When comparing Ranger NCurses file manager with Vim bindings vs Polo, the Slant community recommends Polo for most people. In the question“What are the best GUI file managers for UNIX-like systems?” Polo is ranked 13th while Ranger NCurses file manager with Vim bindings is ranked 14th. The most important reason people chose Polo is:
Polo wants people to get the file manager they want, but it's not awash with granular layout options that take ages to understand. First select whether you want one, two, or four panes, and then select a format for each pane of either List, Icon, Tiled, or Media. That's it, you're done.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Fast response
This is a NCurses GUI so it is a command line program with a user interface of shortcut keys which allows for a fast response.
Pro Detailed previews
The program will give previews in the terminal with detailed information concerning the file.
Pro Bookmark system
Makes it easy to jump to any specific folder locations you work with.
Pro Extremly minimal GUI interface
Pro Purposeful layout choices
Polo wants people to get the file manager they want, but it's not awash with granular layout options that take ages to understand. First select whether you want one, two, or four panes, and then select a format for each pane of either List, Icon, Tiled, or Media. That's it, you're done.
Pro Installs smoothly on Debian, Redhat and Arch based distributions
File managers in Linux have a nasty propensity for being closely tied to the distribution family from which they arose. Using Polo allows you to have an identical file management experience when shifting between machines from different branches of the Linux tree.
Pro Device management
Quickly mount and unmount devices from the sidebar, including support for locking and unlocking LUKS encrypted devices.
Pro Youtube-dl integration
Just paste a YouTube URL into a folder and Polo will download the best quality format of it and save it in that folder.
Pro Archive browsing and creation
Browse archive files as those they were just another folder, dragging and dropping files in and out of them at will while the backend uses the appropriate tools to manage the archive file itself. Archive creation includes a rich assortment of controls over compression formats and structure.
Pro Image file actions
Rotate, resize, optimize, convert formats, save for the web and many other handy features all right in the context menu.
Pro ISO file tools
Mount ISO files to loop devices with just two clicks, or spin them up as a QEMU KVM instance, and for portability there's also an option to write them to USB flash drives using a GUI dialog.
Pro Advanced PDF file controls
Perform Merge and Split operations on PDF files without needing another file handler all from the context menu. Rotate and Password Protection settings are also expressed there.
Pro Cloud storage support
Includes its own rclone macros for adding cloud storage access to the list of browsable locations that just works, a welcome relief in the sea of hacks which provide those features elsewhere in Linux. Currently supported: Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Amazon Cloud Drive / Amazon S3, Openstack Swift (Rackspace Cloud Files, Memset Memstore, OVH), Hubic, Backblaze B2, Yandex Disk
Pro Views
Supports up to four panes, plus a tree-style side panel and tabs.
Pro Terminal emulation
Built-in terminal pop-up.
Pro Launchpad PPA available
Debian-based distributions can leverage the apt package management system to keep Polo updated by adding the approved PPA to their apt sources, simplifying installation as well.
Pro Permissions management
Features a file properties side panel to easily assess and modify permissions.
Cons
Con Steep learning curve for people who are not used to Vim
Since it uses many of vim's keybindings, it may be hard for someone who does not use vim or does not know how to use vim to learn how to work with this file manager.
Con Extremly minimal GUI interface
Almost everything is a shortcut key. Using ? is essential to learning this program. To show hidden files it is z-h.
Con Freemium model
Many of the best features mentioned as pros are only available after a one-time donation of USD$10 or more. Until then you just have a fast, good-looking and otherwise forgettable file manager.
Con No drag and drop
You can't drag from one view to another.
Con Load loop
Slow opening with annoying 'load loop' dialog.
Con Lengthy beta cycle
Polo has been in the beta stage of development for longer than hoped for, and while mostly stable, isn't yet ready to be promoted as a rock-solid replacement for file managers such as Dolphin and Nautilus.
