pointer vs UnixTree
pointer
github.comUnixTree
github.comSide by side
| Figure | pointer | UnixTree |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 7.6 (#22) |
| Spec score · Terminal File Managers | 8.3 (#11) | 7.5 (#26) |
| Downloads | The latest release lists binaries for Linux x86_64 and aarch64 and macOS x86_64 and aarch64. | The fork's 3.0.2 release lists prebuilt packages for Arch/Manjaro, Debian/Ubuntu/Mint, Fedora/RHEL, and generic 64-bit Linux. |
| Dual-pane layout | Yes | No |
| File operations | It supports asynchronous copy and move operations and undo for delete, move, rename, copy, symlink, permissions, and bulk rename. | It supports daily file and directory maintenance and operations on selected files across the directory tree. |
| License | The project is released under the Unlicense, described on the page as public domain. | The project is released as free and open source software under the GNU General Public License. |
| Linux support | Yes | Yes |
| macOS support | Yes | Yes |
| Security | The opened project page does not state security certifications or compliance claims. | The opened project pages state no security certifications or compliance claims. |
| 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.