.0
Apr 19 2019
3.0
Version: 5.0.2
Two stars removed because file listings are messed up and getting this right is fundamental. For example: file attributes shown for a file may be wrong and actually be the attributes of another file in the same folder that's next in lexicographical sort order; or a file may be shown as being a folder when it's just an ordinary file. I love the speed at which it produces errors though! ;-)
Pik80
Pik80
Apr 6 2019
5.0
5.0
Apr 6 2019
5.0
Version: 5.0
Version five is another fantastic major update like like version four. FINALLY includes the Adobe Bridge "compact mode" which is by far the best feature from that program. I suggested they incorporate that feature into the program nearly a decade ago because it was such a good idea for being able to drop files into programs particularly layout software. Now that some people are leaving Adobe these days that feature becomes all the more important. Lets hope that same feature makes it's way into the developer's other search tool "Tembo" as well. Other notable features are dark mode and the ability to now add tags in the right column. Version four didn't let you add tags as easily.
Ean
Ean
Apr 5 2019
5.0
4.5
Apr 5 2019
4.5
Version: 5.0
Version 5 as a solid upgrade. Overall the app is faster and I've only begun to scratch the surface of the new features. For example I haven't tried the DefaultFolder integration but a looking forward to it. The only thing that bothers me at this point is the new finder extension is not just a button, but a button that opens a menu with a single item in it. This is dumb. It should go back to just being a button unless there are some choices to be made.
Fariborz
Fariborz
Apr 4 2019
5.0
5.0
Apr 4 2019
5.0
Version: 5.0
There isn’t a single folder, file, word, etc that can go unnoticed once you install and use HoudahSpot. It quickly scans all your emails, documents for that tiny part of whatever you remember of that forgotten document hidden somewhere on your computer. It has saved me long hours of search for whatever name that has come to my mind. Amazing to put it mildly. Fariborz AMIRSHAHI - Verona (Italy)
dwp-1
dwp-1
Apr 4 2019
5.0
5.0
Apr 4 2019
5.0
Version: 5.0
I've lost track on how many years that I have been using HoudaSpot but I couldn't do without it. It has found files for me that would have possibly taken me days or weeks to locate manually. Ask it and if it is there, HoudaSpot **Will** find it. Best searching app I have ever used.
The_Blinded
The_Blinded
Oct 8 2018
4.3.9
5.0
Oct 8 2018
5.0
Version: 4.3.9
Wonderful... It has all features and options that someone would want from a search app! Very simple for a simple research, powerful options for advanced researches.
Tedg
Tedg
Sep 22 2018
4.3.8
5.0
Sep 22 2018
5.0
Version: 4.3.8
Use this several times a day. Wouldn't want to be without it.
Ubucraig
Ubucraig
Sep 13 2018
4.3.7
5.0
Sep 13 2018
5.0
Version: 4.3.7
There hasn't been a search app this effective on Mac since Norton FastFind.
Ckueny
Ckueny
Sep 11 2018
4.3.7
5.0
Sep 11 2018
5.0
Version: 4.3.7
I haven't even gotten around to trying most of the company's suggestions for the app's effective use which I think will be helpful, but just the occasional search have made HoudahSpot very worthwhile. I immediately found files that I though were lost but were just too hard to find in the haystack of the Finder's default search. Someone commented that the interface was a bit unappealing at first glance, but try it anyway. An app for finding files might sound like a solution in search of a problem, but it is not; it has saved me time every time that I've used it.
xflyhorse
xflyhorse
Jul 2 2018
4.3.7
5.0
Jul 2 2018
5.0
Version: 4.3.7
HoudahSpot is an excellent application - its the most useful I own. It has saved me much time locating needed information, particularly when I'm in a hurry.
LeMerlot
LeMerlot
Apr 17 2018
4.3.6
5.0
Apr 17 2018
5.0
Version: 4.3.6
Without question one of my most beloved and used apps – great developers who are caring. Highly recommended for professional Mac users.
