Duplicate File Detective vs jdupes
Duplicate File Detective
duplicatedetective.comjdupes
jdupes.comSide by side
| Figure | Duplicate File Detective | jdupes |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 9 | 2 |
| Spec score · Duplicate File Finders | 7.9 (#12) | 8.1 (#8) |
| Founded | 2003 | 2015 |
| Purpose | Duplicate File Detective finds and helps safely remove duplicate files on Windows PCs, servers, and network storage. | jdupes identifies duplicate files and can delete them, create hard links or symlinks, and perform block-level deduplication. |
| Support | A paid license includes priority access to technical support. | The README directs bug reports and questions to Jody Bruchon by email. |
Plans
Duplicate File Detective
- Personal Edition license$30, paid once
- Single-User Pro license$60, paid once
- Single-User Pro license - 5 Pack$210, paid once
- Single-User Pro license - 10 Pack$360, paid once
- Single-Consultant Pro license$399, paid once
- Site-Wide Pro license$700, paid once
- Multi-Consultant Pro license$1,399, paid once
- Country-Wide Pro license$2,200, paid once
- Enterprise-Wide Pro licensePriced on request
In their own words
Duplicate File Detective
Duplicate File Detective has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
jdupes
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.