Compare software

fzf vs zf: catalog facts
fzf	zf
Best for: Picking one thing out of a list of thousands without scrolling	Best for: Picking files by path from the terminal with accurate matching
Free Free and open source under the MIT licence.	Free Free to use; the source is published on GitHub.
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Command line	Command line
Filters any list at all, because it just reads standard input Shell integration gives instant fuzzy command history and file search All 4 strengths for fzf Filters any list at all, because it just reads standard input Shell integration gives instant fuzzy command history and file search Preview windows and key bindings turn scripts into real interfaces Single binary, with Vim and Neovim plugins included	Ranking tuned for file names and paths Also usable as a general fuzzy finder All 3 strengths for zf Ranking tuned for file names and paths Also usable as a general fuzzy finder Shell completion files included
Command line only, and its real power needs shell scripting Fuzzy matching sometimes surfaces a surprising first result All 4 limitations for fzf Command line only, and its real power needs shell scripting Fuzzy matching sometimes surfaces a surprising first result Key binding setup differs per shell The manual is long because the option set is large	Smaller ecosystem of integrations than fzf Fewer interface options than larger finders
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: MIT	License not stated
No account needed	No account needed
Offline features available	Offline features available
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for fzf junegunn.github.io/fzf github.com/junegunn/fzf Catalog checked September 21, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for zf github.com/natecraddock/zf Catalog checked October 1, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.