Czkawka
Find duplicate files, similar photos and empty folders - fast, free and offline
- Version
- See official site
- Released
- September 2026
- Size
- Varies by platform
- License
- MIT · Open source
About Czkawka
Czkawka is a free cleaner that finds duplicate files, similar photos, empty folders, big files and other space wasters on your drives. Scanning happens on your own machine: no account, no cloud service.
Written in Rust with multi-threading, it scans large folders quickly and caches results so the next scan is faster. You get two interfaces: the classic Czkawka window, or Krokiet, its newer and cleaner front end. A command-line version covers scripts and automation. The source code is public, under the MIT license with a Commons Clause restriction on reselling.
One habit to keep: review the results before deleting. Send files to the trash first, and only empty it when you are sure.
Featured in our discovery: Czkawka vs. 1,040 Files: What It Caught, and What It Missed
Key Features
Duplicate finder
Groups identical files by content hash, with rules to keep one copy per folder and skip what matters.
Similar images
Finds look-alike photos at adjustable similarity, even after resizing, cropping or light edits.
More cleaners in one app
Empty folders, big files, similar music and videos, broken files and invalid symlinks.
GUI or command line
Pick the classic Czkawka window or the newer Krokiet front end; a CLI covers scripts and automation.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Completely free, with public source code
- Very fast scans, with caching for repeat runs
- Runs fully offline: no account, no cloud service
- Windows, macOS and Linux builds
Cons
- Deletion is destructive: results need a careful review first
- Functional interface rather than a polished one
- No built-in undo or recovery
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Czkawka safe to use?
The app itself is open source and safe, but it deletes what you tell it to delete. Send files to the trash first and double-check the groups before emptying it.
Does Czkawka need an internet connection?
No. Every scan runs locally on your machine; there is no account and no cloud service involved.