Enterprise search software helps teams find internal data fast using AI, NLP, and unified indexing. Compare the 13 best enterprise search tools in 2025.
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Enterprise search software helps organizations find information buried in documents, databases, emails, and internal apps. Unlike web search, these tools index structured and unstructured data behind the firewall to support use cases like customer support, compliance, and knowledge management.
AI-powered platforms now use natural language and machine learning to return more accurate, context-aware results. Employees spend 45% of their time on internal communication and information search. Better enterprise search solutions mean faster decisions and fewer bottlenecks.
Key Features to Look for in Enterprise Search Software
Enterprise search software should help people find the right information quickly, even across disconnected systems. The best tools connect multiple data sources, understand natural queries, and return results relevant to each user’s role.
Here’s what to prioritize based on how modern search systems evolve from foundational features to AI-powered intelligence.
Foundational Search
Start with systems that eliminate data silos and centralize access to your documents and apps.
Unified search interface: A single search bar should surface both structured and unstructured data from internal systems, like files, wikis, databases, and collaboration tools.
Basic enhancements: Look for features like synonym recognition, type-ahead suggestions, and “Did you mean?” prompts to reduce dead ends and improve findability.
Search indexing: Foundational platforms should reliably crawl and index your core business systems to make content discoverable, searchable, and up-to-date.
Built-in analytics: Even at the basic level, enterprise search platforms should track queries and user behavior to uncover content gaps and refine relevance over time.
These capabilities are crucial for companies just getting started with enterprise search, particularly if cost-effectiveness and rapid deployment are key priorities.
Intelligent Search (AI-Driven and Personalized)
Advanced tools go further by understanding context, intent, and user preferences, transforming search from a simple lookup tool into a business productivity engine.
Natural Language Processing (NLP): Allows users to search conversationally, e.g., “Show me approved claims from last month,” instead of relying on exact keyword matches.
Semantic search: Identifies the relationships between terms (e.g., connecting “quarterly earnings” to “financial reports” and “revenue trends”) to improve context-aware accuracy.
Machine Learning (ML) optimization: Continuously adapts to user actions and feedback to improve ranking and query suggestions over time.
Personalization: The best tools tailor results based on user roles, historical actions, and preferences — a sales rep sees different results than someone in legal.
Integration with business tools: Look for platforms that seamlessly integrate with enterprise systems like CRMs, cloud storage, and analytics platforms — without heavy IT involvement.
Secure access and governance: Search must support user permissions, access controls, and privacy management, especially for sensitive or regulated data.
Forward-Looking Capabilities
For long-term value, look for platforms that are evolving fast, particularly with AI features that go beyond basic NLP.
Knowledge graphs: These map relationships across content, helping users uncover related documents, teams, or insights.
Predictive & multimodal search: Cutting-edge platforms use behavior-based signals and support images, voice, or structured inputs to deliver better results.
Workflow automation: Search should do more than locate documents — it should help trigger tasks, populate templates, or summarize information.
Multilingual support: For global organizations, tools should support queries and content in multiple languages, without losing accuracy or context.
Finally, don’t overlook usability and post-sale support. The ideal enterprise search software should offer an intuitive interface for end users, flexible configuration options for admins, and responsive onboarding and support to guide you through implementation.
By evaluating these core and advanced features, you can choose a platform that delivers immediate impact while staying flexible enough to meet future needs.
13 Best Enterprise Search Software in 2025
We have compiled a list of 13 enterprise search software based on their use cases, strengths and weaknesses, and other relevant information.
1. AgentFlow Search
Best for: Enterprises in regulated industries like finance and insurance requiring secure, highly accurate search solutions.
AgentFlow Search, integrated within the AgentFlow platform, combines Database AI and Conversational AI to deliver precise, contextual enterprise search results. Its standout feature is multi-agent orchestration, enhancing search accuracy through AI-powered semantic understanding and real-time data retrieval.
