Dup Detector vs jdupes

Dup Detector is a free, open-source desktop application for finding duplicate files and reclaiming storage space. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Smart hashing compares file sizes first, then partial content, and performs full content hashing when needed. The maker says smart hashing can scan 10,000 or more files per second. Multithreaded scanning is supported, and the app describes its memory footprint as minimal. Dup Detector identifies duplicates but does not remove them automatically, so users decide which files to keep or delete. The maker says the code is fully open source and welcomes inspection and contributions. It states that the app has no analytics, telemetry, or data collection. The Free plan costs nothing, is available forever, and includes cross-platform use. GitHub issues and Discord provide support and feedback channels.

jdupes is a free utility for finding and handling exact duplicate files on Linux, macOS, and Windows. It identifies files that are fully identical rather than matching images, sounds, or other formats by similarity. Matching can use file size, hashes, and byte-for-byte comparison, with optional partial-hash matching. The project says it checks matching data after hashing to reduce the chance of false matches from hash collisions. Found duplicates can be reviewed before deletion, deleted without prompting, linked, summarized, or handled through copy-on-write deduplication. On Linux and Unix, the instructions use command-line directory paths; the project also provides a native Windows port, including support for Unicode. Docker use is documented, and standard output can feed shell scripts. A database can retain scan metadata for repeat runs, though the project labels that feature as under development and notes quirks. The README warns that quick matching skips byte-for-byte checks and can classify non-duplicates as duplicates. It also warns that disabling file-change checks creates a security vulnerability, especially when linking or deleting. jdupes is distributed under the MIT License.