fallenflower
fallenflower
Sep 23 2023
6.4.1
1.0
Sep 23 2023
1.0
Version: 6.4.1
shca
shca
Sep 18 2023
6.4
1.0
Sep 18 2023
1.0
Version: 6.4
jsmako
jsmako
Dec 16 2021
6.1.9
1.0
Dec 16 2021
1.0
Version: 6.1.9
marcel52-1
marcel52-1
Dec 16 2021
6.1.9
1.0
Dec 16 2021
1.0
Version: 6.1.9
Ry-ma
Ry-ma
Dec 4 2021
6.1.8
3.0
Dec 4 2021
3.0
Version: 6.1.8
The_Blinded
The_Blinded
Oct 15 2021
6.1.6
5.0
Oct 15 2021
5.0
Version: 6.1.6
Hldwizard
Hldwizard
Feb 13 2021
5.0
Feb 13 2021
5.0
Version: null
xcoxco
xcoxco
Jan 10 2021
4.0
Jan 10 2021
4.0
Version: null
Frodo-life
Frodo-life
Dec 11 2020
2.0
Dec 11 2020
2.0
Version: null
Funjoy
Funjoy
Dec 10 2020
5.0
Dec 10 2020
5.0
Version: null
bobembry
bobembry
Jun 11 2020
5.0
Jun 11 2020
5.0
Version: null
Svenster
Svenster
Sep 25 2019
5.0
Sep 25 2019
5.0
Version: null
Macbookpro
Macbookpro
Jul 5 2019
5.0
Jul 5 2019
5.0
Version: null
Biox
Biox
Apr 19 2019
3.0
Apr 19 2019
3.0
Version: null
Pik80
Pik80
Apr 6 2019
5.0
Apr 6 2019
5.0
Version: null
Cyzor
Cyzor
Apr 5 2019
5.0
Apr 5 2019
5.0
Version: null
Ean
Ean
Apr 5 2019
4.5
Apr 5 2019
4.5
Version: null
Fariborz
Fariborz
Apr 4 2019
5.0
Apr 4 2019
5.0
Version: null
dwp-1
dwp-1
Apr 4 2019
5.0
Apr 4 2019
5.0
Version: null
Tedg
Tedg
Sep 22 2018
5.0
Sep 22 2018
5.0
Version: null
Ubucraig
Ubucraig
Sep 13 2018
5.0
Sep 13 2018
5.0
Version: null
Ckueny
Ckueny
Sep 11 2018
5.0
Sep 11 2018
5.0
Version: null
xflyhorse
xflyhorse
Jul 2 2018
5.0
Jul 2 2018
5.0
Version: null
LeMerlot
LeMerlot
Apr 17 2018
5.0
Apr 17 2018
5.0
Version: null
jack2001
jack2001
Apr 17 2018
1.0
Apr 17 2018
1.0
Version: null
Morlo
Morlo
Sep 18 2017
2.5
Sep 18 2017
2.5
Version: null
Potatoes
Potatoes
Jul 1 2017
5.0
Jul 1 2017
5.0
Version: null
David-Stevens
David-Stevens
May 31 2017
5.0
May 31 2017
5.0
Version: null
Gilby101mu
Gilby101mu
Apr 15 2017
5.0
Apr 15 2017
5.0
Version: null
fearmore
fearmore
Aug 15 2016
5.0
Aug 15 2016
5.0
Version: null
sallywarren
sallywarren
Jan 6 2016
4.0
Jan 6 2016
4.0
Version: null
Mikenesmith
Mikenesmith
Dec 5 2015
5.0
Dec 5 2015
5.0
Version: null
Prof-T
Prof-T
Sep 16 2015
5.0
Sep 16 2015
5.0
Version: null
Cjf49622
Cjf49622
Mar 12 2015
5.0
Mar 12 2015
5.0
Version: null
StrictlyBagel
StrictlyBagel
Mar 2 2015
5.0
Mar 2 2015
5.0
Version: null
MacDev
MacDev
Feb 25 2015
3.0
Feb 25 2015
3.0
Version: null
Jytx
Jytx
Feb 23 2015
5.0
Feb 23 2015
5.0
Version: null
Kaidoh
Kaidoh
Feb 14 2015
5.0
Feb 14 2015
5.0
Version: null
Kp-gores
Kp-gores
Feb 14 2015
1.0
Feb 14 2015
1.0
Version: null
baxsur
baxsur
Feb 10 2015
5.0
Feb 10 2015
5.0
Version: null
$34.00
One-Time Purchase
Buy Now
How would you rate HoudahSpot?
Similar apps
Raycast
Fast, extendable launcher.
Is this app is similar to Raycast? Vote to improve the quality of this list.
Vote results
1
Upvotes
0
Total score
-1
Downvotes
DEVONthink
Knowledge base, information manager, and much more.
Is this app is similar to DEVONthink? Vote to improve the quality of this list.
Vote results
3
Upvotes
0
Total score
-3
Downvotes
ProFind
Advanced file search for macOS.
Is this app is similar to ProFind? Vote to improve the quality of this list.
Vote results
1
Upvotes
0
Total score
-1
Downvotes
GoToFile
Fuzzy/RegEx file-search utility.
Is this app is similar to GoToFile? Vote to improve the quality of this list.
Vote results
1
Upvotes
0
Total score
-1
Downvotes
Scherlokk
Lightning fast file search utility and file comparison tool.
Is this app is similar to Scherlokk? Vote to improve the quality of this list.
Vote results
1
Upvotes
0
Total score
-1
Downvotes