Compare software

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

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