When comparing Double Commander vs Clover, the Slant community recommends Double Commander for most people. In the question“What are the best free file managers for Microsoft Windows?” Double Commander is ranked 1st while Clover is ranked 11th. The most important reason people chose Double Commander is:
You can use same tool in all desktop OS environments.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Multi-platform (Linux, Windows, MacOS X)
You can use same tool in all desktop OS environments.
Pro Source code is available (true free software)
If the developer loses interest there is at least the possibility that someone else will pick up the torch.
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.
Pro Directory Hotlist
Save shortcuts to folders. Organize them in a treeview with submenus. Define a name and sorting for each entry.
Pro Powerful tcmd-like search tool (alt+F7)
Pro tcmd-like multi-rename tool (CTRL+M)
Pro DC uses TCmd plugin API
so you can use documentation from Total Commander for writing plugins. WCX (packer), WDX (content), WFX (file system), WLX (lister).
Pro Closely follows TotalCommander UX
For instance, the 'Settings | Layout' pane is quasi-identical to TCs.
Pro Very sophisticated
Although it is lightweight and simple to use, it can do very sophisticated tasks, like copying files from directories which have a certain extension or file size or have a certain text pattern in them. Also, it's very customizable and stable.
Pro It's that good, you can replace tcmd on windows too
Pro Source code written in (Object) PASCAL
It's all a matter of perspective. I'm not for an argument about IDE's, frameworks etc, but to me that's a big plus. I think it should be a tie, it's either a pro or a con or should that be neither a pro nor a con. It just depends on context.
Pro Adds Chrome-esque tabs to Windows Explorer
Pro Lots of themes from Chrome
Cons

Con Apparently only one developer
Con Freeze after mouse double-click on directory list item
Con Much slower on Linux and Mac than on Windows
Con Source code written in Pascal language
But this does not affect users negatively. It's just programmers problem.
Con Not developed anymore for Mac
Con Can't edit files on remote FTP servers
Con Screen scaling issues with 4K displays
It's not recommended to be used on computers with a 4K display as it will cause many scaling problems even in other applications.
Con Ads
Con Bugs and no support
While it's overall performance is good, the tool overrides Windows Explorer by force which can result in bugs, crashes and screen freezes that can only be solved by stopping the task. Sometimes it crashes the explorer all together which can leave you without access to the windows toolbar.
Con VirusTotal finds adware and possible viruses
More than 40 online antivirus/anti malware scanners reports issues. Do try it your self if you think this is a competitor trying to give Clover a bad rep. I used it before, but now I've abandoned it. Especially because the installation etc. are in Chinese so you don-t stand a chance to know what you're doing.
Con Installing and uninstalling is in Chinese
Con Win 10 Quick access bar break
It breaks the win 10 quick access bar, options stop working.
