Side by side
gron vs jless
Both stand on json tools. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
gron offers a focused way to inspect JSON structure and locate values, with reverse conversion and diffing workflows also documented. Its command-line format and certificate-bypass option are worth considering before use.
Visit gron Free plan LinuxMac
jless combines terminal navigation, search, and clipboard or print commands for inspecting structured data. Its platform coverage and lack of a configuration file are worth noting before choosing it.
Visit jlessThe facts
| gron | jless | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Linux, Mac |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | gron | Not published |
| Website | github.com | jless.io |
| On json tools | #7 of 29 | #11 of 29 |
gron: what it does well
- Searches JSON values alongside their paths.
- Accepts files, URLs, and standard input.
- Can convert assignments back into JSON.
- Has no runtime dependencies.
- MIT licensed and free.
What to know first
- Command-line tool; no graphical interface is listed.
- Insecure mode disables certificate validation when fetching URLs.
- Listed platforms omit FreeBSD, despite its binary downloads being noted.
jless: what it does well
- Formats JSON with syntax highlighting.
- Searches with full-text and regular-expression queries.
- Reads files and standard input, including newline-delimited JSON.
- Copies or prints values, keys, and paths.
- Offers package-manager, Cargo, binary, and source installation options.
What to know first
- Supports macOS and Linux, not other listed platforms.
- Does not yet support a configuration file.
- YAML comments and anchors are not displayed.
- Linux source builds need X11 libraries for clipboard access.