What are the best twin-panel file managers for Linux?

Options
Considered

User
Recs.

Feb 6, 2024

Last
Updated

Double Commander vs Krusader vs Midnight Commander

vs Vifm vs muCommander vs SpaceFM vs Worker vs far2l vs JumpFm vs Linux Lite vs WCM Commander vs Nemo vs FreeCommander

Specs

Platforms

Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD

License

GPL-2.0-only

Technology

Free Pascal

User Interface

GUI

Based On

Default Desktop Environment

Portable

32 or 64 bit

Platforms

License

Technology

User Interface

Based On

Default Desktop Environment

Portable

32 or 64 bit

Platforms

Windows, Mac, Linux

License

Technology

User Interface

Based On

Default Desktop Environment

Portable

32 or 64 bit

Platforms

License

Technology

User Interface

Based On

Default Desktop Environment

Portable

32 or 64 bit

Platforms

Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD

License

Technology

User Interface

Based On

Default Desktop Environment

Portable

32 or 64 bit

Platforms

License

Technology

User Interface

Based On

Default Desktop Environment

Portable

32 or 64 bit

Platforms

License

Technology

User Interface

Based On

Default Desktop Environment

Portable

32 or 64 bit

Platforms

License

Technology

User Interface

Based On

Default Desktop Environment

Portable

32 or 64 bit

Platforms

License

Technology

User Interface

Based On

Default Desktop Environment

Portable

32 or 64 bit

Platforms

License

Technology

User Interface

Based On

Debian>Ubuntu LTS

Default Desktop Environment

Xfce

Portable

32 or 64 bit

Platforms

License

Technology

User Interface

Based On

Default Desktop Environment

Portable

32 or 64 bit

Platforms

License

Technology

User Interface

Based On

Default Desktop Environment

Portable

32 or 64 bit

Platforms

Windows

License

Freeware

Technology

User Interface

Based On

Default Desktop Environment

Portable

Yes

32 or 64 bit

Both

Pros + Cons

Pro
Available for Linux, Mac and Windows

[add description]

Comment

Pro
Configurable

Lots of options allow you to configure DC the way it suits you best: Tools, Fonts, Colors, Hotkeys, Mouse, Fileviews, Plugins, Layout, Toolbars, Tabs, Icons etc.

Comment

Pro
Multi-platform (Linux, Windows, MacOS X)

You can use same tool in all desktop OS environments.

Comment

Pro
It's compatible with most of Total Commander plugins

Double commander uses the same plugin API as Total Commander, so their plugins are compatible.

Comment

Pro
Powerful tcmd-like search tool (alt+F7)

[add description]

Comment

Pro
It's that good, you can replace tcmd on Windows too

[add description]

Comment

Pro
Directory hotlist

Save shortcuts to folders. Organize them in a treeview with submenus. Define a name and sorting for each entry.

Comment

Con
Can't run as administrator in Linux Mint

Thus it can't create directories, change privileges or manage system files.

Comment

Con
Source code written in Pascal language

But this does not affect users negatively. It's just programmer's problem.

Comment

Con
Apparently only one developer

[add description]

Comment

Con
Incredible slow selection change in table controls

According to the main developer, this is caused by the used table control.

Comment

Con
Portable bundle does not provide easy way to add icon by creating a .desktop file

[add description]

Comment

Con
Doesn't support themes

Can't easily switch to dark/bright color scheme, but it usually adopts current system settings.

Comment

Con
Can't edit files on remote FTP servers

Double commander cannot edit files that are hosted on remote FTP servers.

Comment

Con
Hidden directories (those starting with period) can't be shown in different color

than normal directories.

Comment

Pro
All common operations can be done with keyboard efficiently

In addition, shortcuts can be easily renamed. Unlike Dolphin and many others.

Comment

Pro
Krusader had Double Commander

[add description]

Comment

Con
KDE dependencies

If you don't use KDE, you'll be forced to install quite a large amount of KDE libraries.

Comment

Pro
Many operations like copying and moving files can be queued

Long-running operations can be queued. There is no point in doing them in a parallel way, as speed decreases dramatically.

Comment

Pro
Virtual file systems

Search results as example saved into virtual folder and can be accessed later. All file operations may be performed on items in search results as if they were files in single folder.

