Local Semantic Search Embedding Tools

Command-line and desktop tools for semantic search and indexing of local files, documents, and repositories without cloud backends or external APIs. Does NOT include remote search services, web crawlers, or general-purpose RAG frameworks.

There are 85 local semantic search tools tracked. 3 score above 50 (established tier). The highest-rated is winkjs/wink-bm25-text-search at 66/100 with 70 stars and 70,477 monthly downloads. 1 of the top 10 are actively maintained.

Get all 85 projects as JSON

curl "https://pt-edge.onrender.com/api/v1/datasets/quality?domain=embeddings&subcategory=local-semantic-search&limit=20"

Open to everyone — 100 requests/day, no key needed. Get a free key for 1,000/day.

#	Tool	Score	Tier	Stars	Language
1	winkjs/wink-bm25-text-search Fast Full Text Search based on BM25	66	Established	70	JavaScript
2	run-llama/semtools Semantic search and document parsing tools for the command line	59	Established	1,697	Rust
3	Hamza5/file-brain Smart local file search app that understands your files	55	Established	147	Python
4	Dicklesworthstone/frankensearch Two-tier hybrid search for Rust: sub-millisecond initial results via...	48	Emerging	41	Rust
5	Fl0k3n/kfe Cross-platform Search Engine and File Explorer for Multimedia	42	Emerging	31	Python
6	OpenConceptLab/oclmap OCL Mapper (beta): an open-source AI-supported terminology mapping solution...	41	Emerging	9	JavaScript
7	filippostanghellini/DocFinder DocFinder is a local-first indexing and searching documents using semantic...	41	Emerging	14	Python
8	model-zoo/shift-ctrl-f 🔎 Search the information available on a webpage using natural language...	39	Emerging	1,105	JavaScript
9	forjd/git-search Semantic search over git commit history — local embeddings, sqlite-vec, terminal UI	38	Emerging	2	TypeScript
10	QuartzUnit/embgrep Local semantic search — embedding-powered grep for files, zero external services	38	Emerging	1	Python
11	jt55401/eddie Eddie: client-side semantic search and Q&A for static sites	36	Emerging	1	JavaScript
12	cesp99/odino A local semantic search CLI that finds code and text using natural language...	36	Emerging	14	Python
13	YASSERRMD/barq-vweb Browser-native vector database built in Rust and compiled to WebAssembly for...	35	Emerging	5	Rust
14	do-me/sff CLI for semantic search on your computer. Searches text files and identifies...	35	Emerging	23	Rust
15	yahorbarkouski/semantic-mail Lightweight local swappable semantic search & ask CLI agent for Gmail	34	Emerging	68	Python
16	lexmin0412/gimme-icon Semantic Icon Search Engine. \| 基于自然语言的图标搜索引擎。	34	Emerging	3	TypeScript
17	rmraya/HybridTM Hybrid Translation Memory engine	34	Emerging	4	TypeScript
18	the-search-thing/the-search-thing Fastest search tool for your OS	34	Emerging	4	TypeScript
19	bicardinal/brinicle A resource-efficient C++ vector index engine built for low-RAM production workloads	33	Emerging	10	Python
20	danjdewhurst/git-semantic-bun Local semantic search for git history — find commits by meaning, not...	33	Emerging	2	TypeScript
21	simeonradivoev/electron-dam A bundle based digital asset manager built on top of electron using React...	32	Emerging	14	TypeScript
22	spyglass-search/memex Super-simple, fully Rust powered "memory" (doc store + semantic search) for...	31	Emerging	66	Rust
23	prabirshrestha/gh-stars A command-line tool to fetch, cache, and search GitHub stars for any user,...	31	Emerging	3	Rust
24	steliarix/codesense Local semantic search for Python code. Find files by meaning, not just...	30	Emerging	3	Python
25	PFS-AI/PFS Precision File Search (PFS) is an AI-powered desktop file search for...	30	Emerging	3	Python
26	sovit-123/local_file_search Local file search using embedding techniques	27	Experimental	10	Python
27	quan2005/vector-grep vg: ripgrep-all + 本地向量语义搜索，hybrid/semantic/text 三模式，fastembed 推理，sqlite-vec...	27	Experimental	1	Rust
28	vladmarian20005/EmbeddedFinder Semantic file search for your local filesystem. Ask questions in plain...	26	Experimental	6	Python
29	arminpasalic/vectoria Browser-first text exploration, clustering, and semantic search. Use AI to...	25	Experimental	15	JavaScript
30	symdex-100/symdex Semantic fingerprints for token-efficient and fast code search.	25	Experimental	3	Python
31	cnuahs/semantic-history-search A Chrome extension to provide semantic search over your browsing history.	24	Experimental	2	TypeScript
32	0bmario/askman Offline command-syntax retrieval and decision signals for terminal agents.	24	Experimental	13	Rust
33	nijaru/omengrep Local semantic code search using embeddings and BM25	24	Experimental	3	Rust
34	neural-koala/LocalSearch A privacy-first pyside6 desktop app for searching for content in your local...	24	Experimental	2	Python
35	operandinc/operand-py The official Python client for Operand. The simplest way to add semantic...	23	Experimental	1	Python
36	Hyphonical/Scout 🔍 Find any image 100% locally using Scout, your semantic companion!	23	Experimental	1	Rust
37	vins13pattar/gh-stars-organizer Organize GitHub starred repositories into intelligent Star Lists with LLMs...	22	Experimental	—	Python
38	LoopWashere/git-semantic-bun Search git commit history by meaning using semantic and lexical matching for...	22	Experimental	—	TypeScript
39	wjddusrb03/commitmind CommitMind: Semantic search for Git commit history powered by TurboQuant...	22	Experimental	—	Python
