Free File Explorer Alternatives for Mac

File Explorer is not available for Mac but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on macOS with similar functionality. The best free Mac alternative 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 many of them are free and available for Mac so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free Mac alternatives to File Explorer are Spacedrive, GNOME Files, Thunar and ForkLift.

filter to find the best alternatives

File Explorer alternatives are mainly File Managers, but if you're looking for File Sync Tools or FTP Clients you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source, Windows, Windows + Open Source, Windows + Free, Free, Linux and Mac. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to File Explorer.
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Alternatives list

  1. Double Commander icon

    Double Commander

     605 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.

    135 Double Commander alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Double Commander screenshot 1
     
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    3
    Double Commander vs File Explorer Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    It tries too hard to be just a Total Commander replacement. Ultimately it feels like a console interface file manager rather than a GUI file manager with a lot of simple mechanisms in modern GUI-based file managers (not just Windows Explorer!) incredibly hard to replicate.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    -13

    not contain columns for video settings (video length)

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    RemovedUser
    Negative
    -84

    Why 2 windows in one? I just want a directory tree with a pane showing the contents of that directory.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Double Commander is Free and Open SourceFile Explorer is Free and Proprietary
    • Double Commander is Privacy focusedFile Explorer is not according to our users
  2. Spacedrive icon

    Spacedrive

     159 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.

    82 Spacedrive alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Spacedrive screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Spacedrive vs File Explorer Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Because it lacks a lot of features. For exemple, it doesn't handle network shares.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Spacedrive is Free and Open SourceFile Explorer is Free and Proprietary
    • Spacedrive is Privacy focusedFile Explorer is not according to our users
  4. GNOME Files icon

    GNOME Files

     223 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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    4
    GNOME Files vs File Explorer Comments
    ichimitch
    Positive
    0

    Imagine being a Linux user

    ab1
    Negative
    0

    Many missing features like open as admin.

    Guest
    Negative
    0

    nautilus is for linux. file explorer is for windows

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 4 comments
    • GNOME Files is Free and Open SourceFile Explorer is Free and Proprietary
    • GNOME Files is Privacy focusedFile Explorer is not according to our users
  5. 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
     
  7. muCommander icon

    muCommander

     125 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...).

    112 muCommander alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD
    • Java
    muCommander screenshot 1
     
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    1
    muCommander vs File Explorer Comments
    RemovedUser
    Negative
    -8

    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.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • muCommander is Free and Open SourceFile Explorer is Free and Proprietary
  9. Finder icon

    Finder

     63 likes

    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.

    145 Finder alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Finder screenshot 1
     
  10. CoverFlowFinder icon

    CoverFlowFinder

     10 likes

    Brings iconic 3D Cover Flow file browsing to macOS, includes dual pane navigation, Quick Look integration, sidebar access to volumes, instant file sorting, context menus, type-ahead search, familiar Finder-like interface, and open source availability.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    CoverFlowFinder screenshot 1
     
  11. Commander One icon

    Commander One

     73 likes

    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.

    95 Commander One alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Commander One screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Commander One vs File Explorer Comments
    RemovedUser
    Negative
    -5

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

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Commander One is Freemium and ProprietaryFile Explorer is Free and Proprietary
  12. fman icon

    fman

     233 likes

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

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Demonstration
     
  13. trolCommander icon

    trolCommander

     54 likes

    trolCommander - fork of the free and opensource muCommander filemanager.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    trolCommander screenshot 1
     
  14. Fover icon

    Fover

     6 likes

    Introducing Fover, a fresh approach to file management on your macOS device. With Fover, moving files and folders becomes a breeze, taking just three simple steps: drag and drop files into the app, specify the destination folder, and click the move button.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Fover screenshot 1
     
12 of 23 File Explorer alternatives