adduser vs useradd in Linux: What's the Difference?

In most Linux systems, when you want to create a new user, you have two options: adduser or useradd.

So, what exactly is the difference between the two? Is one of them superior to the other? Which should you choose? Is it useradd or adduser?

Let’s break it down.

Useradd: Low-Level Utility

useradd is a built-in Linux command that is available on all Linux systems. It’s a low-level utility, meaning it’s more manual and less interactive. Creating new users with this command is a time-consuming task because it does not automatically create the home directory and user password.

Adduser: High-Level Alternative

The adduser command is not a standard binary. It’s typically a Perl script or a wrapper that uses useradd in the background. Some distros don’t include it at all, while others symlink it to useradd.

Despite this, adduser is a much more user-friendly option. It walks you through the user creation process interactively — asking for a password, setting up a home directory, and configuring default shell and group settings.

Creating a User with useradd

Let's start with a look at the useradd command's default behavior. Execute the below command:

$ useradd coffeescripts

Looking at the /home directory after successfully executing the above command, you will notice that the home directory for the user coffeescripts hasn't been created.

$ ls /home

Creating a User with adduser

Unlike useradd, which requires extra flags to set everything up, adduser handles most of it for you interactively.

When you run:

$ adduser username

You’ll be prompted to enter a password and a few optional details like full name and contact info. Once completed, the system automatically:

• Creates the user account

• Generates the home directory

• Sets up the default shell

• Assigns the user to a group

This command also respects default settings defined in /etc/login.defs, making it more convenient and consistent for user management.

Even the man page on Debian-based systems recommends adduser over useradd for everyday use.

To confirm it worked, list the contents of /home and you’ll see that the new user’s directory has been created:

$ ls /home

Reproducing adduser Behavior with useradd

To achieve nearly the same result as adduser by using the low-level utility useradd, the command would look like this:

$ sudo useradd -d /home/coffeaddicts -m -s /bin/zsh -p secretpass -c "FullName,Phone,Other Information"

It is also important to know that you can omit the -c option if you don't wish to add user information.

Useful adduser Options

The adduser command provides you with a number of options. Here’s a short list of the most important ones. For more information, see the help or man pages:

• --system – Create a new system user. System users are automatically assigned to the nogroup group. Use the --gid or --ingroup options to add a system user to an existing group.

• --home DIR – Use DIR instead of the default home directory. If necessary, the directory will be created and skeleton files copied.

• --shell SHELL – Use SHELL instead of the default.

• --ingroup GROUP – Set the primary group of the user to GROUP.

• --add_extra_groups – Add the new user to a configuration-defined extra group.

Configuring Defaults for adduser

If you want to customize how adduser behaves each time you create a user, you can tweak its configuration file:

/etc/adduser.conf

This file controls the default values used during user creation. It's well-commented, so it's easy to understand and modify. Some of the key settings you can configure include:

• Default shell — Set the default login shell for new users (e.g., /bin/bash, /bin/zsh).

• Home directory location — Specify where home directories should be created (defaults to /home).

• Extra groups — Define additional groups that new users should be added to automatically.

• Use of skeleton directory — Set the location of default files (like .bashrc, .profile) that get copied into a new user’s home directory.

These defaults make it easier to maintain consistency across user accounts, especially on multi-user systems or when scripting user creation.

If you're managing several systems or setting up users frequently, taking a few minutes to customize adduser.conf can save you a lot of time and repetitive typing.

Wrapping Up

In my experience as a Linux power user, adduser is far superior at creating new users in Linux. I use it more frequently when I need to create users. As a result, I recommend that everyone use it.

So how about you? Which do you prefer, adduser or useradd?

That's all! Thank you for getting this far. I hope you find this guide useful.

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