Key Features
Semantic and vector search capabilities
Seamless API integration with existing enterprise systems
Real-time monitoring and explainable confidence scoring
SOC2 Type II compliance for stringent security
Strengths:
Robust compliance and security
Excellent integration capabilities
High scalability across workflows
Weaknesses:
Requires onboarding for optimal customization
Pricing: Enterprise (quote-based).
AgentFlow is ideal for enterprises that prioritize compliance and deep integration capabilities.
2. Onyx
Best for: Knowledge-intensive teams needing AI-enhanced information retrieval.
Onyx leverages advanced semantic search and NLP to understand complex user queries, ensuring highly personalized search results across structured and unstructured content.
Key Features
Semantic search and NLP-based query understanding
User behavior analytics
Unified data indexing
Strengths:
Highly intuitive user interface
Exceptional natural language query handling
Weaknesses:
Limited public documentation
Potential data integration complexities
Pricing: Freecommunity plan. Onyx Cloud is $16 per user/month and Enterprise (quote-based).
Onyx suits organizations looking for advanced semantic capabilities with a user-friendly interface.
3. Credal
Best for: Companies requiring precise information retrieval from complex data sets.
Credal stands out for its robust vector search and federated search capabilities, offering quick and highly relevant search experiences across multiple data sources.
Key Features
Vector and semantic search
Federated search across diverse systems
Advanced AI-driven relevance tuning
Strengths:
Exceptional accuracy and relevance
Strong capabilities in handling diverse data formats
Weaknesses:
Steeper learning curve
Complex initial setup
Pricing: Enterprise (quote-based).
Ideal for data-rich enterprises prioritizing accuracy and comprehensive data indexing.
4. Read AI
Best for: Teams looking to enhance knowledge sharing and reduce meeting overload.
Read AI specializes in capturing insights from meetings and internal documentation, turning spoken conversations into searchable knowledge.
Key Features
Automated meeting transcription and indexing
Natural language processing
Contextual search insights
Strengths:
Unique meeting-focused features
Strong user adoption due to simplicity
Weaknesses:
Limited broader enterprise search capabilities
Dependency on meeting frequency and documentation quality
Pricing: Free plan for up to 5 meetings/month. Pro is $15/month (annual plan) and Enterprise is $22.50/month (annual plan).
Best suited for collaborative environments with extensive meeting data.
5. Perplexity
Best for: Teams needing fast, AI-powered responses from both web content and internal documents.
Perplexity leverages advanced artificial intelligence and natural language processing to provide precise, real-time answers. Its standout capability is combining internal enterprise knowledge with external web search to deliver accurate, contextual responses quickly.
Key Features
AI-driven semantic search
Cross-platform search across internal and external data sources
User query analysis for personalized results
Real-time knowledge discovery
Strengths:
Fast and highly accurate answers
Easy-to-use interface that provides citations
Strong NLP and semantic understanding
Weaknesses:
Occasional inaccuracies with niche topics
Limited customization options
Some features (like exporting data, and advanced workflows) could be improved
Pricing: Free tier available. Pro is $20/month or $200/year. Enterprise Pro is $40/month or $400/year.
Companies use Perplexity primarily for rapid information discovery in customer support, sales enablement, and internal knowledge sharing. It is ideal for agile teams requiring quick, integrated internal and external searches.
6. PrivateFindr
Best for: Enterprises prioritizing data privacy and confidentiality in their internal searches.
PrivateFindr focuses on secure, privacy-first enterprise search. Created specifically for industries with strict data governance requirements, it combines advanced search capabilities with top-tier security.
Key Features
Advanced security and privacy measures
Unified indexing of internal documents
Compliance-friendly audit trails
Real-time data encryption
Strengths:
Exceptional security and data privacy
User-friendly search interface
Strong compliance capabilities
Weaknesses:
Limited third-party integrations
Higher pricing compared to competitors
Typical use cases include healthcare providers, financial services firms, and law firms needing secure internal searches without sacrificing speed or usability.
Pricing: Enterprise (quote-based).
Best suited for highly regulated industries with strict privacy needs.
