Midnight Commander AlternativesTop File Managers & FTP Clients like Midnight Commander

Midnight Commander is described as 'Visual, text-based file manager for terminals supporting copying, moving, deleting, searching, and editing files remotely and locally in full-screen mode' and is a very popular File Manager in the file management category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Midnight Commander for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, BSD and Android apps. The best Midnight Commander alternative is FileZilla, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Midnight Commander are Double Commander, Total Commander, Spacedrive and Dolphin File Manager.

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Midnight Commander alternatives are mainly File Managers, but if you're looking for FTP Clients or File Search Utilities you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Linux, Mac and Windows. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Midnight Commander.
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Alternatives list

  1. FileZilla icon

    FileZilla

     1924 likes

    Open-source FTP solution offering FTP, FTPS, and SFTP support. FileZilla Pro expands protocol options to WebDAV, Amazon S3, and more with FileZilla Server for comprehensive file management.

    72 FileZilla alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Bundleware

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • ReactOS
    • Haiku
    FileZilla screenshot 1
     
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    10
    FileZilla vs Midnight Commander Comments
    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    13

    Main priority is managing files on ftp server instead of local. Not File Manager like MC!

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    It's not a local files manager like MC. Filezilla is for remote connections.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    FileZilla is for FTP, not local file managing.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 10 comments
    • FileZilla is Freemium and Open SourceMidnight Commander is Free and Open Source
  2. Double Commander icon

    Double Commander

     602 likes

    Open-source file manager with dual-panel interface, inspired by Total Commander. Supports plugin use, advanced search, tabbed browsing, and runs smoothly with background operations. Unicode and multi-platform compatibility enhance its versatility.

    131 Double Commander alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Double Commander screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Double Commander vs Midnight Commander Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    just try it, great application

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Double Commander is Free and Open SourceMidnight Commander is also Free and Open Source
    • Double Commander is Privacy focusedMidnight Commander is not according to our users
  4. Total Commander icon

    Total Commander

     910 likes

    A versatile file manager offering side-by-side dual-pane for intuitive navigation, powerful built-in FTP client, extensive archive format support, robust file comparison tool with editor, advanced multi-rename using regular expressions, and scalable customization options.

    182 Total Commander alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    Total Commander screenshot 1
     
  5. Ad
  6. Spacedrive icon

    Spacedrive

     153 likes

    Open-source file explorer integrates cloud, local, and offline storage across devices using a secure virtual distributed filesystem in Rust, enabling unified management, file syncing, privacy control, intuitive interface, and ownership without centralized servers.

    78 Spacedrive alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Spacedrive screenshot 1
     
  7. Dolphin File Manager icon

    Dolphin File Manager

     231 likes

    Usability-focused file manager for KDE desktops offering tabbed and dual-pane browsing, archive support, quick file renaming, filter-based searching, customizable icons, theme adaptation, preview modes, and extensibility with various service integrations.

    80 Dolphin File Manager alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    Dolphin File Manager screenshot 1
     
  8. FreeCommander icon

    FreeCommander

     397 likes

    Dual-panel file manager with tabbed navigation, built-in viewer for multiple formats, ZIP/RAR/7z archive support, folder sync and comparison, batch renaming, search within archives, customizable keyboard shortcuts, DOS command integration, and full portability.

    117 FreeCommander alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    FreeCommander screenshot 1
     
  10. GNOME Files icon

    GNOME Files

     222 likes

    GNOME Files, formerly known as Nautilus, is the official file manager for the GNOME desktop, giving the user a simple way to navigate and manage its files.

    64 GNOME Files alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • GNOME
    • MacPorts
    • XQuartz
    GNOME Files screenshot 1
     
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    1
    GNOME Files vs Midnight Commander Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    not two-panelled, not console

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • GNOME Files is Free and Open SourceMidnight Commander is also Free and Open Source
    • GNOME Files is Privacy focusedMidnight Commander is not according to our users
  11. Directory Opus icon

    Directory Opus

     227 likes

    Complete Explorer alternative with dual-pane navigation, folder tabs, batch renaming, built-in image and document viewer, portable device access, scriptable interface, archive and metadata support, robust search, color coding, sync tools, and high DPI compatibility.

    86 Directory Opus alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Dual display (vertical layout) without trees (this is the Commander style). Both file displays are in list mode, showing popup tooltip for an image file.
     
  12. XYplorer icon

    XYplorer

     210 likes

    Tabbed browsing, dual pane file management, advanced search with filters, scripting and automation, customizable interface, bulk renaming, integrated file preview for various formats, portable operation without installation, user-defined commands, and multi-language support.

    94 XYplorer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    XYplorer screenshot 1
     
  13. Thunar icon

    Thunar

     148 likes

    Thunar is a modern file manager for the Xfce Desktop Environment. Thunar has been designed from the ground up to be fast and easy-to-use. Its user interface is clean, intuitive, and customizable. Thunar is fast and responsive with a good start up time and directory load time.

    88 Thunar alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Xfce
    • MacPorts
    • XQuartz
    Thunar screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Thunar vs Midnight Commander Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Thunar is NOT a file manager with two panels side by side, it has only one.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    1

    Because it is for X, I need a clear console alternative. Like Norton Commander VS Far VS Dos Navigator.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Thunar is Free and Open SourceMidnight Commander is also Free and Open Source
  14. Q-Dir icon

    Q-Dir

     202 likes

    Q-Dir makes your files and folder easy to manage. Fast and easy access, with an amazing Quadro-View (4 panes) technique. You dont have to renounce the usual, Drag and Drop, all Views, and other functions of your system. No!

    96 Q-Dir alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    Q-Dir default view on Windows 10
     
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    1
    Q-Dir vs Midnight Commander Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    1

    MC is a text based file manager, Q-Dir is mostly graphical and is based on Windows Explorer whereas MC is self-contained.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Q-Dir is Free and ProprietaryMidnight Commander is Free and Open Source
    • Q-Dir is CustomizableMidnight Commander is not according to our users
  15. Superfile icon

    Superfile

     34 likes

    Terminal-based file manager offering a modern, customizable interface with split-screen panels, full keyboard shortcut support, fast file operations, offline access, privacy features, no ads, plugin extensibility, night mode, cross-platform compatibility, and open source code.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Superfile screenshot 1
     
12 of 106 Midnight Commander alternatives