Compare software

hl vs lnav: catalog facts
hl	lnav
Free Free and open source under the MIT licence.	Free Free and open source.
Windows, Command line	macOS, Linux, Command line
Makes JSON and logfmt logs readable Built in Rust with a focus on speed	Automatic detection of log formats and compressed files Merges several logs into one view
Only useful for structured log formats Command-line only, no graphical interface	Meant for small-scale use, not central log collection Terminal interface takes some learning
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: MIT	License: BSD-2-Clause
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 September 23, 2026

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