Compare software

colorls vs pls: catalog facts
colorls	pls
Free Free and open source.	Free Free to download and use.
macOS, Linux, Command line	Command line
Colors and icons by file type Shows git status alongside files	Icons and rich formatting in listings Collapses related files to reduce clutter
Requires Ruby to be installed Icons need a patched Nerd Font in the terminal	Icons need a terminal font that supports them Output differs from standard ls, so scripts should keep using ls
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Closed source
License: MIT	License not stated
No account needed	No account needed
Works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.