7. Elastic
Best for: Organizations needing customizable, large-scale data search capabilities.
Elastic (Elasticsearch) is an open-source enterprise search platform known for its powerful scalability and robust indexing. It uniquely supports complex search scenarios and large data volumes.
Key Features
Massive scalability and performance
Real-time search analytics and monitoring
Advanced query customization
Strong community support and resources
Strengths:
Exceptional speed and performance at scale
High degree of customization and flexibility
Extensive integrations and APIs
Weaknesses:
Steeper learning curve for non-developers
Requires technical resources for full implementation
Resource-intensive; requires significant hardware for large deployments
UI and onboarding can be confusing for new users
Elastic is commonly used for log analytics, security threat hunting, internal knowledge management, and real-time monitoring.
Pricing: Standard plan is $95/month, Gold is $109/month, Platinum is $125/month, and Enterprise $175/month.
Ideal for tech-savvy companies handling extensive, diverse data sets.
8. Guru
Best for: Companies enhancing internal knowledge management and employee self-service.
Guru combines enterprise search with internal knowledge management tools to centralize organizational knowledge. Its strength lies in easily accessible, structured, and unstructured content.
Key Features
AI-powered content recommendations
Unified, centralized knowledge repository
Seamless integration with Slack, Chrome, and other tools
Highly rated for information organization and search within organizations
Strengths:
Simple, intuitive UX/UI
Strong knowledge management capabilities
Quick onboarding and adoption
Weaknesses:
Limited external data integration
Advanced search customization can be challenging
Occasional UI quirks (e.g., lack of dark mode, update notifications)
Businesses use Guru to empower customer support teams, sales enablement, and internal knowledge-sharing.
Pricing: All-in-One plan is $15 per user/month (annual) or $18 (monthly). Enterprise is quote-based.
Ideal for businesses seeking effective internal knowledge management with user-friendly search.
9. Glean
Best for: Large-scale integrations across the enterprise.
Glean delivers context-aware, personalized results across enterprise apps. Its standout feature is seamless, cross-platform search.
Key Features
Unified cross-platform indexing
AI-driven personalized search results
Robust security and privacy controls
Comprehensive search analytics
Strengths:
Excellent integration with workplace tools
Strong AI personalization
Great user experience and ease of adoption
Weaknesses:
Search functionality and inadequate filtering
Occasional indexing delays reported by users
Commonly used by hybrid and remote-first teams to quickly surface internal knowledge and documents across multiple platforms.
Pricing: Enterprise (quote-based).
Great fit for companies using diverse collaboration tools needing centralized search.
10. Lucidworks
Best for: Enterprises seeking advanced AI-driven search with extensive integration options.
Lucidworks offers powerful AI-driven enterprise search with strong semantic understanding and highly customizable indexing capabilities, tailored for enterprise-grade scalability.
Key Features
AI-driven personalization and semantic search
Distributed search across structured and unstructured content
Advanced analytics on user behavior
Extensive integration ecosystem
Strengths:
Powerful customization capabilities
Excellent semantic search and machine learning
Robust data security and compliance
Weaknesses:
High complexity during the initial implementation
Costly compared to simpler solutions
Full utilization demands significant learning
Use cases include e-commerce site search, customer support, internal knowledge bases, and comprehensive enterprise content management.
Pricing: Enterprise (quote-based).
Perfect for larger enterprises needing deep customization and extensive integrations.
11. Coveo
Best for: Businesses prioritizing highly personalized search experiences using machine learning.
Coveo combines AI and machine learning to deliver personalized, contextually relevant search experiences. Its strength lies in anticipating user queries based on historical behavior.
Key Features
AI-powered personalization and relevance
User behavior analytics for predictive insights
Unified indexing across multiple content sources
Comprehensive APIs and integrations
Strengths:
Excellent AI-driven personalization
Rich analytics and insights
Strong enterprise-level scalability
Weaknesses:
Higher learning curve initially
Occasional search result relevancy challenges, especially on complex queries
Commonly deployed for customer service portals, internal intranet searches, and e-commerce platforms.
