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Windows App

Files

A modern file manager for Windows with tabs, dual panes and tags.

Visit Files4.6
  • Rating

    4.6 / 5

  • Pricing

    Free

  • Difficulty

    Beginner

  • Works on

    Windows

Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com

What is Files?

Files is a free, open-source file manager for Windows 10 and 11 that gives File Explorer a cleaner, faster workflow. Browse in tabs and dual panes, tag files across folders, preview documents, connect cloud drives and FTP servers, view Git repositories and run actions from a keyboard-driven command palette.

Third-party open-source projects. We are not affiliated with their authors; repositories are provided as-is by their maintainers. Review each project's license, code and security before installing. See our Disclaimer.

Pros: what Files does well

  • Tabs and dual panes for faster file work
  • Tags that work across folders
  • Free and open source

Cons: where it falls short

  • Windows only
  • The Microsoft Store version is paid; the free installer comes from the website

Who Files is for

Windows users who move, sort and find files all day and want more than File Explorer.

Who can skip it

Mac and Linux users, or people who rarely manage files.

Files alternatives

Not sold on Files? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.

Yazi

Focus: terminal ui and developer tool. Shares file manager and open source with Files. A desktop app, not a Windows app. Adds macOS, Linux and Offline. Rated 4.7 (Files: 4.6).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows

superfile

Focus: terminal ui and developer tool. Shares file manager and open source with Files. A desktop app, not a Windows app. Adds macOS, Linux and Offline. Same 4.6 rating.

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows

lf

Focus: terminal, keyboard shortcuts and command line. Shares file manager and open source with Files. A desktop app, not a Windows app. Adds macOS and Linux. Rated 4.5 (Files: 4.6).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows

ouch

Focus: compression, zip and archive. Shares open source and github with Files. A desktop app, not a Windows app. Adds macOS and Linux. Rated 4.5 (Files: 4.6).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows

nnn

Focus: terminal, batch rename and disk usage. Shares file manager and open source with Files. A desktop app, not a Windows app. Adds macOS and Linux. Same 4.6 rating.

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux

Broot

Focus: terminal, navigation and command line. Shares file manager and open source with Files. A desktop app, not a Windows app. Adds macOS and Linux. Rated 4.5 (Files: 4.6).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows

Free alternatives to Files

Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.

Double Commander

Focus: dual pane and batch rename. Shares file manager and open source with Files. A desktop app, not a Windows app. Adds macOS, Linux and Offline. Rated 4.5 (Files: 4.6).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows

fzf

Focus: fuzzy finder, command line and shell. Shares open source and github with Files. A desktop app, not a Windows app. Adds macOS, Linux and Offline. Rated 4.8 (Files: 4.6).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows

Immich

Focus: photo backup, photo library and self-hosted. Shares open source and github with Files. A web app, not a Windows app. Adds Web, iOS and Android. Rated 4.8 (Files: 4.6).

Web AppFreeWeb, iOS

AeroSpace

Focus: tiling window manager, window management and keyboard shortcuts. Shares open source and github with Files. A Mac app, not a Windows app. Adds macOS. Rated 4.7 (Files: 4.6).

Mac AppFreemacOS

Atuin

Focus: shell history, terminal and command line. Shares open source and github with Files. A desktop app, not a Windows app. Adds macOS and Linux. Rated 4.7 (Files: 4.6).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux

bat

Focus: file viewer, command line and developer tool. Shares open source and github with Files. A desktop app, not a Windows app. Adds macOS, Linux and Offline. Rated 4.7 (Files: 4.6).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
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