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Hardware Probe vs lshw: catalog facts
Hardware Probe	lshw
Free Free and open source.	Free Free and open source.
Linux, Command line	Linux, Command line
Checks operability of each detected device Links results to a large hardware compatibility database	Detailed listing of hardware components from one command Lightweight and scriptable
Mainly a command-line tool Most useful when probe data is shared with the online database	Linux only Some details require running as root
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: BSD-2-Clause	License: GPL-2.0
Not stated if an account is needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026

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