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. FileManagerSphere icon
    FileManagerSphere icon

    FileManagerSphere

     1 like
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    The FileManagerSphere is a powerful file management tool designed to simplify and enhance your experience when dealing with documents, media, and other file types. With advanced features and an intuitive interface, FileManagerSphere provides a comprehensive solution for...

    49 FileManagerSphere alternatives
    FileManagerSphere screenshot 1
    FileManagerSphere screenshot 2
    +7
    FileManagerSphere screenshot 3

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Widgets
    7.  Material design
    FileManagerSphere iconFile Explorer Icon

    FileManagerSphere VS File Explorer

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  2. Operation Center 2024 Premium icon
    Operation Center 2024 Premium icon

    Operation Center 2024 Premium

     2 likes
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    File manager with two file windows, file preview, FTP and ZIP support, an editor, photo management and many wizards. Very fast file operations due to 64 bit architecture.

    17 Operation Center 2024 Premium alternatives
    Operation Center 2024 Premium screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Operation Center 2024 Premium Features

    Operation Center 2024 Premium screenshot 1
    Operation Center 2024 Premium iconFile Explorer Icon

    Operation Center 2024 Premium VS File Explorer

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  4. Caja icon
    Caja icon

    Caja

     10 likes
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    Caja is a fork of Nautilus from GNOME 2 and is native to the MATE Desktop Environment. It is a file manager like the Windows Explorer (not to confuse with Internet Explorer/Microsoft Edge), but for Unix/BSD and Linux.

    47 Caja alternatives
    Caja screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD

    Caja Features

    1.  Dual Pane Support
    2.  WebDAV Support
    Caja iconFile Explorer Icon

    Caja VS File Explorer

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  5. Marlin icon
    Marlin icon

    Marlin

     13 likes
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    Marlin is a new GTK3-based file manager for Linux, pretty slick and fast.

    Unlike most other file managers Marlin has included the so called "Miller columns" view.

    Features

    • Tabbed browsing
    • Multiple-views
    • Single-click to open (default)
    • Configurable toolbars and.
    84 Marlin alternatives
    Marlin with Miller columns

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Marlin Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Multi Column View
    3.  Miller columns
    4. Dropbox icon  Dropbox integration
    5.  Tabbed browsing
    Marlin iconFile Explorer Icon

    Marlin VS File Explorer

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  6. My Commander icon
    My Commander icon

    My Commander

     27 likes
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    My Commander (MyCO) is "the smallest - smartest - fastest file manager in the world", for Windows. Small and smart, MyCO uses less of your computer's memory while it's running.

    128 My Commander alternatives
    My Commander screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows

    My Commander Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Integrated Search
    3.  Tabbed interface
    4.  Secure Copy (SCP)
    My Commander screenshot 1
    My Commander screenshot 2
    +7
    My Commander screenshot 3
    My Commander iconFile Explorer Icon

    My Commander VS File Explorer

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  7. EF Commander icon
    EF Commander icon

    EF Commander

     2 likes
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    EF Commander is a file manager for the Windows 95/98/Me, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Window XP and Windows Vista desktop. If youve ever used and liked Norton Commander, youll like this dual-windowed program, which comes complete with bubble and online help.

    67 EF Commander alternatives
    EF Commander screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows

    EF Commander Features

    1.  Multiple languages
    2.  Tabbed interface
    EF Commander screenshot 1
    EF Commander iconFile Explorer Icon

    EF Commander VS File Explorer

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  9. BB4Win icon
    BB4Win icon

    BB4Win

     19 likes
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    BB4Win (Blackbox for Windows) is an alternative shell for Microsoft Windows. The program aims to emulate the look and feel of a Linux based desktop. The BB4Win project was discontinued in 2005 but various branches have been built from the source.

    22 BB4Win alternatives
    For those who prefer a not-so-minimal setup. If I tried to put 82 icons on my explorer desktop I doubt they'd fit in a single column

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows

    BB4Win Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Linux-based
    Minimalism doesn't mean ugly. Also an example of BB4Win scripting and the box to change your wallpaper
    Start menu freedom, accessible from anywhere you want it to be, containing whatever you want it to and it doesn't lag to load icons
    +1
    Example of a BBClean (BB4Win branch) on Win 7
    Discontinued

    Latest release 2009, see http://bb4win.sourceforge.net/

    BB4Win iconFile Explorer Icon

    BB4Win VS File Explorer

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    Comments about BB4Win as an Alternative to File Explorer
     
    Guest

    shell replacement, not file manager

    Negative comment •Oct 28, 2015
    2
    File Explorer Icon
    BB4Win icon
    • BB4Win is Free and Open SourceFile Explorer is Free and Proprietary
  10. Saladin icon
    Saladin icon

    Saladin

     10 likes
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    Saladin is an open source dual-pane file manager for Windows which merges the capabilities of Windows Explorer with the well known and easy to use orthodox user interface.

    79 Saladin alternatives
    Main window (standard theme)

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Main window (dark theme)
    Options
    +2
    Search

    Saladin Features

    1.  Built-in viewer
    2.  Supports Zip files
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Dual Pane Support
    5.  Shell integration
    6.  Drag and Drop
    7.  Support for FTP
    8.  Integrated Search
    Discontinued

    Last version is from May 2017. See here: https://saladin.mimec.org/news

    Saladin iconFile Explorer Icon

    Saladin VS File Explorer

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  11. ExplorerEx icon
    ExplorerEx icon

    ExplorerEx

     1 like
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    A Swift, Multi-Tabbed, Modern UI and Humanized File Explorer.

    56 ExplorerEx alternatives
    ExplorerEx screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows

    ExplorerEx Features

    1.  XAML
    ExplorerEx screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    The latest version is from 2022 and the GitHub repository has been archived.

    ExplorerEx iconFile Explorer Icon

    ExplorerEx VS File Explorer

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  12. Konvertor icon
    Konvertor icon

    Konvertor

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    Konvertor is a fast and reliable two-panel, multi-tabs file manager for Windows. It has an intuitive interface, offers viewers for all popular file formats as well as uncommon and very rare ones.

    13 Konvertor alternatives
    Konvertor screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Konvertor Features

    1.  Portable
    Discontinued

    Last version 5.04.18 is from 2017 but can still be downloaded on their website.

    Konvertor iconFile Explorer Icon

    Konvertor VS File Explorer

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