ranger AlternativesFile Managers and other similar apps like ranger

ranger is described as 'Terminal file manager with VI key bindings. It provides a minimalistic and nice curses interface with a view on the directory hierarchy. The secondary task of ranger is to psychically guess which program you want to use for opening particular files' and is a popular File Manager in the development category. There are more than 25 alternatives to ranger for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Mac, Windows, BSD and Android apps. The best ranger alternative is Double Commander, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like ranger are Spacedrive, Dolphin File Manager, Midnight Commander and Thunar.

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Alternatives list

  1. Double Commander icon

    Double Commander

     597 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.

    129 Double Commander alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Double Commander screenshot 1
     

    • Double Commander is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to ranger.

    • Double Commander is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to ranger.

    • Double Commander is Free and Open Sourceranger is also Free and Open Source
    • Double Commander is Lightweight and Privacy focusedranger is not according to our users
  2. Spacedrive icon

    Spacedrive

     148 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.

    76 Spacedrive alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

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

    Dolphin File Manager

     226 likes

    Dolphin is a file manager for KDE focusing on usability. Has three view modes: Icon, Detail and it used to have Column View like in Finder (it is not available in current version due to problems with maintaibility). Supports FTP, SCP and other protocols. Highly configurable.

    78 Dolphin File Manager alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Windows
    Dolphin File Manager screenshot 1
     
  5. Midnight Commander icon

    Midnight Commander

     243 likes

    GNU Midnight Commander is a visual file manager, licensed under GNU General Public License and therefore qualifies as Free Software. Its a feature rich full-screen text mode application that allows you to copy, move and delete files and whole directory trees, search for files...

    103 Midnight Commander alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Cygwin
    • MacPorts
    Midnight Commander screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    Comments about Midnight Commander as an Alternative to ranger
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    It also runs on the console, but it is not based on vim-style keybindings, so navigation is more traditional while ranger & lf (below) focuses on keyboard usage efficiency

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    ranger Icon
    Midnight Commander icon
    • Midnight Commander is Free and Open Sourceranger is also Free and Open Source
    • Midnight Commander is Lightweight and Minimalisticranger is not according to our users
  6. 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.

    87 Thunar alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Xfce
    • MacPorts
    • XQuartz
    Thunar screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    Comments about Thunar as an Alternative to ranger
    RemovedUser
    Negative
    1

    This is not CLI this is GUI, can't compare this to Ranger ^_^

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    ranger Icon
    Thunar icon
    • Thunar is Free and Open Sourceranger is also Free and Open Source
    • Thunar is Lightweightranger is not according to our users
  7. Superfile icon

    Superfile

     33 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.

    38 Superfile alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Superfile screenshot 1
     
  9. muCommander icon

    muCommander

     124 likes

    muCommander is a lightweight, cross-platform file manager with a dual-pane interface. It runs on any operating system with Java support (Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, *BSD, Solaris...).

    107 muCommander alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD
    • Java
    muCommander screenshot 1
     

    • muCommander is the most popular Web-based alternative to ranger.

    • muCommander is Free and Open Sourceranger is also Free and Open Source
    • muCommander is Lightweightranger is not according to our users
  10. lf (file manager) icon

    lf (file manager)

     14 likes

    Terminal file manager written in Go (programming language).

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD
    • DragonFly BSD
    • NetBSD
    lf (file manager) screenshot 1
     
  11. yazi icon

    yazi

     7 likes

    Yazi (means "duck") is a terminal file manager written in Rust, based on non-blocking async I/O. It aims to provide an efficient, user-friendly, and customizable file management experience.

    7 yazi alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Arch Linux
    • Windows
    • Mac
     
  12. fman icon

    fman

     233 likes

    The most modern dual-pane file manager. For Windows, Mac and Linux.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once or Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Demonstration
     
  13. Vifm icon

    Vifm

     24 likes

    Vifm is a file manager with curses interface, which provides Vi[m]-like environment for managing objects within file systems, extended with some useful ideas from mutt.

    86 Vifm alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Vifm with light theme in iTerm2 with Inconsolata font on OS X
     
  14. nnn icon

    nnn

     16 likes

    Initially forked from noice file browser, nnn is a super fast and resource-sensitive, terminal-based file browser.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    nnn screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    Comments about nnn as an Alternative to ranger
    Rodney42
    Positive
    1

    Uses a standard mime type opener not its own. Fast. Minimal configuration needed.

    ranger Icon
    nnn icon
    • nnn is Free and Open Sourceranger is also Free and Open Source
    • nnn is Lightweightranger is not according to our users
12 of 33 ranger alternatives