Rat Commander

Rat Commander is a terminal-based file manager for people who want file work, Git, remote access, and system utilities in one interface. Its breadth is unusual for a two-panel manager, but RAR is read-only and some system tools are Linux-only.

Overview

The two-panel layout offers vertical or horizontal splits, multi-file selection, and full, brief, details, tree, thumbnail-grid, and interactive 3D views. It suits keyboard-oriented users who prefer a terminal workflow but still want visual browsing: compatible terminals can render graphics, progress bars, and graphs at full resolution, and common image and audio formats can be viewed graphically or in ASCII.

Written in Rust with Ratatui, Rat Commander is designed to provide its core features without requiring other tools to be installed. Its interface has 18 built-in languages, including right-to-left support, and users can add languages. A full manual is available through F1 in the application and from the repository.

Key features

Editing, media, and binary files

The built-in viewer and editor handle syntax-highlighted text, Markdown, and CSV or TSV tables. Block operations, search and replace, and media tag editing make it more than a browser, while in-place hex editing, executable analysis, byte maps, and binary comparison serve users who work directly with binary files. This concentration of tools is useful for varied file work, though it may be more than someone seeking only a lightweight navigator needs.

Git and archives

Git operations cover status, staging, commits, stash, fetch, pull, push, sync, checkout, reset, clone, diffs, branches, history, and blame. That makes the manager a credible option for users who want repository work alongside file operations rather than switching interfaces for routine Git tasks.

It can browse and edit ZIP, TAR variants, 7z, and other archive formats. RAR is read-only, a meaningful constraint if editing RAR contents is part of your workflow.

Remote and system tools

SFTP, SCP, FTP, and FTPS connections expose remote filesystems for transparent file operations. SFTP and SCP also support remote shell access over the same SSH connection. For FTPS, system-trusted certificates are accepted; self-signed certificates are displayed by SHA-256 and can be pinned after trust. SSH can use known_hosts and SSH configuration.

For local-network transfers, Rat Commander can serve files through a one-shot HTTP server and QR code, or receive them through a QR-opened page with a random URL token. Its process explorer includes CPU load, battery information, and process termination; the disk explorer and network-connection monitor add system visibility. Linux users also get a disk manager for mounting, formatting, flashing, and imaging disks and USB devices. These Linux tools are absent on Windows, where Drive Manager and Network Connections are not supported.

Pricing

Rat Commander is free. The free plan is the product: a self-contained terminal file manager, with no paid tiers or usage limits stated. There is no free trial because there is no paid plan to trial. It is a straightforward fit for individuals who want its full feature set without a subscription; the trade-off is the product’s platform-specific gaps, not a lower-priced tier with reduced capabilities.

Platforms

Rat Commander supports Linux, macOS, and Windows. Windows includes all features except Drive Manager and Network Connections; Linux disk-management tools are platform-specific. The project is licensed under GNU GPL-2.0-only.

Who it's for

Choose Rat Commander if you want a two-panel terminal manager that combines file editing and viewing with broad Git operations, archive browsing, remote filesystems, and system inspection. It is especially compelling for users who value one interface for varied file and development tasks, and for Linux users who want disk utilities in that workflow. Look elsewhere if editing RAR archives is essential, or if you need the Linux disk and network tools on Windows.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Broad workflow coverage: editing, Git, archives, remote access, and system tools sit alongside two-panel browsing.
• Strong file inspection: thumbnail and 3D views complement text, media, and in-place binary tools.
• Remote access detail: four protocols are supported, with SSH configuration and certificate handling for secure connections.
• No-cost plan: the free offering has no usage limits stated and no paid tiers.

Cons

• RAR is read-only: users cannot edit those archives in the manager.
• System tools vary by platform: Drive Manager and Network Connections are unavailable on Windows, and the disk manager is Linux-only.

Alternatives

FileManagerTUI is another free, open-source option for Linux, macOS, and Windows; its MIT license permits use, modification, distribution, and sale, with the software provided as-is without warranty.

Newt is a free, open-source option for Linux, macOS, and Windows. nnn is a free open-source terminal file manager that also supports Android. Broot is free, MIT-licensed, and offers source code and precompiled binaries across Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Clifm is free GPL version 2 or later software for Android, Linux, and macOS, with no paid plans stated. elio is free across Linux, macOS, Windows, and self-hosted platforms, with no paid plan or usage limits stated. pointer is a free single-binary option for Linux and macOS, released as public-domain software under the Unlicense. Runa is another free option for Linux, macOS, and Windows.

For a broader set of options, browse Terminal File Managers.

Verdict

Rat Commander is a strong choice for terminal users who want file management, editing, Git, remote connections, and system utilities together without paying for a plan. Its range of tools is the main reason to choose it; choose another manager if writable RAR support or Windows access to the Linux-specific system utilities is essential.