Everything vs FileLocator Pro (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Everything grades higher than FileLocator Pro: 2.8 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Everything grades higher on value for money, the free plan and ease of use. FileLocator Pro grades higher on features. They get the same grade on platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
FileLocator Pro
Windows search tool for finding text inside files, with indexing
Free trial · from $79
Which one is for you
Pick Everything if
- Fits if you know roughly what a file is called but not where you put it
- Works for drives holding hundreds of thousands of files, or millions
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you're on a Mac or Linux, as it only runs on Windows
- Not for you if you mostly search for words inside documents, because contents aren't indexed and that search is slow
- Tight if you pick the Lite build, which drops the servers and stops the command-line tool and SDK working
- Watch out: NTFS indexing needs the Everything service or admin rights, and FAT drives and network shares are added by hand
Pick FileLocator Pro if
- Fits if you search inside lots of files by their contents
- Works for people who need search reports or shared indexes
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want free search, as there is no free plan after the 30-day trial
- Pricey if you need more than Standard: Technician is $142 and Floating is $206 per concurrent user
- Watch out: major upgrades are free for one year only, and renewals are optional
- Not for you if you use a Mac or Linux, as only Windows is listed
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAEverythingGood | 2.2GPAFileLocator ProFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFreeware, a plain download, with no paid edition anywhere. The developer asks you to think about donating, and that's the whole sales pitch. | B$79 one-time per named user, which is under two years of the typical utility subscription (about $80) but well above the $19.99 one-time middle. |
| Free plan and trial | AAll of it is free: the installer, the portable ZIP and the Lite build, in 32-bit, 64-bit and ARM. Nothing is held back for a paid version. | CA 30-day free trial, and the listing doesn't say whether a card is needed. No free plan. |
| Features | CFinding files by name is one job and Everything covers it: 250,000 files indexed in about 5 seconds, results that update as files change, wildcards, filters and regex, a command line and an SDK. But it indexes names, not contents, so searching inside files is slow. | BContent search, indexed or live, results preview, reports and export, shared indexes. No gap in the job. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating is on record, but there's nothing to set up: install it and start typing. Two fiddly bits sit in the listing, mind. NTFS indexing wants the Everything service or administrator rights, and network shares have to be added by hand. | CNo rating on record. Indexes and search locations take setting up. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only, a single operating system, from XP through Windows 11. Its HTTP server does let you search your files from a browser on a phone or another computer on the same network. No Mac or Linux version. | DWindows only. Windows only; no Mac, Linux, phone or web version. |
| Best for | finding any file by name on Windows | searching inside files on Windows |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Everything and FileLocator Pro. How we grade
Where they differ
- FileLocator Pro can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- FileLocator Pro also covers reports.
In commonWindowsFile management
At a glance
| Everything | FileLocator Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free trial |
| Starts at | Free | $79 per named user, perpetual license |
| Free plan | Everything is freeware with no paid edition. The developer asks users to consider donating. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 30-day free trial |
| Windows | ||
| Made by | voidtools PTY LTD | Mythicsoft Ltd |
| Price read from | voidtools.com | mythicsoft.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Everything
- Windows only; the FAQ lists Windows XP through Windows 11.
- It indexes file and folder names, not contents. Searching inside files is possible but slow.
- NTFS indexing needs the Everything service or administrator rights, and FAT volumes and network shares must be added as folder indexes by hand.
- The Lite build removes the HTTP and ETP/FTP servers and IPC, so the command-line tool and SDK do not work with it.
FileLocator Pro
- Windows only; no macOS or Linux version is listed.
- Major upgrades are free for one year after purchase; support and upgrade renewals are optional and discounted.
- The vendor says it merged with Agent Ransack in 2019, so the two have the same features.
Key features
Everything
- Instant filename search
- Starts by listing every file and folder on the PC and narrows the list as you type. Only names are indexed: about 250,000 files on a fresh Windows 11 install take about 5 seconds.
- Real-time index updates
- Results update as files change. NTFS indexes are kept current through the USN Journal, so changes made while Everything was closed are picked up when it restarts.
- Search syntax
- Supports boolean operators, wildcards, file-type and location filters and optional regular expressions. A content: function searches inside files, but contents are not indexed, so it is slow.
- Low resource use
- The vendor quotes about 35 MB of RAM and under 14 MB of disk space for roughly 250,000 files, and about 100 MB of RAM for 1,000,000 files.
- HTTP and ETP/FTP servers
- Search and open your files from a web browser on another computer, phone or tablet on the local network. Version 1.4 includes the servers; for version 1.5 they are separate plugins.
- Command line and SDK
- The ES command-line tool queries a running copy of Everything, and the SDK gives other programs a DLL and Lib interface to it over IPC.
FileLocator Pro
- Content search
- Dig into PDFs, Office documents and ZIP archives, and search several Outlook PST files at once.
- Indexed or live search
- Searches can be indexed for near-instant results or run without an index; there is no background indexing.
- Results preview
- Highlighted keywords with surrounding text, and views of hits or the whole file with syntax highlighting.
- Reports and export
- Results can be summarized and exported.
- Shared indexes
- Several user-defined indexes can be created and shared across a network.
Plans
Everything
Everything$0
Freeware in installer, portable ZIP and Lite builds, with 32-bit, 64-bit and ARM downloads. Donations are optional.
FileLocator Pro
Standard License$79
one-time, per named user
Up to 3 Windows installations per named user; volume discounts from 25 licenses.
Technician License$142
one-time, per named user
Unlimited Windows installations per named user.
Floating License$206
one-time, per concurrent user
Licensed for a number of concurrent users rather than named people.
Ways to pay less
Everything
No public discounts listed.
FileLocator Pro
- Other savings
Discounted support and upgrade renewals
Renewals made before the support period ends get 40% off, and renewals after expiry get 30% off.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Everything or FileLocator Pro?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Everything is free, and FileLocator Pro starts at $79 per named user, perpetual license.
Which has a free plan, Everything or FileLocator Pro?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Everything has a free plan. FileLocator Pro does not, though it has a free trial.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.