File Explorer Alternatives for Linux

File Explorer is not available for Linux but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Linux with similar functionality. The best Linux alternative is Double Commander, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to File Explorer and many of them are available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to File Explorer are Spacedrive, Dolphin File Manager, GNOME Files and Thunar.

filter to find the best alternatives

File Explorer alternatives are mainly File Managers, but if you're looking for File Search Utilities or File Sync Tools you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source, Windows + Open Source, Windows, Free, File Management, Mac and Linux. 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

     594 likes
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    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

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Double Commander screenshot 1
     
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    41
    Comments about Double Commander as an Alternative to File Explorer
    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
    -12

    not contain columns for video settings (video length)

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    RemovedUser
    Negative
    -83

    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.
    File Explorer Icon
    Double Commander icon

    • Most users think Double Commander is a great File Explorer alternative.

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

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

    • 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

     144 likes
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    Organize files across many devices in one place. From cloud services to offline hard drives, Spacedrive combines the storage capacity and processing power of your devices into one personal distributed cloud, that is both secure and intuitive to use.

    76 Spacedrive alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Spacedrive screenshot 1
     
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    6
    Comments about Spacedrive as an Alternative to File Explorer
    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.
    File Explorer Icon
    Spacedrive icon

    • Most users think Spacedrive is a great File Explorer alternative.

    • Spacedrive is Free and Open SourceFile Explorer is Free and Proprietary
    • Spacedrive is Privacy focusedFile Explorer is not according to our users
  4. Dolphin File Manager icon

    Dolphin File Manager

     222 likes
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    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

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Windows
    Dolphin File Manager screenshot 1
     
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    Comments about Dolphin File Manager as an Alternative to File Explorer
    tibi97427
    Negative
    2

    Dolphin is for linux, not for Windows.

    aronkvh
    Positive
    0

    It's amazing on Linux and pretty good on Windows. It's pretty, fast, customizable and has a lot of features.

    stevem109
    Positive
    0

    Dolphin is one of my favorite file managers. The negative comment above is incorrect. "Dolphin is for Linux.............", there is also a Windows version, just not as full featured.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    File Explorer Icon
    Dolphin File Manager icon

    • Most users think Dolphin File Manager is a great File Explorer alternative.

    • Dolphin File Manager is Free and Open SourceFile Explorer is Free and Proprietary
    • Dolphin File Manager is Privacy focusedFile Explorer is not according to our users
  5. GNOME Files icon

    GNOME Files

     220 likes
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    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

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • GNOME
    • MacPorts
    • XQuartz
    GNOME Files screenshot 1
     
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    12
    Comments about GNOME Files as an Alternative to File Explorer
    ichimitch
    Positive
    0

    Imagine being a Linux user

    Guest
    Negative
    1

    nautilus is for linux. file explorer is for windows

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    ab1
    Negative
    0

    Many missing features like open as admin.

    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    File Explorer Icon
    GNOME Files icon

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

    • GNOME Files is Free and Open SourceFile Explorer is Free and Proprietary
    • GNOME Files is Privacy focusedFile Explorer is not according to our users
  6. Thunar icon

    Thunar

     148 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.

    87 Thunar alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Xfce
    • MacPorts
    • XQuartz
    Thunar screenshot 1
     
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    6
  7. Sigma File Manager icon

    Sigma File Manager

     30 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.

    68 Sigma File Manager alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Sigma File Manager screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about Sigma File Manager as an Alternative to File Explorer
    Guest
    Positive
    0

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

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    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
  9. 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...).

    106 muCommander alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD
    • Java
    muCommander screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about muCommander as an Alternative to File Explorer
    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.
    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
  10. fman icon

    fman

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

    106 fman alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once or Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Demonstration
     
  11. PCMan File Manager icon

    PCMan File Manager

     58 likes
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    PCMan File Manager (PCManFM) is a file manager application, developed by Hong Jen Yee from Taiwan, which is meant to be a replacement for GNOME Files, Dolphin and Thunar. PCManFM is the standard file manager in LXDE, also developed by the same author in conjunction with other...

    47 PCMan File Manager alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • LXDE
    • GTK
    PCMan File Manager screenshot 1
     
  12. Index (Maui Applications) icon

    Index (Maui Applications)

     12 likes
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    Index is a convergent file manager, it the user with a simple way to navigate and manage files. Index incorporates features such as miller columns, embedded terminal, split views, file previews, experimental WebDAV support, tags.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Android
    • AppImageHub
    • Linux Mobile
    • Plasma Mobile
    • Flatpak
    • Flathub
    Index (Maui Applications) screenshot 1
     
  13. trolCommander icon

    trolCommander

     54 likes
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    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. Vifm icon

    Vifm

     24 likes
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    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Vifm with light theme in iTerm2 with Inconsolata font on OS X
     
12 of 31 File Explorer alternatives