zoxide can make directory navigation faster to operate by letting you jump to frequently used locations with short queries; eza gives you a more informative way to list files. They do different jobs, and neither requires you to abandon the traditional commands. The available documentation supports these two tools, not a verified third pick from the article named in the original headline.
What these tools replace—and what they do not
| Tool | Main task | How you use it | Setup |
|---|---|---|---|
zoxide |
Navigate to directories you have used before | Type z followed by a search term, or use interactive selection with zi |
Initialize it in your shell’s startup configuration; fzf is optional for interactive selection |
eza |
Display directory contents and metadata | Run it where you would use a listing command, adding options for details, sorting, or tree output | Install and invoke the listing binary; shell initialization is not required for its documented listing features |
The projects describe eza as a modern replacement for ls and zoxide as a smarter cd. Those are project descriptions, not independent findings about speed or productivity. Their functions are complementary rather than bundled: eza lists files, while zoxide integrates with a shell to help you change directories.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Use zoxide to jump between familiar directories
Ordinary cd expects you to provide a path or move relative to your current location. Zoxide instead keeps a database of directories you visit and ranks them, so a short query can take you to a frequently used match. Its README documents examples such as z foo, z foo bar, z .., and z -. With multiple query terms, it searches for a match using those terms rather than requiring you to type a full path.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Install and initialize it in your shell
Installing the binary alone is not the whole setup: zoxide needs shell initialization so the shell can use its navigation function. Follow the current shell-specific instructions in the zoxide README and add the initialization line for the shell you actually use to its startup configuration. Open a new shell, or reload that configuration, before trying the commands. The exact setup line depends on your shell, so do not copy a line for a different shell.
#1 Best Overall
By default, zoxide provides z and zi. If you want it to take the place of the name cd, its documented --cmd cd option configures that behavior during initialization. This is optional: you can keep using the built-in cd and call z only when a ranked jump is useful.
Choose between a query and interactive selection
- Use
z queryfor a direct jump to a high-ranked match. - Use
zi querywhen you want to choose from matching directories interactively. Zoxide documents this selection throughfzf; fzf is optional, and you need it for this interactive workflow.
Zoxide also documents shell hooks that control when directory scores are updated and the _ZO_EXCLUDE_DIRS setting for excluding directory globs from its database. These are configuration options for users who want to adjust what it remembers; they are not prerequisites for basic use.
Use eza for more informative directory listings
Eza changes how you inspect directory contents, not how you move between them. Its project documentation describes color distinctions for file types and metadata, plus support for symlinks, extended attributes, and Git information. Other documented features include tree views, sorting, hidden-file display, depth limits, icons, hyperlinks, mount-point details, SELinux context output, relative dates, and configurable themes. Availability of an option can depend on your installation and environment; consult the project’s README and command-line documentation for the current options.
Use eza when its display options help answer a question that a basic listing does not—for example, whether an entry is a symlink, what Git state is shown, or how a directory tree is arranged. You can keep using ls for commands, scripts, or habits that rely on its behavior. The documentation establishes eza’s features, but does not provide a comparative benchmark showing that it runs faster.
Which setup fits your workflow?
- You revisit the same project folders: set up zoxide’s shell integration and try
zwith short queries. - You want richer file and directory output: install eza and use its documented listing and tree options.
- You want both: install them independently; use zoxide to navigate and eza to inspect what is in a location.
- You need interactive directory picking: add fzf for zoxide’s
ziworkflow; it is not needed for ordinaryzqueries.
Package versions and installation methods vary by distribution. Debian unstable’s zoxide(1) manpage identifies version 0.9.8; its metadata was last updated 2026-04-16, and the HTML was converted 2026-06-25. Treat that as a dated package reference, not a claim about the version installed by another distribution.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.About the headline’s “three tools”
A Tux Machines mirror posted 2026-08-20 reproduces the matching headline and introductory premise, but not the complete tool list. The original article page could not be retrieved for verification. As a result, the third utility and the author’s reasons for choosing it cannot be established from the available material. This article covers the two tools whose roles and behavior are documented rather than guessing at a third.
Rank #4
Neither the project documentation nor the available excerpt supplies a named performance or productivity measurement. The case for trying these commands is about their documented workflows and display features, not a measured promise that they save a specific amount of time.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
