Comparisons

Cling vs Find Any File

Updated 2026-08-05 · 5 min read

Both go where Spotlight will not. They get there by opposite routes.

Find Any File's approach

Find Any File queries the filesystem directly — on HFS+ and APFS it can use catalogue searches, which is why it finds things quickly without maintaining an index. It searches by name, date, size, type and creator code, and it can run as root to reach files your own account cannot.

It is a mature, focused utility with a long history on the Mac.

Cling's approach

Cling builds and keeps a binary index of the whole filesystem, updated live via FSEvents, and searches it with fuzzy matching. Results appear as you type.

The practical differences

	Cling	Find Any File
Index	yes, persistent	no
Results as you type	yes	no, per search
Fuzzy matching	yes	no, literal
Search as root	no	yes
Attribute search	filters	date, size, type, creator
Oldest macOS	14 Sonoma	10.13 High Sierra
Price	€12 lifetime	around $8

Where each one wins

Find Any File wins on old Macs, on precise attribute queries, and when you need to search as root. It also wins if you object to a background process and an index on principle.

Cling wins on speed of interaction. Typing and watching results narrow is a different experience from filling in a query and pressing search, and once you are used to it there is no going back.

The overlap with Everywhere

We make a third option, so treat this as disclosed bias: Everywhere indexes like Cling, supports attribute queries like Find Any File — size:>100mb, dm:today, ext:pdf — runs on Ventura, and searches inside PDFs and Office documents in folders you choose. It is $19, which is more than either.

Common questions

Does Find Any File need an index?

No. It queries the filesystem directly, which is why it works immediately after install with no waiting and no background process.

Can Cling search by file size or date?

Cling 2.0 added filters, and it supports extension-aware queries. Find Any File's attribute search is the more established of the two.

Which works on older Macs?

Find Any File, by a wide margin — it supports macOS 10.13 and later. Cling requires macOS 14 Sonoma.