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lnav vs Open Log Viewer: catalog facts
lnav	Open Log Viewer
Free Free and open source.	Free Free and open source under GPL-3.0-or-later.
macOS, Linux, Command line	Windows, macOS, Linux
Automatic detection of log formats and compressed files Merges several logs into one view	Opens multiple log files in tabs Follows changes to log files
Meant for small-scale use, not central log collection Terminal interface takes some learning	Desktop app built with Electron
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: BSD-2-Clause	License: GPL-3.0-or-later
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 8, 2026

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