{"slug": "show-hn-histiq-local-semantic-search-for-the-browser-history-and-pdfs", "title": "Show HN: Histiq – Local semantic search for the browser history and PDFs", "summary": "Histiq, a new AI browser history search extension for Chrome and Edge, indexes web pages and PDFs locally to enable semantic search, with a 14-day free trial starting at $4.17 per month. The extension runs entirely on-device, with no cloud, account, or tracking, and claims sub-50ms search latency across thousands of pages. It indexes full page content and PDF text layers, offering privacy controls and AES-256 encrypted backups.", "body_md": "[100% local · no cloud · no tracking · PDF search →](#how)\n\n#\nYou've read thousands of pages.\n\nNow you can ask them.\n\n**Histiq** is an **AI browser history search** extension for\n**Chrome and Edge** — it indexes the\n**web pages and PDFs** you read and lets you find them by meaning, not keywords.\n**100% local on your device. No cloud, no account, no tracking.**\n\n## Browser history is broken — and it costs you every day.\n\nYou already read it. You already spent the time. **Histiq makes sure that work never gets lost.**\n\n## Browser history search, finally done right.\n\n### Exact words, or just the meaning\n\nRemember the exact phrase? You get an instant match. Don't? Histiq searches by meaning instead — *\"article about startup fundraising from YC\"* finds it even when you can't recall the title, the URL, or the exact words on the page.\n\n### Fully local & private\n\nYour history never leaves your device. Embeddings and search run entirely in-browser — verified in DevTools.\n\n### Indexes the whole page\n\nHistiq silently indexes the full text of every page you visit — even collapsed FAQs, tabs, and \"read more\" sections most tools skip. No manual work, it just runs in the background.\n\n### Lightning-fast results\n\nSearch through thousands of pages in under 50ms. Local vector index, zero network round-trips.\n\n### Chrome & Edge\n\nWorks on both, from a single install. Your full reading history in one searchable place.\n\n### PDF text-layer indexing\n\nOpen any PDF in the browser — Histiq extracts and indexes its text layer automatically. Search research papers, contracts, and reports by meaning, not filename.\n\n### Privacy controls you actually own\n\nExclude domains, mask sensitive URLs, set retention windows. Everything stays on your device — auditable in DevTools anytime.\n\n## vs. the alternatives.\n\n| Histiq | Chrome history | Rewind.ai | Browser bookmarks | |\n|---|---|---|---|---|\n| Search by meaning | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |\n| Sub-50ms search latency | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ |\n| 100% local, no cloud | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ |\nIndexes page content, not just titles |\n✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |\n| Works across browsers | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |\n| Indexes PDF content | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |\n| Encrypted local backup / restore | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |\n| Records your screen 24/7 | — No | — No | Yes | — No |\n| Price | From $4.17/mo |\nFree | $19/mo | Free |\n\n## How browser history search works in 3 steps.\n\n### Install the extension\n\nOne click from the Chrome Web Store — also installs in Edge. No account needed.\n\n### Browse normally\n\nHistiq runs silently. Every page you visit is indexed locally on your device.\n\n### Search and ask\n\nClick the Histiq icon, or hit `Ctrl`+` Shift`+` H` anytime to search by meaning.\n\n## Your data never leaves your device.\n\nNot even for billing.\n\n- ✓ All embeddings and search run locally\n- ✓ History and PDF index stored in your browser's IndexedDB\n- ✓ No account, no login, no email required\n- ✓ Open to audit — extension code is inspectable\n- ✓ Export your full index as an AES-256 encrypted vault anytime\n- ✓ Payments via secure third-party processor — we never see your card\n\n\"The only browser history tool I trust — because it technically— HN user, Show HN threadcan'tsend my data anywhere.\"\n\n## Free for 14 days.\n\nStarts when you install.\n\nThe trial runs inside the extension — no signup, no card needed.\n\nUse Histiq fully for 14 days, then pick a plan if you want to keep it.\n\n- ✓ Unlimited semantic search\n- ✓ Unlimited indexed pages\n- ✓ Sub-50ms search latency\n- ✓ Chrome & Edge\n- ✓ Custom domain & URL filters\n- ✓ PDF text-layer indexing\n- ✓ 100% local · no cloud\n\n[Subscribe now](https://buy.polar.sh/polar_cl_qeG7qJYexBGYhAgOHNcMbGyMgBz79zIs3m2gq09ebVX)\n\n[Or start free 14-day trial](#install)\n\n- ✓ Everything in Monthly\n- ✓ Unlimited semantic search\n- ✓ Unlimited indexed pages\n- ✓ PDF text-layer indexing\n- ✓ Priority support\n- ✓ Save 40% vs monthly\n\n[Subscribe now](https://buy.polar.sh/polar_cl_6Gpu7I2pwYDKgz6qHgO4R5H2IGJxW9fp8fEG32BwOOM)\n\n[Or start free 14-day trial](#install)\n\nMost users save 40% with the annual plan.\n\n- ✓ Everything in Annual\n- ✓ PDF text-layer indexing\n- ✓\n**Lifetime updates** included - ✓ No recurring billing — ever\n- ✓ Transferable across browsers\n- ✓ Priority support\n\n[Get lifetime access](https://buy.polar.sh/polar_cl_3Olw1H03Kl2QijsqDsRYnji1xcVrh1B6WeUwS2zZPEn)\n\n[Or start free 14-day trial](#install)\n\nBest value for power users. 30-day money-back guarantee.\n\nAfter trial: history is **frozen, not deleted**. Pay to unfreeze instantly. Data preserved for 30 days.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-histiq-local-semantic-search-for-the-browser-history-and-pdfs", "canonical_source": "https://histiq.com/", "published_at": "2026-08-23 12:30:21+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-08-23 12:43:59.510624+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "ai-products", "ai-tools"], "entities": ["Histiq", "Chrome", "Edge", "Rewind.ai"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-histiq-local-semantic-search-for-the-browser-history-and-pdfs", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-histiq-local-semantic-search-for-the-browser-history-and-pdfs.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-histiq-local-semantic-search-for-the-browser-history-and-pdfs.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-histiq-local-semantic-search-for-the-browser-history-and-pdfs.jsonld"}}