ProFind
An advanced file search utility for macOS that combines natural-language queries, boolean logic, optional disk caching, and content indexing to locate files faster and more precisely than Finder’s built-in search alone.
Typical Mac workflow
Open ProFind from the menu bar icon or a global hotkey, type a plain-English query such as invoice : modified this month AND bigger than 5mb, and refine with commands for kind, tags, dates, regex, or Spotlight metadata. Results show full paths with difference highlighting; QuickLook, scripts, Shortcuts, and export to CSV follow from the same window. Saved searches and history bring back frequent filters, while favorites and folder groups narrow scope to project directories or disconnected volumes you keep cached offline.
Beyond Spotlight
ProFind can search invisible folders, package contents, network volumes, and external disks without requiring Spotlight for every operation—though metadata queries still use Spotlight indexes when available. Optional disk caches index names, sizes, and dates so repeated searches on slow or offline drives stay responsive. Text content search covers PDFs, Word, RTF, and InDesign files; OCR and on-device image recognition (macOS 12+) extend matching to scanned documents and photos. Version 1.37 added a visual query editor on macOS 14+ for users who prefer building boolean filters with a pencil button instead of typing commands.
Live Directory and version 1.38
Release 1.38 (June 27, 2026) adds Live Directory: type a slash followed by a path in the search field to browse folders directly with live updates as files change. Full AND/OR boolean support expands complex queries documented in the in-app reference. The results table gains optional Tags and Date Last Opened columns you toggle from the list header; selected items show combined size in the status bar. Cache building runs faster, the Activity window reports clearer progress, and a new preference can close the search window automatically after you open a hit.
Licensing and requirements
A 14-day trial is available from the developer site ($6.99 direct) or the Mac App Store, where a one-time in-app purchase unlocks full functionality after the trial. macOS 11 or later is required from 1.38 onward; version 1.37 was the last release supporting macOS 10.15. The free ProFind Remote iOS app searches your Mac over the local network when network searches are enabled in preferences.
