# smolcast vs Fluent Search

Fluent Search searches tabs, windows, files and even text on screen. smolcast searches less and pastes more: clipboard history, emoji and snippets.

Updated 23 Oct 2026. Checked against [fluentsearch.net](https://www.fluentsearch.net/) and its docs. [Sources](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/fluent-search#sources)

## smolcast

Open source

- Free
- Open source
- 7 MB
- No account

**Best for** clipboard, emoji and snippets in a tiny app

## Fluent Search

Independent project

- Free
- Own file indexer
- Screen search
- Plugins

**Best for** searching everything, even text on screen

[Get Fluent Search](https://www.fluentsearch.net/?ref=smolcast)

## Feature by feature

Bold marks where smolcast comes out ahead, and only where the other side publishes the fact.

|  | smolcast | Fluent Search |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **The basics** |  |  |
| Price | Free | Free; donations welcome |
| Source | **Open source (MIT)** (the better pick) | License not published |
| Runs on | Windows 11 | Windows 10 and 11, x64 and ARM64 |
| Account | None | Not published |
| Default hotkey | `Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Space` | Not published |
| **Features** |  |  |
| Clipboard history | Built in (Text and images. Encrypted on disk) | Not listed |
| Snippets | Built in (Find by name or keyword. No auto-expand) | Not listed |
| Emoji picker | Built in (Every emoji, in color) | Not listed |
| File search | Built in (Through Windows Search) | Built in (Its own native file indexer) |
| Calculator | Built in (Units too. Enter pastes) | Built in |
| Quicklinks | Built in (Keywords with {query}) | Web search |
| Extensions | No (Scripts and quicklinks instead) | C# plugins |
| AI | No | AI Search |
| Window management | No | Window search |
| **Under the hood** |  |  |
| Download | 7 MB, one .exe (No installer) | Installer, APPX, portable or WinGet (Size not published) |
| Idle | 0% CPU while hidden | Not published |
| Privacy | No telemetry ([One daily update check](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/privacy), can be turned off) | See its policy |

## Pick the one that fits

### Go with smolcast if

- You want clipboard history, emoji and snippets built in
- You want unit conversions that paste on Enter
- You want an MIT-licensed app you can read
- You want one small .exe

### Go with Fluent Search if

- You want one search for apps, files, tabs and windows
- You want to search text on screen with OCR
- You want its own fast file index
- You want C# plugins

[Get Fluent Search](https://www.fluentsearch.net/?ref=smolcast)

For files first, see [smolcast vs Listary](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/listary); for Everything’s index in a launcher with plugins, [smolcast vs Flow Launcher](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/flow-launcher).

## Coming from Fluent Search

- Web searchesQuicklinks with a `{query}` URL, and every search ends with your engine
- File searchSearch Files uses the Windows Search index, no index of its own
- CommandsTracked script files, each with an optional hotkey

## Try smolcast

- Windows 11, x64
- 7 MB
- Free and open source

[Download](https://github.com/Archetypically/smolcast/releases/latest)

## More comparisons

- [All the launchers, side by sideCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/)
- [smolcast vs Raycast for WindowsCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/raycast)
- [smolcast vs PowerToys Command PaletteCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/powertoys-command-palette)
- [smolcast vs Flow LauncherCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/flow-launcher)
- [smolcast vs TinycastCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/tinycast)
- [smolcast vs ListaryCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/listary)
- [smolcast vs WoxCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/wox)
- [smolcast vs AlfredCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/alfred)
- [smolcast vs KeypirinhaCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/keypirinha)
- [smolcast vs UeliCompare](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/ueli)
- [What smolcast keeps on your PCPrivacy](https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/privacy)

## Sources

1.  smolcast, main branch: [github.com/Archetypically/smolcast](https://github.com/Archetypically/smolcast)
2.  Fluent Search site: [fluentsearch.net](https://www.fluentsearch.net/)
3.  Fluent Search docs: [fluentsearch.net/docs](https://www.fluentsearch.net/docs)
4.  Fluent Search repository: [github.com/adirh3/Fluent-Search](https://github.com/adirh3/Fluent-Search)

Checked against these versions on 23 Oct 2026, which is also when this page was last updated. Found something stale? [Open an issue](https://github.com/Archetypically/smolcast/issues).

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The markdown version of https://smolcast.evanlee.engineer/compare/fluent-search