Free File Explorer Alternatives

The best free alternative to File Explorer is Double Commander, which is also Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to File Explorer and loads of them is free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to File Explorer are Total Commander, Files, FreeCommander and Q-Dir.

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File Explorer alternatives are mainly File Managers but may also be File Search Utilities or FTP Clients.  Other popular filters includes Windows + Open Source and Windows + Free. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of File Explorer.
File Explorer iconFile Explorer
  231
  • ...

Manage files effortlessly with a graphical interface offering offline access, dark mode, ad-free usage, and zip support, optimized for Windows.

More about File Explorer
More about File Explorer
File Explorer alternatives page was last updated Feb 13, 2025
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  1. Fossify File Manager icon
    Fossify File Manager icon

    Fossify File Manager

     32 likes
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    Tired of file managers that slow you down and invade your privacy? Unlock a lightning-fast, secure, and completely customizable experience with Fossify File Manager. ?

    53 Fossify File Manager alternatives
    Fossify File Manager screenshot 1
    Fossify File Manager screenshot 2
    +3
    Fossify File Manager screenshot 3

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  No Tracking
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Live Preview
    7.  Supports Zip files
    8.  Built-in viewer
    9.  Material design
    10.  MD5 signature
    11.  Checksums verification
    Fossify File Manager iconFile Explorer Icon

    Fossify File Manager VS File Explorer

    Is Fossify File Manager a good alternative to File Explorer?
     
  2. Thunar icon
    Thunar icon

    Thunar

     140 likes
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    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.

    86 Thunar alternatives
    Thunar screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Xfce
    • MacPorts
    • XQuartz
    Thunar screenshot 1
    Thunar screenshot 2

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Custom Actions
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Live Preview
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  Batch Rename Files
    10.  File Tagging
    11.  Built-in viewer
    12.  Integrated Search
    Thunar iconFile Explorer Icon

    Thunar VS File Explorer

    Is Thunar a good alternative to File Explorer?
     
  4. Sigma File Manager icon
    Sigma File Manager icon

    Sigma File Manager

     27 likes
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    Sigma File Manager is a free, open-source, quickly evolving, modern file manager (explorer / finder) app for Windows and Linux.

    63 Sigma File Manager alternatives
    Sigma File Manager screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Sigma File Manager screenshot 1
    Sigma File Manager screenshot 2
    +7
    Sigma File Manager screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Integrated File Sharing
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  No Tracking
    7.  Support for scripting
    8.  File Tagging
    9.  Built-in archiver
    10.  Group tabs
    Sigma File Manager iconFile Explorer Icon

    Sigma File Manager VS File Explorer

    Is Sigma File Manager a good alternative to File Explorer?
     
    Comments about Sigma File Manager as an Alternative to File Explorer
     
    Guest

    Amazing alternative to explorer.exe sleek and full featured. Certainly worth trying out!

    Positive comment •Jun 24, 2023
    0
    File Explorer Icon
    Sigma File Manager icon
    • Sigma File Manager is Free and Open SourceFile Explorer is Free and Proprietary
    • Sigma File Manager is Privacy focusedFile Explorer is not according to our users
  5. Tablacus Explorer icon
    Tablacus Explorer icon

    Tablacus Explorer

     37 likes
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    Tablacus Explorer is a tabbed file manager with Add-on support.

    Tabbed interface Add-on support Customizable association, menus, keys, mouse gestures, alias Completely Portable, No installation required Multiple language and Unicode support Open source .

    41 Tablacus Explorer alternatives
    Tablacus Explorer screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Tablacus Explorer screenshot 1
    Tablacus Explorer screenshot 2

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Tabbed interface
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Portable
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Multiple languages
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Support for Unicode
    Tablacus Explorer iconFile Explorer Icon

    Tablacus Explorer VS File Explorer

    Is Tablacus Explorer a good alternative to File Explorer?
     
    Comments about Tablacus Explorer as an Alternative to File Explorer
     
    Guest

    It has multiple panes to be viewed at the same time. These can be extend to the number desired, by extensions.

    Positive comment •Oct 13, 2023
    0
    Guest

    Very customizable and responsive. It has preloaded layouts such as dual pane, four pane, one pane layouts and layouts with tab titles at different places. You can create customized bars, etc. Although not as good as Linux alternatives, it's quite above the average for Windows file managers. However, customization is a bit complicated, it's something for power users.

    Positive comment •Nov 2, 2016
    2
    File Explorer Icon
    Tablacus Explorer icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Tablacus Explorer is a great File Explorer alternative.

    • Tablacus Explorer is Free and Open SourceFile Explorer is Free and Proprietary
    • Tablacus Explorer is Lightweight and Privacy focusedFile Explorer is not according to our users
  6. Multi Commander icon
    Multi Commander icon

    Multi Commander

     111 likes
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    Multi Commander is a multi-tabbed file manager and is an alternative to the standard Windows Explorer. It uses the very popular and efficient dual-panel layout.

