Glary Duplicate Cleaner vs Duplicate File Detective

GDGlary Duplicate Cleaner7.8Visit Duplicate File Detective7.3Visit

Higher score GD Glary Duplicate Cleaner #7 in Duplicate File Finders 7.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Glarysoft

vs

Duplicate File Detective #12 in Duplicate File Finders 7.3/10 15-day trial Free trial✓ 4 of 4 features Visit site

• Glary Duplicate Cleaner fits best

  Windows users wanting a simple free local scan

• Duplicate File Detective fits best

  Windows users wanting reports and scheduling

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature	GDGlary Duplicate Cleaner 7.8/10 Visit ↗	Duplicate File Detective 7.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	7.8	7.3
Ranking	#7 in Duplicate File Finders	#12 in Duplicate File Finders
Best for	Windows users wanting a simple free local scan	Windows users wanting reports and scheduling
Pricing model	Free	Paid
Starting price	Free plan	$30 one-time
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	15 days
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	Windows	Windows
Features Glary Duplicate Cleaner 4/4 · Duplicate File Detective 4/4
File preview	✓	✓
Automatic selection	✓	✓
Recycle Bin / Trash	✓	✓
Folder exclusions	✓	✓
Specs
Platform coverage	Windows	Windows
Scan locations	Local drives and folders	local drives; network shares; NAS devices; removable storage; file server shares
Match methods	File type, name, size, and date of creation	file name; extension; file size; CRC32; MD5; SHA-1; SHA-256; SHA-512; byte-for-byte content; visual image comparison; document properties; audio tags
Our review
Pros	Scans selected local drives and folders using several matching criteria Image previews and file details help review duplicate results Check Intelligent, folder exclusions, and Recycle Bin removal aid cleanup	Matches files by checksums, bytes, visual appearance, properties, and audio tags Scans local drives, network shares, NAS devices, removable storage, and file servers Adds previews, SmartMark rules, scheduled reports, and duplicate management actions
Cons	Windows-only desktop utility Matching uses file type, name, size, and creation date Focused on local drives and folders rather than broader scan locations	Windows-only, with no support for other platforms The Personal Edition excludes scheduling and other automation features No free plan; paid access starts at a $30 one-time license
Our verdict	Glary Duplicate Cleaner is a free Windows desktop utility for finding and removing duplicate files on selected drives and folders. It is aimed at solo users and small teams who want a straightforward local scan across photos, music,… Read the review →	Duplicate File Detective is Windows software for locating, reviewing, and managing duplicate files across local drives, removable storage, network shares, NAS devices, and file servers. It suits Windows users who need more than a basic… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Glary Duplicate Cleaner — where it wins

  • Scans selected local drives and folders using several matching criteria
  • Image previews and file details help review duplicate results
  • Check Intelligent, folder exclusions, and Recycle Bin removal aid cleanup

  Where it doesn't

  • Windows-only desktop utility
  • Matching uses file type, name, size, and creation date
  • Focused on local drives and folders rather than broader scan locations

• Duplicate File Detective — where it wins

  • Matches files by checksums, bytes, visual appearance, properties, and audio tags
  • Scans local drives, network shares, NAS devices, removable storage, and file servers
  • Adds previews, SmartMark rules, scheduled reports, and duplicate management actions

  Where it doesn't

  • Windows-only, with no support for other platforms
  • The Personal Edition excludes scheduling and other automation features
  • No free plan; paid access starts at a $30 one-time license

• GDGlary Duplicate Cleaner7.8/10 · Free plan

  A free Windows utility for local duplicate scans, previews, and assisted file selection.

  Visit GlarysoftFull verdict →
• Duplicate File Detective7.3/10 · 15-day trial

  A Windows duplicate finder with deep matching, previews, automation, and scheduled reporting.

  Visit siteFull verdict →