A simple, fast, and user-friendly alternative to the 'find' command for filesystem searches.
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Tracked since 2026
The Bottom Line
- Price
- Free, no paid tier. Compare plans
Key facts
- Fast and user-friendly alternative to the 'find' command.
- Uses intuitive syntax, regular expressions, and glob patterns.
- Ignores hidden files and .gitignore patterns by default for cleaner results.
Pros
- Significantly faster than 'find' due to parallelization
- More user-friendly and intuitive syntax
- Sensible defaults (ignores hidden files and .gitignore) reduce noise
- Colored output improves readability of search results
- Flexible search options including regex, glob, and extension filtering
Cons
- Does not aim to support all of 'find's powerful and complex functionality
- Requires command-line usage, not suitable for GUI-only users
What is Fd?
Fd is a command-line program designed to find entries in your filesystem. It serves as a modern, more intuitive, and faster alternative to the traditional 'find' utility. While it doesn't aim to replicate all of 'find's advanced functionalities, it provides sensible and opinionated defaults for common use cases, making it highly efficient for everyday searching.
This tool is ideal for developers, system administrators, and anyone who frequently uses the command line to locate files and directories. Its focus on speed, user-friendliness, and intelligent defaults (like ignoring hidden files and .gitignore patterns by default) significantly streamlines the search process, enhancing productivity for command-line users. It offers features like intuitive syntax, regular expression and glob-based patterns, parallelized directory traversal for speed, and colored output for better readability.
Available on: Linux, macOS, Windows
Data compiled by Toolradar Pricing checked · How we evaluate
Source github.com Preview
Key Features
- Intuitive syntax (e.g., `fd PATTERN` instead of `find -iname '*PATTERN*'`)
- Supports regular expression (default) and glob-based patterns
- Very fast due to parallelized directory traversal
- Uses colors to highlight different file types (similar to `ls`)
- Supports parallel command execution
- Smart case search (case-insensitive by default, case-sensitive if pattern contains uppercase)
- Ignores hidden directories and files by default
- Ignores patterns from .gitignore by default
Pricing Plans
Pricing checked Oct 29, 2026. Source: github.com/sharkdp/fd, read Oct 29, 2026
| Plan | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Open Source | Free |
+1 more Show less
|
Is Fd worth the price?
Great value
Fd's pricing is exceptionally fair and generous, as it is entirely free and open-source.
There are no dollar amounts to consider, making it an accessible tool for everyone. This model is best for developers, system administrators, and anyone needing a powerful 'find' alternative without budget constraints.
Fd by the numbers
| Metric | Fd | Peer median | Position (1 is best) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | 66% have one | n/a |
| Listed as an alternative to | 1 tool | 2 | #69 of 131 (joint) |
Listed as an alternative to: #66 on 2026-10-16 to #69 on 2026-10-31 (rank among 131 tools, 1 is best).
Each position is counted among the tools that have data for that row, as noted under it. All File Management data · How we compute this. Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position.
Cite this: Toolradar, “Fd by the numbers”, Oct 2026.
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Fd FAQ
How does Fd improve filesystem searches for developers?
Fd streamlines filesystem searches for developers by offering a faster, more intuitive command-line experience than traditional tools. It includes sensible defaults like ignoring hidden files and patterns from .gitignore, which reduces noise and focuses results on relevant project files. This enhances productivity for those who frequently locate files and directories via the command line.
How does Fd compare to 'bat' for command-line users?
Fd is a tool specifically designed for finding entries in a filesystem, offering a faster and more intuitive alternative to the 'find' command. In contrast, 'bat' is a 'cat' clone with syntax highlighting and Git integration, serving a different purpose of viewing file content rather than locating files.
What are the main trade-offs when choosing Fd for file management?
The main trade-off when choosing Fd is that it does not aim to support all of the powerful and complex functionalities found in the traditional 'find' utility. While it excels in common use cases with its speed and user-friendliness, users requiring highly specialized or intricate search operations might find some advanced features missing. Additionally, it is a command-line tool and not suitable for users who prefer a graphical interface.
Which teams would benefit most from using Fd?
Teams of developers, system administrators, and anyone who frequently uses the command line to locate files and directories would benefit most from Fd. Its focus on speed, user-friendliness, and intelligent defaults significantly streamlines the search process, enhancing productivity for command-line-centric workflows.
How is Fd priced?
Fd is free to use, requiring no paid plans or subscriptions. It is available as a complimentary tool for command-line users.
Can Fd use regular expressions for file searches?
Yes, Fd supports regular expressions for file searches, providing flexible pattern matching capabilities. It also offers glob-based patterns and extension filtering to help users precisely locate desired files and directories.
How does Fd achieve faster search results compared to traditional tools?
Fd achieves faster search results through parallelized directory traversal, which allows it to process multiple directories concurrently. This architectural approach, combined with its optimized design, makes it significantly quicker than traditional 'find' utilities for common search tasks.
Source: github.com