Free and open first
Best Cli Tools in 2026
The collection spans command-line tools for macOS, Linux, Windows, self-hosted environments, web services and APIs. Use it to find terminal software that fits your work and setup.
- 32 apps
- Research read 7 Oct 2026
- How the order is worked out
- 1
HTTPie
Free plan Open source LinuxMacWeb+1HTTPie offers command-line API testing alongside a graphical app for desktop and web. The CLI plan is open-source, while the Desktop and Web plan is in public beta; both are listed as free.
- 2
restic
Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+2restic offers free file backup with a range of storage options and integrity checks. Keep repository passwords safe, since losing one prevents access to the stored data.
- 3
aria2
Free plan AndroidAPILinux+3aria2 combines broad protocol support with multi-source downloading and remote controls. Its command-line format and no-warranty status are worth considering before choosing it.
- 4
FFmpeg
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1FFmpeg provides broad media conversion and streaming capabilities across desktop platforms, with hardware acceleration options.
- 5
GitHub CodeQL
Free plan ExtensionLinuxMac+3 - 6
btop
Free plan LinuxMacbtop combines resource monitoring with process controls, graphs, themes and presets in a terminal interface.
- 7
jq
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2jq provides a flexible filter model for selecting and transforming JSON, with options for output formatting and large inputs.
- 8
gs-batch-pdf
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsChoose gs-batch-pdf if you want a free command-line utility for parallel PDF batches, with recursive processing and flexible file handling.
- 9
Helm
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsHelm organizes Kubernetes application resources into reusable charts, with support for dependencies, environment-specific values, upgrades, and rollbacks.
- 10
Homebrew
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsHomebrew offers package installation across macOS, Linux, and WSL, with formulae, casks, and Brewfile-based setup. Its lack of lockfiles and limits on supported systems are worth considering.
- 11
Kubernetes
Free plan APILinuxMac+2Kubernetes provides a broad system for coordinating container deployment, scaling, networking, and storage. Teams should account for application-level services outside its built-in scope.
- 12
- 13
fdupes
Free plan LinuxChoose fdupes if you want a free Linux command-line utility with configurable duplicate matching and interactive deletion. Review its symlink and repeated-directory warning before using deletion.
- 14
K9s
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsK9s provides monitoring, cluster actions, and customizable views in a terminal interface. Check Kubernetes version and RBAC compatibility before using it.
- 15
OpenTofu
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1OpenTofu combines configuration-based infrastructure management with state tracking, reusable modules, and broad provider support. Its OCI provider installation remains secondary, rather than primary.
- 16
Pulumi
Free plan APILinuxMac+3Pulumi brings infrastructure definitions, deployment integrations, and secrets management into one platform. Its free plan has user and workflow-minute limits; listed paid plans start at $40 a month.
- 17
rclone
Free plan AndroidAPILinux+4Rclone offers broad storage support and flexible file operations, but it is a command-line program rather than a finished graphical tool.
- 18
- 19
lazygit
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsChoose lazygit if you want a free terminal interface for staging selected changes and handling Git history across Linux, macOS, or Windows.
- 20
Supabase
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+4Supabase brings a Postgres database and several backend services together, with client libraries and self-hosting documentation.
- 21
- 22
AWS Command Line Interface
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 23
Azure CLI
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 24
Docker CLI
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 25
fzf
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price
Assess free plans, entry-level paid prices, supported platforms and open-source status; also review package-manager availability, interactive operation, shell completion, offline capability, licence terms where code access matters, and free-trial limits.
Questions
Are command-line tools on this list free?
Pricing varies. The list includes free plans, paid tools and freemium options. Check the pricing model and paid starting price for the tool you are considering.
Can I find open-source command-line tools here?
Yes. Open-source options are included. Review the licence before using, modifying or redistributing code.
Which platforms are covered?
The entries support combinations of macOS, Linux, Windows, self-hosted systems, web services and APIs. Confirm platform support for your intended setup.
What terminal features should I compare?
Look at package-manager availability, interactive mode, shell completion and offline capability, together with price and licence terms.
Do listed tools offer free trials?
Some tools in the list provide a free trial. Check trial limits and end-of-trial terms for the specific tool.