Pricing: Pro and Enterprise (quote-based).
Ideal for companies wanting AI-driven personalization at scale.
12. Akooda
Best for: Organizations focused on knowledge discovery and contextual search insights.
Akooda is a contextual enterprise search platform that indexes internal communications, documents, and collaboration tools, enabling users to uncover hidden insights quickly.
Key Features
Contextual and semantic search
Knowledge discovery and content recommendations
Robust integration with communication tools
User-driven query refinement
Strengths:
Intuitive, user-friendly interface
Strong contextual relevance
High adoption due to simplicity
Weaknesses:
Limited advanced configuration options
Occasional inadequate filtering
Typically used by innovative organizations looking to leverage internal knowledge effectively, especially in research and collaboration-heavy environments.
Pricing: Pro is $12 per user/month, and Enterprise (quote-based).
Great for knowledge-driven organizations needing intuitive, context-rich search experiences.
13. Qatalog
Best for: Remote-first teams aiming for seamless internal search across structured and unstructured information.
Qatalog integrates powerful enterprise search with collaborative knowledge management designed specifically for remote-first environments. It stands out by simplifying access to diverse internal resources.
Key Features
Unified search across multiple remote work tools
Robust knowledge management features
AI-enhanced content discovery
Real-time indexing of documents and workflows
Strengths:
Strong integration with productivity tools
Excellent remote collaboration support
Weaknesses:
Missing and limited features
Difficult navigation
Used primarily by distributed teams to improve internal communications, streamline onboarding, and centralize organizational knowledge.
Pricing: Pro $15 per user/month, and Enterprise (quote-based).
Ideal for remote-first organizations needing efficient, centralized internal search and collaboration tools.
They’re built for general use across many industries but often lack the deep customization, semantic precision, and AI-driven insights needed for complex business environments. Integration with non-native systems is limited, and features like compliance tracking or workflow-specific tuning are minimal.
This is where vertical solutions like ours stand out — purpose-built for industries like finance and insurance, with the depth to handle specialized workflows securely and at scale.
How to Choose Enterprise Search Software
Selecting the right enterprise search software requires careful consideration of your organization's goals, infrastructure, and future growth. Here’s what to look for when evaluating enterprise search solutions:
1. Define Clear Objectives
Identify your main use cases — whether it's regulatory compliance, internal knowledge sharing, customer support, or reducing time-to-answer across departments.
2. Evaluate AI and NLP Capabilities
Tools should support semantic search, context recognition, typo tolerance, and intent-based query handling. Features like real-time relevance tuning and personalized ranking help surface better results.
3. Integration
Ensure the platform connects easily with your current systems, including CRMs, ERPs, data warehouses, content management platforms, and cloud storage. Look for robust APIs and support for federated search across multiple tools.
4. Security and Compliance
Critical for industries like finance, healthcare, and legal. Choose software with end-to-end encryption, role-based access controls, and certifications such as SOC2, GDPR, and HIPAA. Audit trails and data anonymization may also be required.
5. Scalability and Adaptability
Your platform should grow with your data and user base. Cloud-native options with auto-scaling and distributed indexing are ideal for fast-scaling environments, while hybrid and on-premises deployments offer more control for highly regulated industries.
6. Vertical vs. Horizontal Fit
Some enterprise search tools are general-purpose; others are built specifically for insurance, banking, or healthcare industries. Choosing a vertical solution often means faster setup, fewer customizations, and stronger out-of-the-box compliance.
7. Ease of Use (UI+UX)
Platforms should be intuitive enough for non-technical teams while offering advanced configuration for power users. Look for customizable dashboards and low-code workflows.
8. Cost Effectiveness
Go beyond the sticker price. Consider licensing models (per-user, per-query, per-data volume), and hidden costs like API limits, implementation services, and required infrastructure. Balance cost with long-term value.
The right enterprise search platform aligns with your business needs today — and scales to support growth, security, and smarter decision-making in the future.
See AgentFlow’s Search AI Agents in Action
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