Thunar vs Ranger

Unlike Nautilus, which requires the whole GNOME desktop, thunar just depends on some XFCE utilities & GTK.

While in a Thunar window, typing either a "~" or a "/" will automatically start typing into the "address-bar" and pressing enter goes straight to the typed directory.

In a thunar window, any non-directory typing will search in the current directory for the filename that you type (non-recursive, unlike Nautilus)

Select multiple files in the current folder using a wildcard pattern.

Use Custom Actions to add right-click options to do things like Open as Root, Open Git GUI, etc. You can filter the file types and filename patterns that the actions will show up for.

To add an "Open as Root" action, go to Edit, Configure custom actions. Assign a name and a description. Set Command as "gksudo xdg-open %f" (you'll need to install gksudo since pkexec won't work). Pick an icon (I prefer "changes-allow"). Under Appearance Conditions, select Directories, Text Files, and Other Files.

Supports the M4 and M5 mouse buttons for forward/back, similarly to most browsers.

With also predefined functions as insert (date, numbering,...), search/replace, etc ...

Browse files in two directories with a dual pane view.

But nothing more.

While in a Thunar window, typing a filename automatically selects the first matching file in the current folder.

Thunar can use the editable accelerator feature of XFCE.

Run xfce4-appearance-settings in terminal, go to settings tab, check "enable editable accelerator". Now open any command in Thunar menu, hover to a command, i.e. your custom "places" or your custom command, then press any combination to assign a shortcut to it.
be careful though, cause it will also remove the shortcut from other command.

Use tabs to open fewer windows. New tabs automatically start in the same location. Tabs can be detached.

Which makes for a good choice of file explorer for those that use machines without a GUI.

There is no need for icons of files if headings are used. Previews of text documents and a simple design creates and efficient workflow.

Ranger has Vim-like keybindings which help a lot in increasing efficiency and speed up the workflow.

Ranger allows the use of various scripts for calling on individual or multiple files, for file previews, or for other operations.

In commands.py the "my_edit"-function can be extended to do whatever in python can be done. Target files can be the file under the cursor (self.fm.thisfile.path), the files marked/selected in the current tab (self.fm.thistab.get_selection() ) and the files in the copy-buffer (add/remove: ya, yr) (respectively the delete-buffer: add/remove da/dr) (both: self.fm.copy_buffer).
The most appropriate list of files can be found out automatically, like so:
if self.fm.copy_buffer:
for file in self.fm.copy_buffer:
...
elif self.fm.thistab.get_selection():
for file in self.fm.thistab.get_selection():
...
else:
file = self.fm.thisfile.path
...

Unlike other terminal file managers, Ranger can preview many files, including text files, archives, etc, but also pdf files, pictures and videos.

Makes it easy to jump to any specific folder locations you work with.

Ranger can use w3m to preview images in terminal through framebuffer.

This software is super fast and responsive in navigation.

Supports any number of viewports on folders side by side.

This may fall under "File preview", but it is a very powerful feature for PDF files in particular.