Top Thunar Alternatives: Discover Your Next File Manager
Thunar is a highly regarded, modern file manager for the Xfce Desktop Environment, celebrated for its speed, ease-of-use, and intuitive interface. It prides itself on being fast, responsive, and free from confusing options, making it a favorite for many. However, the world of file managers is vast, and what suits one user might not perfectly fit another's unique workflow or operating system. If you're looking for a powerful Thunar alternative, whether you need more advanced features, cross-platform compatibility, or a different user experience, you're in the right place.
Best Thunar Alternatives
While Thunar excels in its simplicity and speed, a diverse range of file managers offer compelling alternatives, each with its own strengths. From dual-pane powerhouses to feature-rich explorers, let's dive into some of the best options available.
Double Commander
Double Commander is an excellent Thunar alternative, especially for users who appreciate the classic two-panel navigation inspired by Total Commander. This free and open-source file manager is cross-platform, available on Mac, Windows, Linux, and BSD. Key features include dual-pane support, multiple tabs, TC plug-in support, batch renaming, a built-in SSH client, and file synchronization, making it a robust choice for extensive file management tasks.
Total Commander
Total Commander is a long-standing shareware Orthodox File Manager (OFM) primarily for Windows, and also available on Android. It's a powerful Thunar alternative for those needing advanced features like a built-in FTP client, file comparison, archive file navigation, and batch renaming. Its dual-pane layout, customizable interface, and support for Unicode make it highly efficient for power users.
FreeCommander
FreeCommander is a strong Thunar alternative for Windows users, offering advanced features reminiscent of Total Commander. This freemium software boasts a built-in viewer, folder comparison, batch renaming, and excellent integration with tools like TeraCopy. Its dual-pane support, tabbed interface, and portable version make it a flexible and powerful tool for file management.
Midnight Commander
For users who prefer a text-mode interface, Midnight Commander is an outstanding Thunar alternative. This free and open-source visual file manager operates in consoles, over SSH, and via remote shells, making it perfect for server management or low-resource environments on Mac, Windows, Linux, and BSD. It features dual-pane support, file compression, SFTP/SSH support, and is notably lightweight and minimalistic.
Files
Files, also known as Nautilus, is the default file manager for the GNOME desktop environment, making it a natural Thunar alternative for Linux users, also available on Mac via MacPorts and XQuartz. This free and open-source application focuses on a simple and intuitive user experience. Its key features include extensibility by plugins, robust file management capabilities, and support for FTP, adhering to GNOME's design principles.
Dolphin File Manager
Dolphin is the default file manager for KDE, offering a highly usable and feature-rich Thunar alternative for Linux users. This free and open-source application provides various view modes (Icon, Detail), split-screen view, and an integrated terminal emulator. Other notable features include file preview, tabs, built-in terminal, dual-pane support, file compression, and KDE Plasma integration, all while remaining lightweight.
XYplorer
XYplorer is a commercial Thunar alternative for Windows users, offering an incredibly feature-rich and customizable experience. It stands out with tabbed browsing, a powerful file search, versatile preview capabilities, and optional dual-pane support. Advanced features include folder size analysis, batch renaming and processing, flexible customizations, photo organization, scripting, and file tagging, catering to users who demand ultimate control.
File Explorer
File Explorer, formerly known as Windows Explorer, is the default file manager bundled with Microsoft Windows, serving as a familiar Thunar alternative for most Windows users. While basic compared to some specialized tools, it provides essential file management functions, including compression, searching, and storage. Recent updates have introduced tabbed interfaces, making it more efficient for everyday use.
Multi Commander
Multi Commander is a free Thunar alternative for Windows, offering a multi-tabbed file manager with the popular and efficient dual-panel layout. It goes beyond standard Windows Explorer with features like advanced copy & paste actions, extensibility via plugins, integrated search, and portable mode, making it a versatile tool for complex file operations.
Far Manager
Far Manager is a free and open-source Thunar alternative for Windows, operating in text mode with a simple and intuitive interface. This console-based program is ideal for power users who prefer keyboard shortcuts and command-line interactions. It supports dual-pane viewing, extensibility via plugins, and the ability to build command lines by picking files, making it a unique and efficient file management solution.
Choosing the best file manager depends heavily on your operating system, workflow, and desired features. While Thunar excels in its lightweight simplicity, these alternatives offer everything from robust dual-pane power to highly customizable interfaces and niche console-based operations. Explore these options to find the perfect fit that enhances your productivity and file management experience.