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Czkawka review

Free#2 of 37 in Duplicate File Finders

A free, scriptable duplicate finder for technical users across Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android.

8.8/10Editor score
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Czkawka is a free, open-source file-cleanup suite for technical users who want duplicate detection across Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android-related frontends. It identifies duplicates by file name, size, full-file hash, or combined size and name. The project also includes tools for empty files and folders, temporary files, large files, similar images and videos, music duplicates, broken files, invalid links, and metadata removal. Its components include a GUI, CLI, core library, and Android components.

The duplicate-finding workflow offers useful control over scan scope and matching. Users can select included and excluded paths, apply folder and item exclusions with glob patterns, preview selected images, and choose automatic selection presets such as newest, oldest, biggest, or smallest. Hash comparisons support Blake3, CRC32, and XXH3, while hash and thumbnail caching can speed up subsequent scans. Selected files can be permanently deleted or moved to the system Trash, giving users a choice between irreversible cleanup and a recoverable move.

Czkawka is particularly well suited to technical users who value scripting and local control. Its CLI supports dry runs, JSON output, scripting, and automated deletion, while the open-source model avoids a paid tier structure. The main trade-off is focus: scanning uses user-selected directories and files, and the project’s media-matching coverage is narrower than its general file-cleanup range. The legacy GTK interface reached version 12.0 and no longer receives new binaries; Krokiet is the recommended interface. Choose Czkawka for configurable, scriptable cleanup, but consider another tool if a more guided interface or broader media-matching workflow is the priority.

Czkawka pros and cons

  • Where it wins
    • Free and open source across Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android
    • Multiple hash methods, caching, exclusions, previews, and selection presets
    • CLI support for scripting, dry runs, JSON output, and automated deletion
  • Where it doesn't
    • Scan locations are limited to user-selected directories and files
    • Media matching is narrower than its broader file-cleanup toolkit
    • The legacy GTK interface no longer receives new binaries

Czkawka fact sheet, pricing and score →

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