pointer vs superfile
pointer
github.comsuperfile
superfile.devSide by side
| Figure | pointer | superfile |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · File managers | 8.5 (#8) | 8.5 (#9) |
| Spec score · Terminal File Managers | 8.3 (#11) | 8.1 (#18) |
| Archive support | Yes | Yes |
| Dual-pane layout | Yes | Yes |
| File operations | It supports asynchronous copy and move operations and undo for delete, move, rename, copy, symlink, permissions, and bulk rename. | It supports copying, moving, deleting, renaming, fuzzy search, bulk operations, and image preview. |
| License | The project is released under the Unlicense, described on the page as public domain. | The project describes itself as open source and MIT licensed. |
| Linux support | Yes | Yes |
| macOS support | Yes | Yes |
| Maker | The repository credits Geir Isene as creator. | Yorukot is identified as the creator of superfile. |
| Plugins | Its plugin system uses JSON manifests to bind external commands to keys. | Community plugins extend superfile with Git status integration, system monitoring, custom commands, and other functions. |
| Preview pane | Yes | Yes |
| Product | Pointer is a Rust terminal file manager and feature clone of RTFM. | superfile is a modern terminal file manager built with Go and Bubble Tea. |
| Windows support | No | Yes |
Plans
In their own words
pointer
Pointer is a free, open-source terminal file manager for Linux and macOS. It presents files in a two-pane layout with configurable width ratios and border styles, plus previews with syntax highlighting for more than 20 languages and inline image display through kitty, sixel, or w3m protocols. Archives including zip, tar, gz, bz2, xz, rar, and 7z can be browsed and edited as virtual directories. File operations include asynchronous copying and moving, undo for several actions, and deletion with a flag-then-purge process and default confirmation. Pointer supports SSH/SFTP remote browsing, filename and content search, extension or regex filters, bookmarks, tabs, and file-picker mode. JSON-manifest plugins bind external commands to keys. The README describes OpenAI integration and Claude-powered descriptions and sessions. Linux and macOS binaries are listed for x86_64 and aarch64.
superfile
superfile is a free, open-source terminal file manager built with Go and Bubble Tea, aimed at developers who work in the terminal. It supports copying, moving, deleting, renaming, fuzzy search, bulk operations, and image preview, alongside archive support. Users can split the view into multiple directory panes and copy or paste between them. Hotkeys are remappable, and themes, borders, and colors can be adjusted. The project lists more than 20 built-in themes and community plugins for functions such as Git status, system monitoring, custom commands, metadata, MD5 checksums, and smart directory jumping. Official support covers Linux, macOS, and Windows, though the project notes that Windows is not fully supported yet. Installation options include shell scripts for Linux and macOS, PowerShell, Winget, Scoop, Homebrew, Arch, NixOS, Pixi, and X-CMD. The installation guide recommends a Nerd Font, but superfile works without one. Its stated focus is lightweight file and directory tasks, rather than the full feature set of some other terminal file managers. The project is MIT licensed and self-installed.