What Tablif read on Shlexball's site
Shlexball describes itself as: “Shlexball: Find files on your Mac by describing them”
- Price model: Monthly · Yearly · free tier
- Free tier: Free up to a limit
- Stage: Live, no waitlist
- Alternative to: Everything
- How it differs: “Spotlight matches names and indexed words, so a file you can describe but not name often slips past it. Shlexball works differently”
What it is
Calls itself “Mac app”.
- Calls itself: Mac app
“Shlexball is a Mac app that finds files from a plain-English description”
Where it puts itself
Positions itself as an alternative to Everything. Rules out “No kernel extensions”. Publishes a comparison page.
- Alternative to: Everything
- Says it will not: No kernel extensions
“Spotlight matches names and indexed words, so a file you can describe but not name often slips past it. Shlexball works differently”
“Came from Windows? Shlexball is your Everything for Mac.”
What it costs
Monthly subscription and yearly plan. A free tier up to a usage limit. No one-time option. Prices quoted: 59 USD a year, 9 USD a month.
- One-time: no
- Monthly: yes
- Yearly: yes
- Free plan: free up to a limit
- Price: 59 USD a year · 9 USD a month
“30 free searches, then 9 USD a month or 59 USD a year.”
“9 USD a month”
Who it sells to
Sells to consumers.
- Sells to: consumers
“Shlexball is a Mac app that finds files from a plain-English description”
How it runs
A desktop app for macOS. Runs locally and works offline. AI is the core of the product.
- Kind: desktop
- Runs on: macOS
- Runs where: on the device, offline
- AI role: core to the product
“Shlexball is a Mac app that finds files from a plain-English description”
“…macOS 15, Apple silicon, 16 GB.”
What it works with
Replaces Everything and Spotlight. Names Finder, Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite and 3 more on its pages.
- Replaces: Everything · Spotlight
- Names: Finder · Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite · Gemini 3.8 Flash · +2
“Came from Windows? Shlexball is your Everything for Mac.”
“Finder vs Shlexball Alfred vs Shlexball EasyFind vs Shlexball mdfind vs Shlexball Raycast vs Shlexball”
What it offers as proof
Live, no waitlist. Claims “308 of 312 tests”. Try it without signing up. Publishes docs and a blog.
- Number claimed: 308 of 312 tests
- Instant signup: yes
- Trial asks for: nothing
“30 free searches, no account.”
“On 312 unseen file requests, Shlexball passed 308 of 312 tests.”
Sources
Tablif read these pages, last on 5 Oct 2026. Everything above is what the product says about itself; Tablif does not verify every claim.
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