The Everything Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Everything in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Everything
The Insider’s Guide
Instant file and folder name search for Windows
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Everything’s own pages.
Made by voidtools PTY LTD · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Everything’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Everything’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
Everything is a freeware search tool for Windows from voidtools that finds files and folders by name as you type. It indexes names rather than contents, so building the index takes seconds, and it keeps results current by watching the file system in real time. The vendor states that it runs entirely offline, with no telemetry and no user data collection.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Everything, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating is on record, but there's nothing to set up: install it and start typing.
- 1
Best for finding any file by name on Windows
It indexes names, not contents, so searching inside files is slow.
- 2
It is free
Everything has no paid plan at all. Everything is freeware with no paid edition. The developer asks users to consider donating.
- 3
It runs on Windows
Windows.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 57 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Everything is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Everything at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Windows
- Made by
- voidtools PTY LTD
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for finding any file by name on Windows
Everything is a freeware Windows tool that finds files and folders by name as you type, and voidtools says it runs offline with no telemetry. It indexes names, not contents, so searching inside files is slow. It's Windows only, NTFS indexing needs a service or admin rights, network shares are added by hand, and the Lite build drops the command-line tool and SDK.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Freeware, a plain download, with no paid edition anywhere. The developer asks you to think about donating, and that's the whole sales pitch. |
| Free plan and trial | A | All 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. |
| Features | C | Finding 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. |
| Ease of use | B | No 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. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Windows 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. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Everything is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Windows users who want to find files and folders by name as they type
- Drives holding hundreds of thousands or millions of files
- Scripts and other programs that need a file index through the command line or SDK
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Everything is free to use.
Freeware, a plain download, with no paid edition anywhere.
Everything
$0
Freeware in installer, portable ZIP and Lite builds, with 32-bit, 64-bit and ARM downloads. Donations are optional.
The free plan
Everything is freeware with no paid edition. The developer asks users to consider donating.
Read from voidtools.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Windows
Instant file and folder name search for Windows. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, local-first, file management.
But it indexes names, not contents, so searching inside files is slow.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Windows
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Everything is made by voidtools PTY LTD.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
57/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
Everything's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 49 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Everything has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Everything’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- AFree plan and trialAbove 49 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- BEase of useAbove 33 of 94
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 94
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 55 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Everything is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Everything is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could not
- A file manager working directly on your disk.
- A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Everything’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Listary, Flow Launcher and Microsoft PowerToys
The 3 tools Everything is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Listary
Free plan · from $19.95 one-time
File search and app launcher for Windows with Quick Switch.
- Listary can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Listary also covers launcher.
- 3.0GPA
Flow Launcher
Free
Free, open-source app launcher and file search for Windows.
- Flow Launcher is open source, according to its own site.
- Flow Launcher also covers launcher and calculator.
- 2.8GPA
Microsoft PowerToys
Free
Free Microsoft utilities for customizing Windows 10 and 11.
- Microsoft PowerToys is open source, according to its own site.
- Microsoft PowerToys also covers launcher, window management and keyboard and mouse remapping.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Everything free?
Yes. Everything is free to use.
How much does Everything cost?
Everything lists one plan. Everything: $0.
What platforms does Everything work on?
Everything is available on Windows.
Does Everything have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Everything is listed for Windows.
Does Everything have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Everything is listed for Windows.
Is Everything open source?
Everything is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does Everything work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Who makes Everything?
Everything is made by voidtools PTY LTD.
What are the alternatives to Everything?
The closest alternatives to Everything in our directory are Listary, Flow Launcher and Microsoft PowerToys.
How does Everything compare with other desktop utilities?
Everything's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
Is Everything good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Everything A for value for money. Everything has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Everything?
Everything is free, so making your own would save you nothing. What you could not make: A file manager working directly on your disk.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Everything’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from voidtools' own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-06.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by voidtools PTY LTD. Prices change, so check voidtools.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Everything, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/everything
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Everything: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/everything
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/everything/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after Everything, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 95 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- 7-Zip Insider's GuideFree, open-source file archiver with the 7z format3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Everything’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Everything is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by voidtools PTY LTD. Prices and plans change: check voidtools.com before you buy.