Rat Commander

Overview

Rat Commander is a two-panel file manager for people who prefer to work in a terminal but need more than basic file operations. Its breadth is unusual for a free tool, though readers who only want a focused directory browser may find its system and development utilities unnecessary.

Built with Rust and Ratatui, it is designed to provide its core features without requiring external tools. The two panels support vertical or horizontal splits, multi-file selection, and full, brief, details, tree, thumbnail-grid, and interactive 3D views of file structures and models. In compatible terminals, graphics, progress bars, and graphs can render at full resolution; image and audio files can also be viewed graphically or as ASCII.

The interface has 18 built-in languages, including right-to-left support, and users can add languages. A manual is available in the application through F1. The project is licensed under GNU GPL-2.0-only.

Key features

Editing, media, and binary files

The built-in viewer and editor handle syntax-highlighted text, Markdown, and CSV or TSV tables. Block operations, search and replace, and media tag editing make it useful beyond browsing, while the in-place hex editor, executable analysis, byte maps, and binary comparison add tools for readers who work directly with binary files. These capabilities make Rat Commander a more capable workspace than a file manager alone, but they may be more than a casual user needs.

Common image and audio formats can be viewed with graphical or ASCII rendering. Thumbnail grids provide a visual scan of files, while the interactive 3D view offers another way to inspect file structures and models.

Git and archives

Git support covers status, staging, commits, stash, fetch, pull, push, sync, checkout, reset, clone, diffs, branches, logs, history, and blame. That range suits users who want file operations and routine repository work together in the terminal. Rat Commander can browse and edit ZIP, TAR variants, 7z, and other archive formats; RAR is read-only, so users who need to modify RAR contents should choose another tool.

Remote access and system utilities

FTP, FTPS, SFTP, and SCP connections present remote filesystems much like local disks. SFTP and SCP also support remote shell access over the same SSH connection. SSH can use known_hosts and SSH configuration; FTPS accepts system-trusted certificates and lets users inspect and pin self-signed certificates by SHA-256. This is a broad set of connection options, but the security details matter when working with servers that use certificates outside the system trust store.

A one-shot local HTTP server can send files to a phone through a QR code; receiving files uses a QR-opened page with a random URL token. System tools include disk and process explorers, CPU load and battery information, process termination, and certificate inspection. Linux users also get tools to mount, format, flash, and image disks and USB devices, plus a network-connection monitor.

Pricing

Rat Commander: free. The free plan includes a self-contained terminal file manager, with no paid tiers or usage limits stated. It is a straightforward fit for individuals who want the full toolset without a subscription or trial deadline; there are no cheaper feature-reduced plans to weigh against it.

Platforms

Rat Commander supports Linux, macOS, and Windows. Windows includes the product's features except Drive Manager and Network Connections, so readers who need disk management or network-connection monitoring should use Linux or look elsewhere. Linux has the broadest documented system-tool set, including disk operations; macOS is supported, though the Linux-only tools do not apply there.

Who it's for

Rat Commander is best for terminal-oriented users who want one application for file management, editing, Git, archives, remote files, and system inspection. Developers can keep repository tasks near their files, while users moving between local and remote directories get several common transfer protocols in the same interface. It is a less suitable choice for Windows users who rely on the omitted drive and network tools, or anyone who needs to edit RAR archives.

Pros and cons

• Pros: The free plan combines file browsing, editing, Git, archives, remote connections, and system utilities without stated usage limits.
• Pros: Remote access covers FTP, FTPS, SFTP, and SCP, with SSH configuration support and certificate inspection for FTPS.
• Pros: Multiple panel layouts and views, including thumbnail grids and interactive 3D, give users several ways to navigate files.
• Cons: RAR archives can be browsed but not edited.
• Cons: Windows omits Drive Manager and Network Connections, while disk-management tools are Linux-specific.
• Cons: The wide feature set may be unnecessary for users who want only a simple terminal file browser.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, see Terminal File Managers.

• FileManagerTUI is another free, open-source option for Linux, macOS, and Windows; choose it if its MIT-licensed software better fits your needs.
• Broot is free on Linux, macOS, and Windows, with source and precompiled binaries available; it may suit readers who want that MIT-licensed option.
• Newt is a free, open-source option for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
• pointer is a free single-binary option for Linux and macOS, credited to Geir Isene and released as public-domain software.
• Runa is a free option for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with no paid plans stated.
• superfile is a free, MIT-licensed terminal application for Linux, macOS, and Windows that is self-installed.
• Zeta is a free, MIT-licensed terminal file manager with Linux and Windows binaries.
• far2l is a free GNU/GPLv2 option for Linux and macOS; its beta status and use-at-your-own-risk warning may rule it out for readers seeking a non-beta choice.

Verdict

Choose Rat Commander if you want a free terminal file manager that brings editing, Git, archive handling, remote filesystems, and system tools into one application. Its main advantage is that breadth without a paid tier; look elsewhere if you need to edit RAR files or depend on Windows disk and network tools.