Comparison
Memtrove vs HoudahSpot
HoudahSpot is a long-standing, powerful front end to Spotlight. Memtrove takes a different route: its own index, search by meaning, and a connection to Claude and other AI apps. Which one fits depends on how you look for files.
At a glance
| HoudahSpot | Memtrove | |
|---|---|---|
| Index | Uses the macOS Spotlight index | Builds and maintains its own index |
| Search by | Name, content and many metadata attributes (author, tags, dates, size, image resolution…) | Name, content and meaning |
| Building queries | Criteria with any / all / none groups, saved templates | Plain words: last month in Downloads "net 30 days" |
| Search by meaning | No | Yes — across English and Chinese with the Enhanced model |
| Preview | Quick Look, and text preview with highlighted matches | Document outline with the matching section opened and highlighted |
| Browser bookmarks | — | Safari, Chrome and Edge |
| AI apps | — | MCP server for Claude Desktop, Claude Code and other MCP apps |
| File actions | Tagging, copy, move, move to Trash | Read-only: open, show in Finder, Quick Look |
| Macs | Intel and Apple silicon, macOS 10.14+ | Apple silicon, macOS 13+ |
| License | One-time per major version, one user on unlimited Macs; also on Setapp | One-time per major version, up to 3 Macs; 14-day free trial |
Different foundations
HoudahSpot builds on Spotlight. That's a strength — it reuses the index macOS already keeps and can query every metadata attribute Spotlight records. It also means HoudahSpot sees what Spotlight sees: folders excluded in Spotlight › Search Privacy, or files missing from a damaged Spotlight index, won't show up in its results either. Houdah's own troubleshooting guide points to the Spotlight index as the usual cause when files are missing.
Memtrove keeps its own index of the folders you choose — your home folder by default, plus external drives and cloud-drive folders like iCloud Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive and Google Drive. It doesn't depend on Spotlight's settings, and the Status page shows the progress for each folder (names → content → meaning), so you can tell when a folder is fully searchable.
When HoudahSpot is the better fit
- Precise metadata queries. Photos above a certain resolution, images with GPS coordinates, audio by bit rate, documents by author.
- Complex, repeatable searches. Boolean groups of criteria, saved as templates you reuse.
- Working on the results. Tagging, copying and moving files straight from the result list.
- Intel Macs and older macOS. HoudahSpot runs on macOS 10.14 and later, on Intel and Apple silicon.
When Memtrove is the better fit
- You remember what a document is about, not its words. "The contract about late payment fees" finds it even when the file says "overdue invoices" — search by meaning.
- Long documents. The preview shows the outline of a PDF or Word file and opens the section that matched, so you can check the clause without opening a 60-page file.
- Files and bookmarks together. Memtrove searches your Safari, Chrome and Edge bookmarks next to your files.
- Asking an AI. Connect Claude Desktop, Claude Code or another MCP app and ask it to find and summarize documents for you. See how →
Using both
They don't conflict. Memtrove builds its own index and doesn't change Spotlight; HoudahSpot keeps using Spotlight. Many people use a metadata tool for photo and media libraries and Memtrove for documents.
Frequently asked questions
Does Memtrove use Spotlight?
No. Memtrove builds its own index and works whether or not Spotlight has indexed a folder. It doesn't change Spotlight's settings.
Can Memtrove search by metadata like author or image resolution?
Not like HoudahSpot. Memtrove filters by modification time, kind and folder, and searches names, text and meaning. For detailed metadata queries, HoudahSpot is the stronger tool.
Does Memtrove run on Intel Macs?
No. Memtrove needs a Mac with Apple silicon (M series) and macOS 13 or later.
Can I try it first?
Yes. Memtrove is free for 14 days with every feature, then a one-time purchase.