Best File Manager Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Dolphin is ranked #1 of 99 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of WinSCP and Filestash. The best-ranked option with a free plan is WinSCP. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Owlfiles at $1.08/mo.
File managers help you browse and organize files, whether you work with local folders or access cloud storage. Compared on archive support, cloud storage access, and supported platforms, the entries also differ in dual-pane views, tabs, batch renaming, and portable versions. Dolphin, WinSCP, and Filestash are among the options to consider. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing as part of the comparison. Think about where your files are stored, which navigation features suit your routine, and what platforms you use. The listed file-handling capabilities can help you judge how each manager may fit the way you work.
99 file manager software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
18 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 2 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DolphinWindows · Linux | Three bars | 2 of 6 | Free | 9.4 | ||
| 2 | WinSCPWindows | Three bars | 1 of 6 | Free | 9.3 | ||
| 3 | FilestashWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | Free | 8.0 | |
| 4 | TagSpacesWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · Extension | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | Free | 7.9 | |
| 5 | Multi CommanderWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 7.7 | |
| 6 | nnnWindows · Mac · Linux · Android | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 7.7 | |
| 7 | OneCommanderWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 7.5 | |
| 8 | OwlfilesNo platforms listed | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $1.08/mo | 7.4 | |
| 9 | EF CommanderWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $36/mo | 7.4 | |
| 10 | xplorer²Windows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 7.4 | |
| 11 | Cloud CommanderWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | Free | 7.4 | |
| 12 | QSpaceMac | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 7.3 | |
| 13 | X-plore File ManagerWeb · Android | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 7.2 | |
| 14 | Total CommanderWindows · Android | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 7.1 |
| 15 | ShuffleMac | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 7.0 | |
| 16 | CloudPairsWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $29/mo | 7.0 | |
| 17 | Advanced RenamerWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.9 | |
| 18 | KrusaderLinux | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 6.8 |
| 19 | FreeCommanderWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | €1.50/mo | 6.8 |
| 20 | Midnight CommanderMac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 6.8 |
| 21 | muCommanderWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.8 | |
| 22 | ClifmMac · Linux · Android | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.8 | |
| 23 | GNOME CommanderLinux | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 6.7 |
| 24 | ThunarLinux | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 6.7 |
| 25 | Altap SalamanderWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 6.7 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | Dual-pane view |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dolphin | 9.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | linux, windows | Yes |
| 2 | WinSCP | 9.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Microsoft Windows | — |
| 3 | Filestash | 8.0 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | — |
| 4 | TagSpaces | 7.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | web, windows, macos, linux, ios, android, chrome_extension | — |
| 5 | Multi Commander | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | windows | Yes |
| 6 | nnn | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | — | — | — | No |
| 7 | OneCommander | 7.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | $30one-time | windows | Yes |
| 8 | Owlfiles | 7.4 | Free plan | $1.08/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 9 | EF Commander | 7.4 | Free plan | $36/mo | Yes | $36one-time | Windows | Yes |
| 10 | xplorer² | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | $39.95one-time | windows | Yes |
| 11 | Cloud Commander | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | web, windows, macos, linux, android | Yes |
| 12 | QSpace | 7.3 | Free plan | Free | No | — | macos | Yes |
| 13 | X-plore File Manager | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | web, android | Yes |
| 14 | Total Commander | 7.1 | No | — | Yes | Free | windows, android | Yes |
| 15 | Shuffle | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | macos | Yes |
| 16 | CloudPairs | 7.0 | Free plan | $29/mo | Yes | $29one-time | Windows | Yes |
| 17 | Advanced Renamer | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows, macOS | — |
| 18 | Krusader | 6.8 | No | — | Yes | — | linux | Yes |
| 19 | FreeCommander | 6.8 | No | €1.50/mo | Yes | — | Windows | Yes |
| 20 | Midnight Commander | 6.8 | No | — | Yes | — | linux, macos | Yes |
| 21 | muCommander | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | — | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes |
| 22 | Clifm | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | — | — | — | No |
| 23 | GNOME Commander | 6.7 | No | — | Yes | — | linux | Yes |
| 24 | Thunar | 6.7 | No | — | Yes | — | linux | — |
| 25 | Altap Salamander | 6.7 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows | Yes |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which file manager software is ranked first on Freedom251?
Dolphin is ranked #1 of 99 with a score of 9.4. WinSCP is second and Filestash third.
How many of these have a free plan?
18 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Owlfiles has the lowest first paid tier we found: $1.08/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.