TUIFIManager is a free, open-source file manager that runs in a terminal, with an orientation toward Termux users.
Best Terminal File Managers in 2026
For file work at the command line, terminal file managers offer ways to browse and handle folders without switching to a graphical interface. Compare archive support, dual-pane layout, preview pane, and remote file access, then check Linux, macOS, and Windows support against the systems you use. Rat Commander, FileManagerTUI, and Broot are among the tools to examine, alongside Newt and pointer. Free-plan…
Alfa is an open accessibility testing engine for websites built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
FileManagerTUI is a free, open-source terminal file manager built with Rust and Ratatui.
- 4
nnn
nnn is a free, open-source terminal file manager designed to be small and require little configuration.
Free planAndroidLinuxmacOSWindows7.2Free plan - 5
Newt
Newt is a free, open-source file manager for macOS, Linux, and Windows, built around two panes for local and remote filesystems.
Free planOpen sourceLinuxmacOSWindows7.0Free plan - 6

Rat Commander
Rat Commander is a free two-panel terminal file manager for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.8Free plan - 7
Clifm
Clifm is a free, open-source file manager for people who want to manage files by entering shell commands.
Free planAndroidLinuxmacOS6.7Free plan - 8
far2l
far2l is a free Linux port of FAR Manager v2, with macOS also listed as supported.
Free planLinuxmacOS6.7Free plan - 9
pointer
pointer is a free, open-source terminal file manager for Linux and macOS, organized around a two-pane layout with adjustable pane widths and borders.
Free planLinuxmacOS6.7Free plan - 10
RTFM
RTFM is a free terminal file manager written in pure Ruby for Linux and macOS.
Free planLinuxmacOS6.7Free plan - 11
FModel
FModel is free, open-source Windows software for inspecting and extracting content from games made with Unreal Engine.
Free planWindows6.6Free plan - 12
superfile
superfile is a free, open-source terminal file manager made with Go and Bubble Tea.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.5Free plan - 13
Vifm
Vifm is a free, curses-based file manager for Linux, macOS, and Windows, designed for vi users who want to manage filesystems with familiar keyboard commands.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.5Free plan - 14
6.5Free plan - 15
Broot
Broot is a free directory navigator for Linux, macOS, and Windows that helps users browse folders, find files, and launch commands.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.4Free plan - 16
elio
elio is a free, open-source terminal file manager with panes for Places, Files, and Preview.
Free planLinuxmacOSSelf-hostedWindows6.4Free plan - 17
Joshuto
Joshuto is a free terminal file manager written in Rust for Linux and macOS.
Free planLinuxmacOS6.4Free plan - 18

Midnight Commander
Midnight Commander is a free, full-screen file manager that uses a visual, dual-pane text interface.
Free planLinuxmacOSSelf-hosted6.4Free plan - 196.4Free plan
- 20

Zeta
Zeta is a free, open-source terminal file manager for developers, built in Rust and organized around two panes.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.4Free plan - 21
cfiles
cfiles is a free terminal file manager written in C, using ncurses and vim-like keybindings.
Free planLinuxmacOS6.3Free plan - 22
UnixTree
UnixTree is a console-mode file manager for Unix and Linux, modeled after DOS XTreeGold.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.2Free plan - 23
Dynamic File Manager
Dynamic File Manager (dfm) is a free, open-source Linux file manager with a text interface built on ncurses.
Free planLinux6.1Free plan - 24
Termix
Termix is a free, open-source terminal file manager for navigating, searching, and managing files and directories on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
LinuxmacOSWindows6.1 - 25
Far Manager
Far Manager is a Windows file and archive manager with a text-mode interface and a dual-pane layout.
Free planWindows6.0Free plan