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jdupes
What it is
jdupes is a free command-line utility for finding and handling exact duplicate files on Linux, macOS, and Windows. It matches files that are 100% identical rather than searching for similar images, sounds, or other formats. Matching can use file size, hashes, and byte-for-byte comparison, with optional partial-hash matching; the project says it verifies matching data after hashing to reduce false matches from hash collisions. Available actions include prompting before deletion, deleting without a prompt, linking duplicates, summarizing results, and copy-on-write deduplication. Linux and Unix instructions use one or more directory paths, and the project provides a native Windows port with support for Windows-specific behavior, including Unicode. Docker use is documented, and standard output can be piped to shell scripts to process match sets. A hash database can retain paths, hashes, and other metadata for repeat runs, but the project marks this feature as under development and notes quirks. The software is distributed under the MIT License. The README warns that quick matching skips byte-by-byte verification and can treat non-duplicates as duplicates.
For and against
For
- Offers deletion, linking, summaries, and deduplication
- Provides a native Windows port with Unicode support
- Can pipe results to shell scripts
- Free and distributed under the MIT License
Against
- Does not find similar images, sounds, or other files
- Quick matching skips byte-by-byte verification
- Repeat-scan hash database is under development
- No file preview, Trash support, or folder exclusions
The verdict
jdupes provides multiple ways to handle exact duplicate files across supported platforms. Its quick mode can misclassify matches, so the byte-by-byte verification limitation matters when choosing a scan method.
Who it suits
jdupes suits people who want to identify exact duplicate files from the command line across Linux, macOS, or Windows. It can also suit users who want to automate follow-up processing through shell scripts.
Plans and prices
Free
command-line duplicate scanning · delete/link/dedupe actions
Read 15 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net
jdupes
MIT-licensed software · exact duplicate matching
Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- AlternativeTo listing
- AlternativeTo categorizes jdupes as a free, open-source duplicate-file finder and says binary releases are available for Windows and Mac OS X.alternativeto.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Btrfs deduplication
- The dedupe action can invoke filesystem-level block sharing through supported CoW or reflink filesystems.manpages.debian.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Container use
- The README provides a Docker command example for scanning a mounted directory.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Data safety
- The project says it verifies matching file data after hashing to reduce the risk of false matches from hash collisions.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Debian versions
- Debian Sources lists maintained packages from 1.6 through 1.31.1-1 across current and older releases.sources.debian.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Distribution availability
- Ubuntu Questing lists jdupes 1.28.0-1 in its Universe repository.packages.ubuntu.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- The Debian manpage documents command syntax, actions, filters, linking, dedupe behavior, bug reporting, author, and license.manpages.debian.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Exact matches
- jdupes matches files that are 100% identical and does not provide similarity matching for images, sounds, or other file formats.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Exact matching
- The program identifies duplicates through file size, partial and full hashes, then byte-for-byte comparison.manpages.debian.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- File actions
- Available actions include prompting to delete duplicates, deleting without prompting, linking duplicates, summarizing results, and copy-on-write deduplication.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Filtering
- Options can exclude hidden files, restrict filesystem boundaries, filter by size, and apply exclusion specifications.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Full verification
- Hash matches are verified against complete file contents before a duplicate is declared.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Hard links
- jdupes can replace duplicate files with hard links to one retained file.manpages.debian.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The README documents Docker usage and says standard output can be piped to shell scripts for processing match sets.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- JSON output
- The command includes a JSON mode intended for machine-readable output.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- License
- The software is released under the MIT License.manpages.debian.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: compatibility
- The README warns that jdupes is not a drop-in replacement for fdupes because option meanings differ.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: destructive options
- The documentation warns that quick-hash and partial-only modes can produce false matches and cause data loss when combined with destructive actions.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
