Best Terminal File Managers in 2026
Updated
In short: FileManagerTUI is ranked #1 of 28 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Newt and Rat Commander. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Newt.
Terminal file managers let you browse and handle files without leaving a command-line workflow. Compared on dual-pane layouts, preview panes, archive support and remote file access, they also differ in listed support for Linux, macOS and Windows. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing as part of the comparison. Newt, FileManagerTUI and Rat Commander head the ranking, followed by RTFM and pointer; Yazi, Vifm and far2l also appear among the early entries. Use the ordering and platform details to focus on tools suited to how you navigate files and the systems you use.
28 terminal file managers ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Terminal File Managers, one module each. A lit port is something its maker publishes; 0 of the 25 on this page have a public API.
- 01 FileManagerTUI API not on recordOSS yesFREE yesDOCS 6.7Free
- 02 Newt API not on recordOSS yesFREE yesDOCS 6.7Free
- 03 Rat Commander API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 6.0Free
- 04 far2l API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 05 pointer API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 06 superfile API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 07 Broot API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.8Free
- 08 Runa API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.8Free
- 09 Zeta API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.8Free
- 10 Deepfence SecretScanner API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.7Free
- 11 nnn API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.3
- 12 Clifm API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.2
- 13 elio API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.2
- 14 Middle Manager API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.2
- 15 Termix API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.2
- 16 xplr API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.2
- 17 Alfa API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 18 cfiles API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 19 Far Manager API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 20 Joshuto API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 21 Midnight Commander API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 22 ranger API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 23 TUIFIManager API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 24 UnixTree API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 25 Vifm API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
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 terminal file manager is ranked first on Inferse?
FileManagerTUI is ranked #1 of 28 with a score of 6.7. Newt is second and Rat Commander third.
How many of these have a free plan?
10 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
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.