Best Terminal File Managers in 2026
29 terminal file managers ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
29ranked
17free plans on this page
3 Oct 2026last checked
#1 Rat Commander Top pick · 8.8 Free plan · Free
#2 Newt Runner-up · 8.7 Free plan · Free
#3 FileManagerTUI Also great · 8.7 Free plan · Free- Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Dual-pane layout
- Yes
- Linux support
- Yes
- macOS support
- Yes
- Windows support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free planOpen source LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Dual-pane layout
- Yes
- Linux support
- Yes
- macOS support
- Yes
- Windows support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trialFree About NewtVisit site - Free planOpen source LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Dual-pane layout
- Yes
- Linux support
- Yes
- macOS support
- Yes
- Windows support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan LinuxmacOSRecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trialFree About RTFMVisit site
- Free plan LinuxmacOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Dual-pane layout
- Yes
- Linux support
- Yes
- macOS support
- Yes
- Windows support
- No
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Dual-pane layout
- Yes
- Linux support
- Yes
- macOS support
- Yes
- Windows support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Dual-pane layout
- Yes
- Linux support
- Yes
- macOS support
- Yes
- Windows support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trialFree About YaziVisit site - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Dual-pane layout
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trialFree About VifmVisit site - Free plan LinuxmacOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Linux support
- Yes
- macOS support
- Yes
- Windows support
- No
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - WindowsmacOSLinux
- Dual-pane layout
- Yes
- Linux support
- Yes
- macOS support
- Yes
- Windows support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - LinuxmacOSAndroid
- Dual-pane layout
- No
- Linux support
- Yes
- macOS support
- Yes
- Windows support
- No
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan LinuxmacOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Dual-pane layout
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan WindowsmacOSLinux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Dual-pane layout
- Yes
- Linux support
- Yes
- macOS support
- Yes
- Windows support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trialFree About RunaVisit site - LinuxmacOSAndroid
- Dual-pane layout
- No
- Linux support
- Yes
- macOS support
- Yes
- Windows support
- No
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Dual-pane layout
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - LinuxmacOSWindows
- Dual-pane layout
- No
- Linux support
- Yes
- macOS support
- Yes
- Windows support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan LinuxmacOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Linux support
- Yes
- macOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan LinuxmacOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Linux support
- Yes
- macOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan LinuxmacOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Dual-pane layout
- Yes
- Linux support
- Yes
- macOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trialFree About xplrVisit site - WindowsmacOSLinux
- Dual-pane layout
- No
- Linux support
- Yes
- macOS support
- Yes
- Windows support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - macOSLinux
- Dual-pane layout
- Yes
- Linux support
- Yes
- macOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - Free plan
- Free plan
- Yes
- Dual-pane layout
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - LinuxmacOSWindows
- Dual-pane layout
- No
- Linux support
- Yes
- macOS support
- Yes
- Windows support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial - WindowsmacOSLinuxAndroid
- Linux support
- Yes
- macOS support
- Yes
- Windows support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedPlatformsFree planFree trial
Is your tool 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 Specifiction?
Rat Commander is ranked #1 of 29 with a score of 8.8. Newt is second and FileManagerTUI third.
How many of these have a free plan?
17 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, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.
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