40	LocalSynapse/LocalSynapse AI-powered local file search for Windows. Search inside files by content and...	22	Experimental	—	—
41	kozistr/semantic-search-rs semantic vector search demo with gRPC server in Rust	21	Experimental	10	Rust
42	ewraj/Semantic-Sorter local ai-powered file organizer that understands file meaning using...	21	Experimental	2	Python
43	ThiagoAVicente/sfs-api A semantic file search API. Upload text files and search by meaning, not keywords.	20	Experimental	1	Python
44	jon2allen/cmd_cli This is for a cmd example for Medium story	20	Experimental	1	Python
45	Tryboy869/gitsearch Semantic GitHub Search Engine — by Nexus Studio	20	Experimental	1	HTML
46	upship-ai/giddyanne Semantic codebase search. Indexes your files with embeddings and lets you...	20	Experimental	1	Python
47	yxbh/rifflux Local/offline hybrid retrieval engine for markdown and files: SQLite...	19	Experimental	—	Python
48	HQarroum/gh-stars 🌟 Search through your GitHub Stars using AI.	19	Experimental	—	TypeScript
49	NarlySoftware/VPS-fastsearch Fast hybrid BM25 + vector search for CPU-only VPS. Perfect for AI assistants...	19	Experimental	—	Python
50	PaperBoardOfficial/semfind Semantic grep for the terminal — search files by meaning, not pattern. Built...	19	Experimental	—	Python
51	Skelf-Research/polymathy Rust web service that transforms traditional search into an answer engine.	19	Experimental	—	Rust
52	breadrock1/doc-searcher There is documents searcher project based on Rust and Opensearch technologies.	17	Experimental	4	Rust
53	sile/dokosa A command-line semantic search tool that indexes and searches local Git...	17	Experimental	5	Rust
54	altaidevorg/letsearch A vector DB so easy, even your grandparents can build a RAG system 😁	17	Experimental	18	Rust
55	theGeekist/stars A local-first pipeline for auditing, scoring, and enriching GitHub Stars...	16	Experimental	1	TypeScript
56	jpbow/semantic-search-cli Vectorize and search documents, locally!	16	Experimental	1	Rust
57	smartscanapp/smartscan-android-client A library for SmartScan clients that simplifies the use of the AIDL services...	15	Experimental	—	Kotlin
58	smartscanapp/smartscan-server A server providing a local API for file indexing and semantic search across...	15	Experimental	—	Python
59	IS4Code/SFI Semantic File Inspector ‒ RDF-based metadata extraction and semantic search	15	Experimental	19	C#
60	darkgrey-curmudgeon671/github-star-organizer Organize your GitHub stars automatically by categorizing repos into custom...	14	Experimental	—	Python
61	mdhvg/semantic A document management and querying system that uses Semantic Search	14	Experimental	14	TypeScript
62	ThiagoAVicente/sfs Self hosted semantic file search	14	Experimental	3	—
63	Sarthakjain1206/Intelligent-Document-Finder A tool which can find your any document using semantic search	14	Experimental	9	Python
64	operandinc/examples A collection of example programs written using the Operand API.	14	Experimental	1	Go
65	Makki-me/semtools_parseout 📂 Simplify markdown file parsing with semtools using `parseout`, which...	14	Experimental	—	Shell
66	Minitour/semlocal Local semantic search for the command line. Store, search, and delete text...	14	Experimental	—	Rust
67	Ave-Sergeev/Disorder Save many text fragments as WAV files with blazing-fast semantic search. No...	14	Experimental	3	Rust
68	GauravvvGoyal/congress-bill-search 🔍 Search and discover Congressional bills efficiently with a powerful system...	14	Experimental	—	Python
69	ironnicko/semlimiter rate limiter for stateless services but using semantic search over rules.	14	Experimental	—	Go
70	Atattia/ferret Local semantic search for your files — find documents by meaning, not...	14	Experimental	—	Python
71	operandinc/typescript-sdk Typescript SDK for the Operand API	13	Experimental	6	TypeScript
72	Michael-JB/sloth-search A browser extension that provides AI-powered semantic search over web pages.	13	Experimental	8	TypeScript
73	artur-shlyapnikov/simgrep Semantic search CLI for local files. Quickly find text by meaning rather...	13	Experimental	2	Python
74	amirgamil/flora A 2D digital garden/virtual world to explore connections across your data...	12	Experimental	16	JavaScript
75	SCHEMATXT/SCHEMATXT SCHEMA.TXT official repo.	12	Experimental	1	—
76	JeronimoMendes/Luminus Luminus is a photography workspace that makes your entire library...	12	Experimental	1	TypeScript
77	Kloudy-Sky/openintel Embedded intelligence engine — hybrid BM25 × cosine similarity search with...	12	Experimental	1	Rust
78	droyed/mansh Linux manual search shell with natural language	12	Experimental	3	Python
79	yairzaf/SemantiCLI Semantic search in the command line	12	Experimental	3	Python
80	operandinc/go-sdk The Go SDK for the Operand API.	11	Experimental	2	Go
81	Finesssee/memory-search Hybrid BM25 + vector search CLI for personal knowledge bases. Cross-encoder...	11	Experimental	—	TypeScript
82	vakharwalad23/browser-vecsearch A lightweight, browser-based semantic search engine that runs entirely...	11	Experimental	—	HTML
83	Ornitorink0/notes-cli A CLI for managing notes with semantic search. NOT TESTED ON WINDOWS	11	Experimental	—	Rust
84	asasvirtuais/gitinbed A simple solution to combine Version Control with Embed Indexing. Creates,...	10	Experimental	1	TypeScript
85	xandwr/semsearch Simple semantic search that just works.	10	Experimental	1	Rust

Comparisons in this category

git-search and git-semantic-bun (38 vs 33)