Atuin
Replace your shell history with a SQLite database, with end-to-end encrypted sync, search, and backup, plus Atuin AI right in your prompt.
About Atuin
Atuin replaces your shell history with a SQLite database and records extra context for every command: the directory it ran in, how long it took, whether it succeeded, and which machine and session it came from. That context is what makes search truly useful. It can also sync your history across all your machines with end-to-end encryption, using the official server, a self-hosted server, or skipping sync entirely to stay local. Atuin supports zsh, bash, fish, nushell, xonsh, and PowerShell.
Compare before choosing
The official comparison page states that Atuin is a complete replacement for shell history, recording every command into a database and syncing it across machines; fzf is a fuzzy finder that can search almost anything, with history being just one of its uses, and the two only truly compete over the ctrl-r binding.
The official comparison page states that Atuin stores history in a SQLite database with no size limits and imports existing history, while fzf reads the shell's plain-text history file, subject to its truncation and deduplication limits.
The official comparison page states that Atuin records context such as exit code, directory, duration, hostname, session, and time, and supports end-to-end encrypted cross-machine sync and backup (history survives reinstalls and lost laptops); fzf only keeps what the shell saves (commands, possibly with timestamps), with no sync, no backup, and `history -c` permanently clears it.
Features
Sync everywhere
Your shell history follows you across machines, backed up and available whenever you need it.
Private by default
History is encrypted on the client, and you can self-host when you need your own infrastructure.
Search rich context
Find commands by text, directory, exit code, duration, hostname, and more.
Atuin AI
Ask Atuin AI for help without leaving your prompt.
Pros
- Open source, with the option to self-host the sync server or use the hosted service
- History is encrypted on the client, private by default
- Search across rich context such as text, directory, exit code, duration, and hostname
- Supports multiple shells without taking over your existing configuration