cheat.sh vs Linux Command
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
Command-line cheat sheets for Unix commands and programming languages, fetched with curl.
Open source · MIT
A searchable website of 600+ Linux command references, manuals and explanations.
The short answer
Choose cheat.sh if you need…
- Developers who look up command flags and syntax often from the terminal
- Students who want quick examples while learning a language
- People who prefer not to leave the terminal or editor to search the web
- Anyone who wants to run the service offline or self-host it, as the README describes Docker and offline options
Choose Linux Command if you need…
- People learning the Linux command line who want quick, readable command explanations
- Developers who want a fast lookup for command syntax and options
- Students studying for Linux courses or exams
- Users who prefer a browser-based reference over reading man pages
Side-by-side
| cheat.sh | Linux Command | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | CLI | Learning resource |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 41.8k | 37.2k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Use it in the browser (or self-host) |
| Main language | Python | Markdown |
| Last code update | 45 days ago | 6 days ago |
What each one is
cheat.sh
cheat.sh is a web service that returns short cheat sheets for Unix/Linux commands and programming languages. You query it from a terminal with curl, a browser, or a small client called cht.sh, and it returns examples for the command or task you ask about. The README says it draws on community-maintained cheat sheet repositories and, for many programming questions, answers from StackOverflow.
Linux Command
This repository collects over 600 Linux commands with manual-style references, detailed explanations and learning material, and generates a searchable website from them. It is meant as a quick reference you can look up when you forget how a command works. The README says the content comes from the web and community contributions, and the author notes that correctness is not fully guaranteed.
Best for
cheat.sh
- Developers who look up command flags and syntax often from the terminal
- Students who want quick examples while learning a language
- People who prefer not to leave the terminal or editor to search the web
- Anyone who wants to run the service offline or self-host it, as the README describes Docker and offline options
Linux Command
- People learning the Linux command line who want quick, readable command explanations
- Developers who want a fast lookup for command syntax and options
- Students studying for Linux courses or exams
- Users who prefer a browser-based reference over reading man pages
Strengths
cheat.sh
- Works with plain curl, so there is nothing to install to try it
- Covers many languages and a large set of Unix/Linux commands, according to the README
- Output can be trimmed with options like ?Q to remove comments
Linux Command
- Covers a large set of commands (600+) in one searchable place
- The website is free and the README states it carries no ads
- Available as a web site, and the latest release includes a docset archive
Not ideal for
cheat.sh
- Readers who need authoritative, fully verified answers, since the README notes generated answers are not guaranteed to be exact
- Users who need deep tutorials or long-form documentation
- People who cannot use a terminal or install a small client, though the browser interface is also described
Linux Command
- Readers who need authoritative, verified documentation, since the README says content accuracy is not fully guaranteed
- People looking for a runnable tool or installed program, since this is primarily a reference collection and website
- Users who need the official documentation for a specific distribution or version of a command
Trade-offs
cheat.sh
- Answers for programming questions are generated on the fly and may not match exactly, as the README acknowledges
- Shell mode of the cht.sh client requires rlwrap to be installed separately
- The README is truncated, so some details about editor integrations and self-hosting were not reviewed
Linux Command
- The README says the author cannot fully guarantee content correctness, so verify important details elsewhere
- Content is partly community-sourced, so quality and depth may vary between entries
- The README is mostly in Chinese and includes many sponsor links, which may make it harder to navigate
Getting started
cheat.sh
Install the cht.sh client to your user bin directory
PATH_DIR="$HOME/bin" # or another directory on your $PATH
mkdir -p "$PATH_DIR"
curl https://cht.sh/:cht.sh > "$PATH_DIR/cht.sh"
chmod +x "$PATH_DIR/cht.sh"Install rlwrap for shell mode (Debian/Ubuntu)
sudo apt install rlwrapLinux Command
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/jaywcjlove/linux-commandFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between cheat.sh and Linux Command?
cheat.sh: Command-line cheat sheets for Unix commands and programming languages, fetched with curl. Linux Command: A searchable website of 600+ Linux command references, manuals and explanations. cheat.sh suits developers who look up command flags and syntax often from the terminal, while Linux Command suits people learning the linux command line who want quick, readable command explanations.
Are cheat.sh and Linux Command free?
cheat.sh: Free and open source. Linux Command: Free and open source.
Is cheat.sh or Linux Command more popular?
cheat.sh has more GitHub stars (41.8k) than Linux Command (37.2k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to cheat.sh and Linux Command?
Other options people compare them with include cheat.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.