Compare software

zf vs fzy: catalog facts
zf	fzy
Best for: Picking files by path from the terminal with accurate matching	Best for: Terminal users who want a lightweight fuzzy picker for scripts and editor plugins
Free Free to use; the source is published on GitHub.	Free Free and open source.
Command line	macOS, Linux, Command line
Ranking tuned for file names and paths Also usable as a general fuzzy finder All 3 strengths for zf Ranking tuned for file names and paths Also usable as a general fuzzy finder Shell completion files included	Match ranking designed to surface the intended result first Small, simple C program that works well in pipelines All 3 strengths for fzy Match ranking designed to surface the intended result first Small, simple C program that works well in pipelines Scoring algorithm is documented in the repository
Smaller ecosystem of integrations than fzf Fewer interface options than larger finders	Fewer built-in features than fzf, such as previews Releases are infrequent
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License: MIT
No account needed	No account needed
Offline features available	Offline features available
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for zf github.com/natecraddock/zf Catalog checked October 1, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for fzy github.com/jhawthorn/fzy Catalog checked September 23, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.