Overview

Dolphin handles everyday file and folder work, including creating, moving, deleting, compressing, sharing, and duplicating items. Tabs keep multiple folders open, and split view places two locations side by side for drag-and-drop transfers. That combination is useful when sorting files across drives or moving between project folders; for occasional single-folder browsing, it may be more workflow flexibility than necessary.

Licensed under GPL-2.0-or-later, Dolphin is free and open source. KDE says its software has no ads, spyware, subscription services, forced updates, or secret crypto-mining. Users can also study, change, and redistribute it, making Dolphin a strong fit for people who value software freedoms as well as a zero purchase price.

Key features

Views and file operations

Grid, detailed, and tree views support visual browsing, closer inspection of file details, or following folder structure. Batch rename and archive support extend Dolphin beyond basic navigation, while right-click actions can compress, share, or duplicate files. Custom context actions and configurable behavior give users room to shape recurring workflows, but may be unnecessary for anyone seeking only a fixed, minimal file browser.

Remote files and extensions

Dolphin can display files from internet cloud services and remote machines. Its extensions include integrations for Google Drive, Amazon S3, Samba sharing, and local network services, alongside plugins for Git, Nextcloud synchronization, Dropbox actions, Bazaar, Mercurial, and disk-image mounting. This breadth helps users bring varied storage and development tasks into one manager, though it means the strongest case for Dolphin is broader than basic local file handling.

Terminal and support

The integrated terminal runs commands in the current folder, a practical shortcut for users who move between file browsing and command-line work. KDE provides a handbook and forum for help, plus bug reporting and contribution resources.

Pricing

Dolphin is free: its plan costs 0.00 USD per free and includes the file manager, with Linux and Windows downloads listed. There is no free trial because no paid plan is required. KDE also accepts donations through PayPal and other ways; donating is optional, not a subscription tier. For a free open-source manager with no paid feature split, Dolphin is unusually straightforward, though users should note that the Windows installers are nightly builds for testing rather than stable releases.

Platforms

Dolphin supports Linux and Windows. Linux installation is available through Discover, other AppStream stores, or a distribution package manager, as well as Flathub. Windows installers are nightly builds generated from the development branch and intended for testing, so Windows users who need a stable release should look elsewhere.

Who it's for

Dolphin is best for Linux users who regularly move files between folders, want configurable views, or need access to remote storage and workflow extensions. Its tabs, split view, and terminal also suit people who combine file management with command-line tasks. It is a less clear choice for Windows users who require a stable installer, or for anyone who only needs basic browsing and would not use its additional controls.

Pros and cons

Pros: Free and open source under GPL-2.0-or-later, with no required subscription.
Pros: Tabs, split view, and three view modes support different folder-management workflows.
Pros: Remote-file access, plugins, and an integrated terminal extend it beyond local browsing.
Cons: Windows downloads are testing builds from the development branch, not a stable release.
Cons: Configurable views, actions, and extensions may be more than users need for basic file browsing.

Alternatives

Explore more options in File Manager Software.

Filestash is worth considering for readers seeking a freemium file manager with a free trial and platforms including web, mobile, desktop, and self-hosted options.
TagSpaces is another freemium, open-source option, with TagSpaces Lite licensed under AGPL-3.0 and support across desktop, mobile, web, and self-hosted platforms.
WinSCP is a free, open-source Windows file transfer client for readers whose priority is SFTP, FTP, FTPS, SCP, WebDAV, or S3 protocols.
Total Commander is a freemium alternative for Android and Windows.
Multi Commander is a free Windows alternative with dual-pane management, tabs, batch renaming, archive management, and a portable version.
OneCommander offers a free tier for non-commercial personal use on Windows, with some settings and advanced features locked.
FileRun is a paid alternative with a free trial and platforms including web, self-hosted, mobile, and desktop options.
xplorer² is a freemium Windows option whose Lite plan includes dual panes, folder tabs, and file previews for private, academic, and nonprofit use.

Verdict

Choose Dolphin if you use Linux and want a free, open-source manager that combines flexible folder browsing with remote files, plugins, and command-line access. Its main reason to look elsewhere is Windows: the available installers are testing builds, not a stable release.

	Dolphin	Vifm
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	Free	—
Open source	Yes	No
Platforms	Linux, Windows	Linux, macOS, Windows
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Supported platforms	linux, windows	Linux, Windows, macOS
Dual-pane view	Yes	Yes
Tabbed interface	Yes	Yes
Batch rename	Yes	Yes
Archive support	Yes	Yes
Cloud storage access	Yes	—

Dolphin vs Vifm

Dolphin

Vifm