fzf.vim vs Telescope
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
A collection of ready-made Vim commands that open fzf fuzzy finder for files, buffers, lines, tags, and git.
Open source · MIT
A fuzzy finder for Neovim that searches files, text, buffers and more in a popup list.
The short answer
Choose fzf.vim if you need…
- Vim or Neovim users who already use fzf and want ready-made search commands
- People who want fuzzy file, buffer, or line search inside Vim
- Users who work in git repositories and want to browse commits or changed files
Choose Telescope if you need…
- Neovim users who want fast fuzzy search for files and text
- People who already use Lua-based Neovim configuration
- Users who want to customize search behavior per picker
- Developers who work across large codebases and need quick file or grep lookup
Side-by-side
| fzf.vim | Telescope | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 10.3k | 19.8k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | Vim Script | Lua |
| Last code update | 37 days ago | 10 days ago |
What each one is
fzf.vim
fzf.vim is a plugin for Vim that adds ready-made commands such as :Files, :Buffers, and :Rg. Each one opens fzf, a fuzzy finder program, so you can type a few characters to filter a list and jump to the result. It is meant for people who want these features without writing their own Vimscript.
Telescope
Telescope is a plugin for Neovim, a text editor, that lets you search and pick from lists such as files, open buffers, help tags and search results. You type a few characters, the list narrows as you type, and a preview of the highlighted item appears alongside it. It is built in Lua and designed so you can customize its pickers, sorters and previewers.
Best for
fzf.vim
- Vim or Neovim users who already use fzf and want ready-made search commands
- People who want fuzzy file, buffer, or line search inside Vim
- Users who work in git repositories and want to browse commits or changed files
Telescope
- Neovim users who want fast fuzzy search for files and text
- People who already use Lua-based Neovim configuration
- Users who want to customize search behavior per picker
- Developers who work across large codebases and need quick file or grep lookup
Strengths
fzf.vim
- Provides many common finder commands without custom Vimscript
- Built on fzf, which the README says runs asynchronously and can be much faster than similar plugins
- Customizable through a single g:fzf_vim dictionary, including preview window and key bindings
Telescope
- Highly extendable and customizable, with global and per-picker settings
- Includes a large set of built-in pickers, sorters and previewers
- Supports optional native sorters that the README says significantly improve sorting performance
Not ideal for
fzf.vim
- People who do not use Vim or Neovim, since the plugin only runs inside them
- Users who need fzf itself without Vim, because fzf must be set up separately first
- Users who want very large searches on small inputs to feel faster; the README notes the speed gain may not be noticeable for small lists
Telescope
- People who do not use Neovim, since it is a Neovim plugin and does not run as a standalone app
- Users on Neovim versions older than the minimum listed in the README, because only the latest stable and HEAD versions are supported
- Anyone who wants a point-and-click interface, since it is driven by keyboard commands and key mappings
Trade-offs
fzf.vim
- Requires both the main fzf program and the fzf.vim plugin to be installed, plus optional tools for some commands
- Some commands depend on extra tools such as ripgrep, ag, fugitive.vim, or Universal Ctags
Telescope
- Some features depend on external tools such as ripgrep and fd, which you must install separately
- Only the latest Neovim stable release and HEAD are tested and supported, so older setups may break
- Configuration involves Lua code and reading Neovim help, which can be a learning curve for newcomers
Getting started
fzf.vim
Install vim-plug plugins (add to vimrc, then run from Vim)
Plug 'junegunn/fzf', { 'do': { -> fzf#install() } }Add fzf.vim plugin
Plug 'junegunn/fzf.vim'Telescope
Install with lazy.nvim (add to your plugin spec)
{ 'nvim-telescope/telescope.nvim', version = '*', dependencies = { 'nvim-lua/plenary.nvim', { 'nvim-telescope/telescope-fzf-native.nvim', build = 'make' } } }Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between fzf.vim and Telescope?
fzf.vim: A collection of ready-made Vim commands that open fzf fuzzy finder for files, buffers, lines, tags, and git. Telescope: A fuzzy finder for Neovim that searches files, text, buffers and more in a popup list. fzf.vim suits vim or neovim users who already use fzf and want ready-made search commands, while Telescope suits neovim users who want fast fuzzy search for files and text.
Are fzf.vim and Telescope free?
fzf.vim: Free and open source. Telescope: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, fzf.vim or Telescope?
fzf.vim is easier to get started with (rated beginner); Telescope is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is fzf.vim or Telescope more popular?
Telescope has more GitHub stars (19.8k) than fzf.vim (10.3k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to fzf.vim and Telescope?
Other options people compare them with include fff.
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.