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Everything alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 29, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Everything: windows only, and matches names and paths, not text inside documents. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Everything, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Listary currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Listary logoListaryFree plan + paidNoWindows5 of 556.8
2Microsoft PowerToys logoMicrosoft PowerToysOpen sourceYesWindows4 of 454.4
3Flow Launcher logoFlow LauncherOpen sourceYesWindows5 of 552.6
  1. Listary logo

    1. ListaryTop pick

    Best for: Windows users who mostly want instant file search and faster open/save dialogs

    Free plan + paidWindows

    56.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Everything

    Free Windows file search and launcher that also hooks into Open and Save dialogs.

    Pros

    • Very fast file search ranked by your habits
    • Quick Switch speeds up open and save dialogs
    • Pro is a one-time purchase with lifetime updates

    Cons

    • Free version is for personal use only
    • Windows only
    • Few extensions compared with plugin-based launchers
    Visit Listary Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.360
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Listary a good Everything alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Pro price
    $19.95 one-time
    Checked Oct 29, 2026listary.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Personal use only
    Checked Oct 29, 2026listary.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows only
    Checked Oct 29, 2026listary.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro devices
    Up to 3 computers
    Checked Oct 29, 2026listary.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Refunds
    Within 30 days
    Checked Oct 29, 2026listary.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Microsoft PowerToys logo

    2. Microsoft PowerToys

    Best for: Windows users who want a free launcher, window layouts and key remapping from one trusted install

    Open sourceWindows

    54.4

    score / 100

    Why switch from Everything

    Microsoft's free toolkit whose launcher searches files and apps from one shortcut.

    Pros

    • Free and open source, maintained by Microsoft
    • Bundles a launcher, window zones and key remapping
    • Each tool can be enabled separately
    • Frequent updates

    Cons

    • Windows only
    • Some modules are less capable than dedicated apps
    • Many settings pages to wade through
    Visit Microsoft PowerToys Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.352
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Microsoft PowerToys a good Everything alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 29, 2026learn.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Launcher
    Command Palette
    Checked Oct 29, 2026learn.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Window manager
    FancyZones
    Checked Oct 29, 2026learn.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Flow Launcher logo

    3. Flow Launcher

    Best for: Windows users who want an Alfred-style launcher that is free and extensible

    Open sourceWindows

    52.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Everything

    Open-source Windows launcher that can use Everything's index for file search plus plugins.

    Pros

    • Free and open source with no account
    • Fast file search through Everything or Windows Search
    • Plugin store with plugins in several languages
    • Portable and package-manager installs

    Cons

    • Windows only
    • Plugin quality varies
    • No built-in clipboard history or snippets
    Visit Flow Launcher Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.346
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Flow Launcher a good Everything alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free and open source
    Checked Oct 29, 2026flowlauncher.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows 10 and later
    Checked Oct 29, 2026flowlauncher.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Plugin languages
    C#, F#, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript
    Checked Oct 29, 2026flowlauncher.com(opens source in a new tab)
    File search
    Everything or Windows Search
    Checked Oct 29, 2026flowlauncher.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Everything alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Listary logo

Best Everything alternative for most people

Listary

Free Windows file search and launcher that also hooks into Open and Save dialogs.

Microsoft PowerToys logo

Best Everything alternative for a free option

Microsoft PowerToys

Microsoft's free toolkit whose launcher searches files and apps from one shortcut.

Listary logo

Best Everything alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Listary

Free Windows file search and launcher that also hooks into Open and Save dialogs.

Flow Launcher logo

Best Everything alternative for open source

Flow Launcher

Open-source Windows launcher that can use Everything's index for file search plus plugins.

Listary logo

Best Everything alternative for Windows

Listary

Free Windows file search and launcher that also hooks into Open and Save dialogs.

Everything alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Everything?

Listary ranks first right now. Free Windows file search and launcher that also hooks into Open and Save dialogs. Microsoft PowerToys and Flow Launcher follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Everything?

Yes. Listary (free plan + paid), Microsoft PowerToys (open source) and Flow Launcher (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Everything?

Yes: Microsoft PowerToys and Flow Launcher.

Why do people switch from Everything?

The complaints we hear most: windows only; matches names and paths, not text inside documents; fast NTFS indexing needs its service or admin rights.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Everything, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.