    83 Multi Commander alternatives
    Multi Commander screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Multi Commander screenshot 1
    Multi Commander screenshot 2
    +6
    Multi Commander screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for scripting
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    5.  Portable
    6.  Plugin API
    7.  Folder Size
    8.  Windows-explorer
    9.  Copy & paste actions
    10.  Integrated Search
    11.  Folders
    Multi Commander iconFile Explorer Icon

    Multi Commander VS File Explorer

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  7. Far Manager icon
    Far Manager icon

    Far Manager

     173 likes
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    Far Manager is a program for managing files and archives in Windows operating systems. Far Manager works in text mode and provides a simple and intuitive interface for performing most of the necessary actions:

    103 Far Manager alternatives
    Main Window

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Far Manager Features

    1.  Dual Pane Support
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Text mode
    4.  Build command lines picking files
    5.  Command line interface
    6.  QuickLook File Preview
    7.  Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
    8.  Console-based
    Far Manager iconFile Explorer Icon

    Far Manager VS File Explorer

    Is Far Manager a good alternative to File Explorer?
     
  9. ForkLift icon
    ForkLift icon

    ForkLift

     96 likes
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    The most advanced dual pane file manager and file transfer client for macOS.

    115 ForkLift alternatives
    ForkLift screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Side Bar * Dual Panes for easy navigation * Preview Panel - Live Preview * Icon View, List View, Column View * Dropbox Integration - Copy Dropbox link * Show Hidden Files
    File Transfer Tool for Mac * FTP Client * SFTP Client * WebDAV Client * Amazon S3 Client * Backblaze B2 client * Google Drive Client * Rackspace CloudFiles Client * SMB Client * AFP Client * NFS Client * VNC Client * You can save remote Connections as Favorites * You can use ForkLift Mini in the Menu bar to mount Saved Connections * You can use ForkLift Mini to drop Files to Saved Connections
    +9
    Application Deleter - There is no need to buy an App Removal Tool because it's built into ForkLift * The App Deleter removes applications with all their preferences and support items

    Top ForkLift Features

    1.  Dual Pane Support
    2.  Mount FTP drives
    3.  Support for SFTP
    4.  Support for FTP
    5.  Mounting drives
    6.  Miller columns
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  Command line interface
    9.  Live Preview
    10.  Favorites
    11.  Directory sync
    ForkLift iconFile Explorer Icon

    ForkLift VS File Explorer

    Is ForkLift a good alternative to File Explorer?
     
  10. Finder icon
    Finder icon

    Finder

     63 likes
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    The Finder is the first thing that you see when your Mac finishes starting up. It opens automatically and stays open as you use other apps. It includes the Finder menu bar at the top of the screen and the desktop below that.

    142 Finder alternatives
    Finder screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac

    Finder Features

    1.  File Tagging
    2.  Support for FTP
    3.  WebDAV Support
    4.  Miller columns
    Finder screenshot 1
    Finder screenshot 2
    +1
    Finder screenshot 3
    Finder iconFile Explorer Icon

    Finder VS File Explorer

    Is Finder a good alternative to File Explorer?
     
  11. muCommander icon
    muCommander icon

    muCommander

     124 likes
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    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
    muCommander screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD
    • Java
    muCommander screenshot 1
    muCommander screenshot 2

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  No registration required
    3.  No Coding Required
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  Portable
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Dual Pane Support
    8.  Java based
    9.  SSH
    muCommander iconFile Explorer Icon

    muCommander VS File Explorer

    Is muCommander a good alternative to File Explorer?
     
    Comments about muCommander as an Alternative to File Explorer
     
    RemovedUser

    Forced to have 2 panes open, neither one is wide enough. Open the "tree view" and you've lost a lot of screen real estate. Neither pane follows the tree view either, so there's no point having it.

    Negative comment •Apr 14, 2018
    -8
    File Explorer Icon
    muCommander icon

    • Some users think muCommander is a great File Explorer alternative, some don't.

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

    • muCommander is Free and Open SourceFile Explorer is Free and Proprietary
    • muCommander is LightweightFile Explorer is not according to our users
  12. Commander One icon
    Commander One icon

    Commander One

     69 likes
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    Commander One is dual-pane file manager for OS X created in Swift, which enables you to manage your files in the best possible way.

    88 Commander One alternatives
    Commander One screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Commander One screenshot 1
    Commander One screenshot 2
    +4
    Commander One screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  AES-256 Encryption
    2.  Built-in viewer
    3.  Full-Text Search
    4.  Cloud Sync
    5.  Command line interface
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  File Tagging
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  Search-in-files
    10.  Miller columns
    11.  Support for SFTP
    12.  Export to PDF
    Commander One iconFile Explorer Icon

    Commander One VS File Explorer

    Is Commander One a good alternative to File Explorer?
     
    Comments about Commander One as an Alternative to File Explorer
     
    RemovedUser

    Is there a choice for single-pane? Or would that be Commander Two?

    Negative comment •Apr 14, 2018
    -5
    File Explorer Icon
    Commander One icon
    • Commander One is Freemium and ProprietaryFile Explorer is Free and Proprietary
    • Commander One is LightweightFile Explorer is not according to our users
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