jq is a lightweight and flexible command-line JSON processor.
Publisher’s description
What is jq?
jq by jqlang is open-source Windows software in the developer utilities category. It ranks 2nd by popularity among developer utilities in this catalogue. It is written in C.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides Portable installers for 64-bit, ARM64 and 32-bit Windows. It runs without installation (portable).
Updates and version history
The current version is 1.8.2, released on June 20, 2026. The version history goes back to June 2, 2023: 6 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 2 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 5,141,676 times. The source code on GitHub (jqlang/jq) has 35,903 stars. Similar programs include WinMerge, x64dbg and Biome.
Project description on GitHub: “Command-line JSON processor”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- Portable: runs without installation
- Large user base
In short: jq is an open-source developer utilitie tool for 64-bit, ARM64 and 32-bit PCs.
Is jq safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
A6FC67FEDAF9128A3309A1E2EBB8B986AECCF70122EE46D2CB4849E423F0C627· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 6 versions ›6 versions over 3 years · about 2 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8.2Latest | June 20, 2026 | — | ARM64 Portable64-bit Portable32-bit Portable |
| 1.8.1 | July 1, 2025 | — | 64-bit Portable32-bit Portable |
| 1.8.0 | June 1, 2025 | — | 64-bit Portable |
| 1.7.1 | December 13, 2023 | — | 64-bit Portable |
| 1.7 | September 6, 2023 | — | 64-bit Portable |
| 1.6 | June 2, 2023 | — | 64-bit Portable |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id jqlang.jq -echoco install jq -yProgram files (.exe): jq.exe
Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- jqlang
- Category
- Developer utilities
- Licence
- MIT License
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/jqlang/jq
- Written in
- C
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64, 32-bit
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 1.8.2
- Released
- June 20, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- June 2, 2023
- Versions listed
- 6
- Updates / year
- 2
- Chocolatey downloads
- 5,141,676
- GitHub stars
- 35,903
- GitHub forks
- 4,586
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- jqlang.jq
- Chocolatey package
- jq
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is jq free?
Yes. jq is open-source software under the MIT License licence.
Is jq safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install jq with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does jq run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Where can I download an older version of jq?
The versions page lists all 6 versions with links to their official installer files, back to June 2, 2023.
Can I use jq without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to jq?
WinMerge, x64dbg, Biome, delta and jadx. The alternatives page compares them.
