How they work
HoudahSpot, by Houdah Software, gives Spotlight a detailed search window: you build a query from criteria, preview the text around each match, and save the search as a template to reuse.
Lisorto reads files on your Mac as it sorts them, including the text in scans and screenshots, so a few words you remember are enough to find a file. It also keeps those files in order.
Pick HoudahSpot if…
- you want precise, repeatable searches with many criteria;
- you search by metadata like author, resolution, or dates;
- you already use Setapp.
Pick Lisorto if…
- you want to type a few words and find the file, scans and screenshots included;
- you also want your files sorted and named;
- you want a free tier.
Switching from HoudahSpot, or using both
- They work side by side: HoudahSpot for precise queries, Lisorto for sorting and quick searches by content.
- Lisorto’s Spaces are ordinary folders, so HoudahSpot finds files in them like anywhere else.
What Lisorto never does
- It never deletes a file. Duplicates are set aside, not removed; Free up space moves things to the Trash only when you pick them.
- It never overwrites a file. If a name is taken, that file stays where it is.
- It doesn’t upload your files. Cloud AI is optional, off by default, and sends only a short excerpt of an unclear document.
What this page says about HoudahSpot comes from its website, checked on October 21, 2026. Apps change; check there for current features and prices. HoudahSpot is a trademark of its owner.