Best exa alternatives in 2026
8 direct alternatives to exa, compared on pricing, features, and best-for use cases. Pick the right replacement without the marketing fluff.
LCCurated by Louis Corneloup · UpdatedWhy people consider alternatives to exa
exa is a modern replacement for the ls command, written in Rust. Color-coded output makes file types instantly visible. Git integration shows file status at a glance. Tree view displays directory structure beautifully. Teams most often switch away when one of these starts to bite:
- •Pricing at scale (rare for this tool, but feature limits push teams out)
- •Missing integrations with the rest of your stack.
- •Performance or scale limits as your needs grow.
- •A specific feature gap you have hit in terminal tools.
The 8 alternatives below cover the same core job (terminal tools) with different trade-offs. Ranked by real-signal score: G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editor review. No paid placement.
8 alternatives to exa
Ranked by real-signal composite (rankingScore + community + reviews) and direct relevance to exa.
- 1
Oh My Zsh
FreeA delightful, open source, community-driven framework for managing your Zsh configuration.
Direct alternative5.0(10)Compare exa vs Oh My Zsh → - 2
Starship
FreeThe minimal, blazing-fast, and infinitely customizable prompt for any shell!
Direct alternative3.4(13)Compare exa vs Starship → - 3
Fig (Amazon Q)
FreemiumAI-powered terminal autocomplete
Direct alternativeCompare exa vs Fig (Amazon Q) → - 4
Google Drive
FreemiumBattle-tested at scaleCloud storage and collaboration with 15GB free
Direct alternative4.8(28,494)Compare exa vs Google Drive → - 5
Azure
PaidBattle-tested at scaleMicrosoft's cloud, essential for enterprises running Windows
Direct alternative4.4(97,447)Compare exa vs Azure → - 6
Dropbox
FreemiumBattle-tested at scaleCloud storage and collaboration
Direct alternative4.4(52,649)Compare exa vs Dropbox → - 7
iLovePDF
FreemiumBattle-tested at scaleEvery tool you need to work with PDFs in one place, 100% FREE and easy to use.
Direct alternative4.9(11,281)Compare exa vs iLovePDF → - 8
Mailchimp Transactional
FreemiumBattle-tested at scaleSend targeted and event-driven emails and SMS messages with best-in-class deliverability.
Direct alternative4.4(30,300)Compare exa vs Mailchimp Transactional →
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to exa?
Based on real-signal scoring (G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editorial review), the top alternatives to exa are Oh My Zsh, Starship, Fig (Amazon Q). Each solves the same core job with different trade-offs on pricing, features, and integrations.
Is there a free alternative to exa?
Yes. Oh My Zsh is one of the free alternatives to exa listed here (A delightful, open source, community-driven framework for managing your Zsh configuration). Other free options are flagged in the list below.
Why do people look for exa alternatives?
Common reasons teams switch away from exa: pricing that scales aggressively, missing integrations with the rest of their stack, performance or scale limits, or a specific feature gap in terminal tools. The alternatives on this page solve the same core problem with different trade-offs.
Side-by-side comparisons
In-depth comparison pages for exa versus each alternative.
Still considering exa?
See the full review, pricing breakdown, and community feedback before you decide.