Comment

Pro
Can view and edit many files

Even editing a file inside a .zip archive. There's a hexadecimal viewer embedded for binary files.

Comment

Pro
Handles most archives

There is little difference in behaviour between an archive file and a regular folder.

Comment

Pro
Custom commands can be added to the menu easily

And they can use the current folder, the selected files, etc.

Comment

Pro
Handles most archives

There is little difference in behavior between an archive file and a regular folder.

Comment

Con
Interface can be overwhelming

[add description]

Comment

Midnight commander uses the full screen of the terminal in a very efficient way. It displays two panels for files horizontally. On the bottom it has the most useful commands with their corresponding key attached. All of this makes for a very intuitive interface both for beginners and experienced users.

Comment

Pro
Can be run in the terminal

Being a terminal application means that it's suited for people who spend most of their time on the terminal because they don't have to switch windows in order to open their file manager. It also means that they can use it both locally and remotely.

Comment

Pro
Easy to use

Midnight commander is easy and intuitive to use. The most common commands are displayed in the bottom (move, copy, paste, delete, edit, view, make directory). Files can be selected with the arrow keys which move the cursor through them. The Enter key goes down in a directory. To move the focus between two panels the tab key is used.

Comment

Pro
Lightweight

[add description]

Comment

Pro
Stable

[add description]

Comment

Pro
Often available in default repository

and hence easy to install by usually package manager.

Comment

Con
File viewer: searching can be quite cumbersome

Especially searching next or previous.

Comment

Con
No directory bookmarks

[add description]

Comment

Con
No easy way to change colors matching certain files

There probably is a possibility, but it is not easy.

Comment

Con
Quirky and hard to remember shortcuts

E.g. when trying to take the current directory's path to the command line.

Comment

Pro
Lynx-like motion

Cursor+left to go to parent directory, cursor+right to go into child directory.

Comment

Con
Lacks drag and drop feature

With midnight commander you cannot drag and drop files to move them around. Instead, you have to do the necessary actions in order to move files around (cut and paste or copy and delete).

Comment

Con
Can only be run in the terminal

MC lacks a standalone GUI option.

Comment

Pro
Well-presented

[add description]

Comment

Pro
Default key mappings will be comfortable to vim users

Vifm uses vim-esque key mappings. Makes for extremely efficient and---perhaps more importantly---intuitive interactions. The key mappings can be changed.

Comment

Pro
Can be used in terminal

Since it runs in a terminal, it may live within ssh sessions, tmux/screen sessions, etc.

Comment

Con
No menu visible

And hence hard to learn for users who don't know vim.

Comment

Con
Very high learning curve for newbies

[add description]

Comment

Con
Useless for non-vi users

Even to quit one has to use :q.

Comment

Con
Can only be used in terminal

Vifm lacks a standalone GUI option.

Comment

Pro
Also available for Windows

[add description]

Comment

Pro
Intuitive and extendable through plug-ins

Great UI, easy to use and configure, several plug-ins available to make everyday tasks even easier.

Comment

Pro
Configuration GUI

Worker has a built-in configuration GUI.

Comment

Pro
Remote access

Worker supports access to remote machines through various ways (ssh, ftp, rsh, http and webdav).

Comment

Pro
Low system requirements

The system requirements for Worker are pretty low, making it a great option for lower-end machines. The reason why they are pretty low is because Worker is basically made of just X11 libraries.

Comment

Con
Ugly interface

Worker has low system requirements and is very lightweight. Though that comes at a price when it comes to looks. It's interface seems clunky and outdated.

Comment

Pro
Simple, fast file navigation

Being able to find needed files quickly is a real productivity booster.

Comment

Con
Monospace font UI

[add description]

Comment

Pro
Virtual file system

WCM Commander has a virtual file system for smb, ftp and sftp.

Comment

Pro
Built-in editor

WCM Commander has a built-in text editor with syntax highlighting included.

Comment

Pro
Built-in terminal

Has a built-in terminal from which users can run any kind of command.

Comment

Pro
Has a portable version

Because it's portable, you can easily move the folder with all your files to other devices.

Comment

Pro
Quick navigation

Commonly used folders can be added and accessed using the favorites list -- in addition, physical and network drives can be switched to with a single click.

Comment

Pro
2 pane layout

Makes normal file operations (like move & copy) easy.

Comment