superfile vs Vifm
superfile
superfile.devVifm
vifm.infoSide by side
| Figure | superfile | Vifm |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · File managers | 8.5 (#9) | 8.5 (#7) |
| Spec score · Terminal File Managers | 8.1 (#18) | 7.8 (#21) |
| Archive support | Yes | Yes |
| Customization | Users can remap every hotkey, choose themes, and adjust borders and colors. | Vifm supports Vim like mappings and command line mode, color schemes, file decorations, and directory specific configuration scripts. |
| Dual-pane layout | Yes | Yes |
| File operations | It supports copying, moving, deleting, renaming, fuzzy search, bulk operations, and image preview. | Features include undoing, redoing, and backgrounding operations, as well as trash. |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Support | The project invites users to join its Discord community and use GitHub issues and discussions for bugs, ideas, and help. | The site directs general usage questions to its Q&A site, where registration is not required, and lists GitHub issues, SourceForge tracker, and email for other contact. |
Plans
In their own words
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.