Broot
6.4#15 in terminal file managersFree planFree planLinuxmacOSWindows
VisitBroot vs nnn
What both publish
| Fact | Broot | nnn |
|---|---|---|
| Archive support | No | Yes |
| Dual-pane layout | Yes | No |
| File operations | Move, copy, remove, and mkdir operations are built in, and users can add shortcuts. | It can analyze disk usage, batch rename, launch apps, pick files, and copy, move, delete, archive, and link selections. |
| License | The repository is released under the MIT License, with permission to use, copy, modify, publish, distribute, sublicense, and sell the software subject to the license conditions. | The GitHub repository identifies the project license as BSD-2-Clause. |
| Linux support | Yes | Yes |
| macOS support | Yes | Yes |
| Navigation | Users can select a directory and return to the shell with that directory as the current location. | It supports contexts, sessions, bookmarks, directory marks, and remote mounts through sshfs or rclone. |
| Preview pane | Yes | Yes |
| Purpose | Broot is a way to navigate directories, find files, and launch commands. | nnn is a full-featured terminal file manager. |
| Search | It supports relevance-based search, regular expressions, content search, and logical search operators. | It supports search-as-you-type and fuzzy, regex, and string filters. |
| Support | The maker provides contact by email and invites users to chat through Miaou. | The project invites users to discuss new ideas or enhancement requests in GitHub Discussions. |
| Windows support | Yes | No |
Broot plans
- BrootFree
nnn plans
- FreeFree
Pick Broot if…
Broot suits people who want a terminal-based way to navigate directories, search file contents, and perform file operations. Its previews and Git status views may also help users managing documents or repositories from the file navigator.
Pick nnn if…
nnn suits people who want file management from a terminal, from beginners to power users. Its plugins and optional integrations also fit users who want to extend file workflows.