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superfile vs duf: Which is Better in 2026?

Choosing between superfile and duf comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.

Bottom line: superfile wins this matchup. Our overall Terminal Tools pick is Visual Studio Code. Our free Terminal Tools pick is Visual Studio Code. Pick duf if you need terminal tools.

··Methodology
Editor reviewed0 verified reviews comparedPricing checked Sep 2026

Short on time? Here's the quick answer

We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:

superfile

Terminal file manager with a polished UI and powerful dev features

Best for you if:

  • You want combines a visually appealing interface with the speed of a terminal tool
  • You want highly customizable to adapt to any workflow

duf

A user-friendly disk usage/free utility for multiple operating systems.

Best for you if:

  • You want enhanced readability compared to 'df'
  • You want cross-platform compatibility (Linux, BSD, macOS, Windows)
At a Glance
superfilesuperfile
dufduf
Starts at
FreeFree tier available
FreeFree tier available
Best For
Developer ToolsTerminal Tools
Rating
--
Free plan
Yes Yes

Choose superfile or duf?

superfile

Choose superfile if

Terminal file manager with a polished UI and powerful dev features

  • You want combines a visually appealing interface with the speed of a terminal tool
  • You want highly customizable to adapt to any workflow
  • Your work is developer tools-shaped, not terminal tools-shaped
duf

Choose duf if

A user-friendly disk usage/free utility for multiple operating systems.

  • You want enhanced readability compared to 'df'
  • You want cross-platform compatibility (Linux, BSD, macOS, Windows)
  • Your work is terminal tools-shaped, not developer tools-shaped
Featuresuperfileduf
Pricing ModelFreeFree
User RatingNo ratings yetNo ratings yet
Categories
Developer ToolsTerminal Tools
Terminal ToolsFile Management

In-Depth Analysis

superfilesuperfile

Terminal file manager with a polished UI and powerful dev features

Starts at Free
Great value

superfile is free.

Watch out

GPL/MIT: you can use it commercially. You do not buy a seat.

Strengths

  • +Combines a visually appealing interface with the speed of a terminal tool
  • +Highly customizable to adapt to any workflow
  • +Open source with an active community and plugin ecosystem

Weaknesses

  • -Requires familiarity with terminal environments
  • -Limited to file management tasks without built-in text editing or other advanced features

Key features

Beautiful, obsessively crafted UI that lives entirely in the terminalComplete file operations: copy, move, delete, rename, fuzzy search, bulk operations, and image previewFully customizable hotkey remapping, themes, borders, and colorsMultiple panels for simultaneous directory browsing with cross-panel copy/pastePlugin support for community extensions like Git status and system monitoring20+ built-in themes including Catppuccin, Nord, Tokyo Night, Dracula, and Gruvbox

dufduf

A user-friendly disk usage/free utility for multiple operating systems.

Starts at Free
Great value

The pricing for duf is exceptionally fair and generous, as it is entirely free and open-source.

Strengths

  • +Enhanced readability compared to 'df'
  • +Cross-platform compatibility (Linux, BSD, macOS, Windows)
  • +Highly customizable output and filtering options
  • +JSON output for programmatic use
  • +Actively maintained and open-source

Weaknesses

  • -Requires Go environment for compiling from source
  • -Oh-my-zsh users might need to unalias 'duf'

Key features

User-friendly, colorful outputAdjusts to terminal's theme & widthSort results by various criteria (mountpoint, size, usage, etc.)Group and filter devicesOutput data in JSON formatShow/hide specific tables (local, network, fuse, special, loops, binds)

Pricing: superfile vs duf

Plansuperfileduf
Tier 1
Free
superfile
Free
Open Source

Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on superfile pricing and duf pricing.

Who Should Use What?

On a budget?

Both are free. Compare plans on their websites.

Go with: superfile

Want the highest-rated option?

Neither has ratings yet.

Too early to call on ratings — compare on features and pricing.

Value user reviews?

Neither has ratings yet.

Too early to call — neither has ratings yet.

3 Questions to Help You Decide

1

What's your budget?

Both are free. Pricing won't help you decide here.

2

What's your use case?

superfile is a developer tools tool. duf is in terminal tools. Pick the category that matches your needs.

3

How important are ratings?

Neither has ratings yet.

Key Takeaways

superfile

  • Completely free
  • Our pick for this comparison

duf

  • Better fit for terminal tools

The Bottom Line

superfile wins this matchup. Our overall Terminal Tools pick is Visual Studio Code. Our free Terminal Tools pick is Visual Studio Code.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is superfile or duf better?

superfile is rated in our evaluation. Both are free.

What are superfile and duf used for?

superfile: Terminal file manager with a polished UI and powerful dev features. duf: A user-friendly disk usage/free utility for multiple operating systems..

What does superfile cost vs duf?

superfile is completely free. duf is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.

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