Dolphin vs Thunar
Dolphin
apps.kde.orgThunar
docs.xfce.orgSide by side
| Figure | Dolphin | Thunar |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · File Manager Software | 8.8 (#3) | 8.1 (#34) |
| Archive support | Yes | Yes |
| Audience | KDE describes its software as free for anyone to use, study, change, and redistribute. | The Xfce site describes its file manager as providing basic file management and utilities such as a bulk renamer. |
| Batch rename | Yes | Yes |
| File operations | It supports creating, moving, deleting, compressing, sharing, and duplicating files and folders. | It supports common file and folder operations including copy, move, rename, duplicate, symbolic links, and undo and redo for up to ten recent operations. |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Supported platforms | linux,windows | linux |
| Purpose | Dolphin is KDE’s file manager for browsing and managing files on hard drives, USB sticks, SD cards, and other storage. | Thunar is a file manager for the Xfce desktop environment, designed to be fast and easy to use. |
| Remote files | It can display files and folders from internet cloud services and other remote machines. | The documentation says GNOME Virtual File System is required for Thunar's trash support, removable media mounting, and remote filesystems. |
| Support | The product page links to the Dolphin Handbook and KDE forum for help, and to bug reporting and source code pages. | The project directs users to its bug reporting page for open bugs and instructions for submitting reports. |
| Tabbed interface | Yes | Yes |
Plans
In their own words
Dolphin
Dolphin is KDE’s file manager for browsing and managing files on local storage, including hard drives, USB sticks and SD cards, as well as remote machines and internet cloud services. It supports creating, moving, deleting, compressing, sharing and duplicating files and folders. Multiple tabs let users work in several folders, while split view supports drag-and-drop copying or moving between panes. Choose among grid, detailed and tree views, and configure most of the application’s behavior. The right-click menu supports custom actions. An integrated terminal runs commands in the current folder. Plugins extend workflows with Git and Nextcloud, while listed extensions cover services such as Google Drive, Amazon S3 and Samba. Dolphin is free and open source under GPL-2.0-or-later. Linux installation is available through AppStream stores or distribution package managers, and Flathub is listed. Windows installers are available as nightly builds for testing. KDE links to a handbook, forum, bug reporting and source code for support and contribution.