Zerch: Search Widget & App

HiRise Cellworks

In-app purchases

About this app

Zerch is a customizable search app and search widget for Android. Find apps, files and contacts, search the web, and open everyday shortcuts from one place.

Use Zerch as a standalone search app or add a home screen widget. Choose a search engine, pin frequently used apps, and customize the layout and appearance to suit your setup.

SEARCH YOUR PHONE

• Open installed apps and shortcuts by name.
• Find PDFs, documents, images, videos, audio and downloads. Browse folders and choose which apps open files and folders.
• Find a contact to call, text, email or view their details.
• Jump to Android settings such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, battery, storage and accessibility.

SEARCH THE WEB AND OTHER APPS

Send queries to Google, YouTube, Maps, Play Store, Reddit, Spotify, Amazon, TikTok, Waze and more, or to AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity.

Open web results in Zerch, a browser, or the search provider's app when available.

CHOOSE A SEARCH ENGINE

Choose from 13 search providers: Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo Japan, Baidu, Yandex Russia, Yandex Global, Startpage, Brave Search, Swisscows, MetaGer, Mojeek, Qwant and Ecosia.

PRIVATE SEARCH

Choose privacy-focused search engines such as DuckDuckGo, Brave Search or Startpage. Use private search mode to keep queries out of Zerch's search history. Zerch does not use analytics or track your searches.

BUILD A USEFUL HOME SCREEN

Add a launcher row with favorite apps and folders above the search bar. Set up widget buttons for voice search, Google Lens, Translate, Discover, AI assistants, weather search, private search and media controls.

Create shortcuts for custom apps, URLs, saved queries and search providers. Add Android launcher shortcuts for Search, Add Widget, Appearance and Widget Settings.

CUSTOMIZE THE WIDGET AND SEARCH SCREEN

• Resize from a compact 1x1 widget to wider, two-row layouts.
• Choose Basic, Glass, Flat or Lumen widget styles.
• Adjust colors, gradients, transparency and button layouts.
• Use wallpaper-aware button colors to match the home screen.
• Use light, dark, system or custom themes, with HSL color controls.
• Set an image or wallpaper background for the search screen, with blur and entry animations.
• Enable optional app suggestions and a search history bar.

CONTROL MEDIA FROM THE HOME SCREEN

Play, pause and skip tracks, view track information, and switch media apps using the widget's media controls.

MORE WAYS TO SEARCH

Use voice search from the widget or search screen, or set Zerch as the default assistant where supported.

Search selected text or send text to Zerch from another app's Share menu. Narrow a search to files, contacts or settings with custom prefixes, or include selected categories without typing a prefix.

FREE AND PRO

Start with five search providers and up to 3 widget buttons for free. Zerch Pro is a one-time purchase that unlocks all 13 search providers, up to 10 widget buttons, custom color and icon themes, and search screen background adjustments.

Zerch works on Android phones and tablets and supports multiple languages. Requires Android 12 or later.

Ratings and reviews

I got this for the google search-like feature where your searches open in a temporary tab that won't clog your main browser and it works great. The only problem I have is the back button closes the entire thing, which is really inconvenient when I open like images and such.

A really good app for improving my productivity, but it would be nice I'm a future update to be able to have the app's actual icons to be displayed instead of the generic presents which can be confusing, and/or have the app's name displayed.

EDIT: "Close Search Input" toggle has been added. App is perfected. Five stars! Excellent app but it needs an option to auto close after a search. Devs need to understand that more options always makes an app a better app for all users.

What’s new

What’s new in 2.2.5:
• Open Zerch Search with one tap from a persistent notification.
• Adjust Lumen widget button icon size with a new slider.
• Launch media apps from the player’s source menu, with recently used apps listed first.