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lshw vs Hardware Probe: catalog facts
lshwHardware Probe
Free

Free and open source.

Free

Free and open source.

Linux, Command line Linux, Command line
  • Detailed listing of hardware components from one command
  • Lightweight and scriptable
  • Checks operability of each detected device
  • Links results to a large hardware compatibility database
  • Linux only
  • Some details require running as root
  • Mainly a command-line tool
  • Most useful when probe data is shared with the online database
Downloadable app Downloadable app
Open source Open source
License: GPL-2.0 License: BSD-2-Clause
No account needed Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline Not stated if it works offline

Checked October 2, 2026

Checked October 1, 2026

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