Side by side
far2l vs pointer
Both stand on file managers. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMac
Choose far2l if you want a free FAR Manager v2 port for Linux or macOS and value its backend and plugin choices. Look elsewhere if you need Windows support or do not want to use software described as beta.
Visit far2l Free plan LinuxMac
Pointer brings two-pane browsing, previews, archives, and remote access into a terminal file manager. It is limited to Linux and macOS, and source builds require Rust and Cargo.
Visit pointerThe facts
| far2l | pointer | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac | Linux, Mac |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | github.com |
| On file managers | #9 of 29 | #13 of 29 |
far2l: what it does well
- Free GNU/GPLv2 software.
- Available with graphical and terminal backends.
- NetRocks supports SFTP, SCP, FTP, SMB, WebDAV, and AWS S3.
- Listed plugins include archive handling, file comparison, and image viewing.
- Installation options include packages, Homebrew, source builds, and Docker.
What to know first
- The project labels the software beta and says to use it at your own risk.
- Windows support is marked absent.
- The compact Homebrew TTY build lacks Python plugins and SMB in NetRocks.
- Translations beyond English, Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian need substantial correction.
pointer: what it does well
- Two-pane layout with configurable widths
- Previews include syntax highlighting and images
- Browses and edits several archive formats
- SSH/SFTP remote browsing
- Undo available for several file operations
What to know first
- No Windows support
- Source builds require Rust and Cargo
- Optional runtime tools may be needed for integrations
Alternatives to far2l Alternatives to pointer The whole list