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Alternatives · Rust systems

eza alternatives (2026)

eza: EUPL-1.2 Rust ls. Free forever; alias ls here when you want git-aware listings without leaving the shell.

Its Catch: License is EUPL-1.2 (OSI-approved copyleft), not MIT/Apache like bat or fd — read it before you embed eza in a proprietary binary distribution.

Below: 8 free or free-tier tools from the same category (Rust systems tools), free and open source first, then the closest match by shared tags. Each keeps its own Catch.

  1. 1.StarshipISC cross-shell prompt — needs a Nerd Font

    Free / OSS · ISC · 60.3k GitHub stars

    VerdictISC prompt. Free forever; font + shell still yours.

    CatchPrompt only — not a shell, not Zellij. Needs a Nerd Font for the glyph set. Config is yours to keep sane.

  2. 2.gituiMIT blazing-fast Rust terminal git GUI (unsafe forbidden)

    Free / OSS · OSS/MIT · 22.6k GitHub stars

    VerdictMIT Rust git TUI. Free forever; pick it when the terminal GUI must feel native-fast.

    CatchVs lazygit (Go TUI with huge community muscle memory): gitui is the *Rust/speed* cousin, not feature-identical and not magit. Some advanced Git flows still belong in git CLI or your IDE. Repo lives under gitui-org now — update old extrawurst bookmarks.

  3. 3.RustSystems programming without the footguns

    Free / OSS · Apache-2.0 · 121k GitHub stars

    VerdictThe systems language for the next decade.

    CatchThe learning curve is steep. Compile times are slow. Fighting the borrow checker is frustrating at first.

  4. 4.TokioAsync runtime for Rust

    Free / OSS · OSS/MIT · 33.5k GitHub stars

    VerdictThe async runtime that powers production Rust.

    CatchAsync Rust has a learning curve. Stack traces are confusing. Some patterns from other languages do not translate.

  5. 5.AxumWeb framework from the Tokio team

    Free / OSS · OSS/MIT · 27.5k GitHub stars

    VerdictThe web framework that embraces Rust idioms.

    CatchLess batteries-included than frameworks like Actix. Error messages can be cryptic. Some patterns require boilerplate.

  6. 6.Actix WebFast Rust web framework

    Free / OSS · Apache-2.0 · 24.9k GitHub stars

    VerdictMaximum performance when benchmarks matter.

    CatchMacro-heavy API differs from idiomatic Rust. The actor foundation is not always needed. Some community history caused concern.

  7. 7.SerdeSerialization framework for Rust

    Free / OSS · Apache-2.0 · 10.9k GitHub stars

    VerdictThe serialization library every Rust project uses.

    CatchCompile times increase with heavy use. Error messages can be confusing. Some edge cases require manual implementation.

  8. 8.SQLxCompile-time checked SQL for Rust

    Free / OSS · Apache-2.0 · 17.6k GitHub stars

    VerdictSQL that the compiler actually checks.

    CatchCompile-time checking requires database connection. Migration story is simpler than some alternatives. Complex queries need understanding.

FAQ

What are the best free alternatives to eza?
Starship, gitui, Rust, Tokio, Axum. All are reviewed on Stack Gems in the same category (Rust systems tools); 8 free or open source.
What is the catch with eza?
License is EUPL-1.2 (OSI-approved copyleft), not MIT/Apache like bat or fd — read it before you embed eza in a proprietary binary distribution.
Is there an open-source alternative to eza?
Yes: Starship (ISC), gitui (OSS/MIT), Rust (Apache-2.0), Tokio (OSS/MIT).

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