Best File Manager Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Filestash is ranked #1 of 99 as of 3 October 2026, ahead of Dolphin and WinSCP. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Dolphin. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Owlfiles at $1.08/mo.
Finding a file manager that fits your routine can depend on both where files live and how you move through them. Compared on archive support, cloud storage access, supported platforms, dual-pane view, and tabs, these options also include batch rename and portable versions as comparison points. Free plans and paid-from pricing help frame the cost. Dolphin and WinSCP head the ranking, with Total Commander next; Krusader, Files, and Commander One also appear among the first entries. Look at the listed navigation and file-handling features alongside the platforms and storage locations you use.
99 file manager software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
| # | Platform | Score | Why | From | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Filestash | 8.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | View |
| 2 | Dolphin | 8.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | linux, windows | View |
| 3 | WinSCP | 8.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | Microsoft Windows | View |
| 4 | Total Commander | 7.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | Free | windows, android | View |
| 5 |  FreeCommander | 7.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | €1.50/mo | Yes | — | Windows | View |
| 6 |  Krusader | 7.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | linux | View |
| 7 | Commander One | 7.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $29.99/mo | Yes | $29.99one-time | macos | View |
| 8 | Midnight Commander | 7.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | linux, macos | View |
| 9 |  GNOME Commander | 7.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | linux | View |
| 10 | Altap Salamander | 7.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Windows | View |
| 11 |  Multi Commander | 7.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | windows | View |
| 12 | OneCommander | 7.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | $30one-time | windows | View |
| 13 |  Thunar | 7.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | linux | View |
| 14 | Far Manager | 7.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Windows | View |
| 15 |  xplorer² | 7.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | $39.95one-time | windows | View |
| 16 | Files | 6.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | windows | View |
| 17 | Yazi | 6.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | linux, windows, macos | View |
| 18 |  TagSpaces | 6.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | web, windows, macos, linux, ios, android, chrome_extension | View |
| 19 |  The Explorer's Friend | 6.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 20 | Owlfiles | 6.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $1.08/mo | Yes | — | — | View |
| 21 |  Vifm | 6.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Linux, Windows, macOS | View |
| 22 |  FileVoyager | 6.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Windows | View |
| 23 |  Nimble Commander | 6.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | macOS | View |
| 24 |  MiXplorer | 6.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | android | View |
| 25 |  EF Commander | 6.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $36/mo | Yes | $36one-time | Windows | View |
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which file manager software is ranked first on Inferse?
Filestash is ranked #1 of 99 with a score of 8.5. Dolphin is second and WinSCP third.
How many of these have a free plan?
9 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Owlfiles has the lowest first paid tier we found: $1.08/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, open and connectable first: a public API, open-source code, the depth of its documentation and a free tier to try it on. Model lists are sorted by the figure in their title, exactly as each provider publishes it. Paid placements never change a rank.