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What's the difference between useradd and adduser? When/why should I prefer using one or the other?

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What operating system are you referring to? –  mfinni Jan 5 '11 at 14:39
Also - catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html –  mfinni Jan 5 '11 at 14:39
This is a Debian Linux based question. –  unixman83 Mar 2 '12 at 18:45
Same question on Ask Ubuntu and on Super User. –  zrajm Dec 5 '13 at 9:39
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5 Answers

up vote 25 down vote accepted

In the case of Debian and its related distros, adduser is a friendlier interactive frontend to useradd.

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It is not about friendliness, it's about usage. You can use adduser for interactively adding an account or you can use useradd for batch adding accounts. useradd has also an interactive mode. –  tkorkunckaya Sep 26 '12 at 9:49
@tkorkunckaya: so what usage based on your description then if useradd can also do interactive mode? –  Final Contest Jun 19 at 9:48
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lrwxrwxrwx. 1 root root 7 Nov 17 13:52 /usr/sbin/adduser -> useradd

One is a "shortcut" / "symbolic link" to the other. So no difference.

This is on redhat linux (and centos / fedora), it may not hold true on other distros.

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Correct on RH, but some dists such as ubuntu has different binaries. –  Ency Jan 5 '11 at 14:48
True, i'll edit my answer. –  Sirex Jan 5 '11 at 14:58
Many binaries and scripts alter their behavior based on the command line invocation. –  jscott Jan 5 '11 at 15:15
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On Ubuntu, useradd simply creates an entry in the user database (/etc/passwd etc.).

adduser on the other hand also creates a home directory for the user, populates it with the content of /etc/skel and lets you set the password interactively.

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+1. man useradd : "useradd is a low level utility for adding users. On Debian, administrators should usually use adduser(8) instead." –  petrus Jan 5 '11 at 15:41
I believe adduser also interactively fills in the GECOS fields –  Michael Lowman Jan 5 '11 at 16:07
@petrus why so? –  Final Contest Jun 19 at 9:48
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On FreeBSD:
adduser is a "friendly" interactive Q&A way to add local users.
useradd doesn't exist.

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Always use adduser (and deluser when deleting users).

The useradd, userdel and usermod commands are lowlevel utilities which are there for historical reasons, while adduser/deluser Do The Right Thing™. (I remember which to use by thinking that user* comes after adduser/deluser in the alphabet, and therefore is "worse".)

According to the respective manpages (on Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin, i.e. a Debian derivative system).

Manpage for adduser says:

(Emphasis added.)

adduser and addgroup add users and groups to the system according to command line options and configuration information in /etc/adduser.conf. They are friendlier front ends to the low level tools like useradd, groupadd and usermod programs, by default choosing Debian policy conformant UID and GID values, creating a home directory with skeletal configuration, running a custom script, and other features. adduser and addgroup can be run in one of five modes:

Manpage for useradd says:


See also:

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