I've used and tested a bunch of these... I'm surprised that AccelMan didn't make this list. Although, since I found accelman (again recently) their website has been down for no apparent reason...

Dice1976

@abyzmal: I tried and loved QTTabBar but after a few days of using it I started to get lots of explorer errors. Have you found that to be the case as well? I really liked the added functionality and I wonder if I should try it again.

Kandy477

Altap Salamander would be my choice but it's not among those 5 best.

tosiabunio

Damn, i forgot to vote.

AccelMan does it pretty well for me.

Paradox460

@Arvin Bautista:

The best recommendation for OS X is Quicksilver, together with Spotlight. Also, smart folders are the bomb.

I was really resistant to having OS X organize my files for me at first, but now that I'm letting iTunes, iPhoto, etc. manage my files, I find it's easier to let them do their thing and then search when I need something.

Quicksilver is such a great launcher, and it finds files quickly as well.

Once I dropped my Windows mentality of organizing everything neatly into folders and finally realized how much time I was wasting, I no longer had much need for a file browser.

Vertigo50

@joelena: Yes, but note that the freeware vers of XYplorer at PortableFreeware is now so old (and has some bugs that have been fixed after) that, as a core supporter of XY, I'd only recommend this for the most basic of uses. It's almost like using W2K compared to Vista.

jchallgren

I didn't really try to use a custom file manager before I started using Vista (gasp!), but Vista's file manager is just too unresponsive.

I actually had some trouble finding a good freeware file manager which supported files with Unicode names. (I'm Chinese, and while I'm unable to read Chinese, I still have quite a few files that have Chinese file names.) I think I tried all of the free ones that are mentioned in this article, but none of them could show these files correctly.

Eventually I found CubicExplorer, which is not quite as good as some of the other file managers I tried, but at least supports Unicode files properly.

Mythril

Explorer's biggest flaw imo is lack of tabs, also prevalent in finder. While idk of if there is a similar app for finder, QTTabs + Explorer breadcrumbs are a must for explorer.

Gives tabs as well as add some handy features such as a nicer looking toolbar for diving through files with features not found on the default exploring bar such as program launcher and hotkey support. Coupled with Explorer breadcrumbs for replacing the adressbar, and diging int a folder's subfolders without needing to open them also is a plus.

These 2 apps add a enough functionality to give explorer a brand new feel, and provide it with nice needed updates. So much so it's hard to go back to an explorer w/o them, imo.

Antwhan

I'd love a decent Finder clone for XP - Findexer is cool but I want columns, dammit :(

JonGold

xplorer2 is one of very few pieces of software I've ever been willing to pay for. I love it.

As far as just using regular old Windows Explorer, I got frustrated with the Vista explorer because it has a lot of junk in the interface you can't turn off (XP is better in this regard). By default xplorer2 has a lotta junk too but it's all very minimalistic, and more importantly, you can turn it off. Also having the dual pane is wonderful. It also has a number of useful built in features that regular windows explorer doesn't have like syncing and diffing options.

CrunchBite

I've been using QTAddressBar for a while now, and it works really well. Just recently I added QTTabBar, and after some initial customization, I have a really productive modification of the standard Windows Explorer. Take a look at my example setup.

abyzmal

Windows explorer works great for me during normal usage, but I keep a copy of Xplorer2 Lite on a thumb drive for more extensive work on any machine.

chefdkb175

I used DOpus on my Amiga 1200 back in the day...

Darcy

Compelling reason for average user? YES! I began using [www.XYplorer.com] due to one specific need: I wanted to easily locate all files that had been modified in last 10 minutes, and Win Expl has no ability to do that, except sorting the entire days list by time. XYplorer can do it SO easily that it's a breeze! Once I found XY, I started realizing what I was missing and what work-around steps I took that weren't needed anymore. The ability to preview on-the-fly most any file type has been a real time saver, but that may also be due to my being on older W2K. Also, the Mouse-Down-Blow-Up in preview is very handy. This feature allows one to have, for example, a JPG show on full screen while mouse button is held down. I can now quickly find the pix I want to manage while still seeing the detail list to see the names/dates/attributes.

I'm now so dependant on XYplorer that I'd be lost without it! The latest big feature in XY is the ability to create customized commands and scripting, where one can automate a series of commands into as little as one key combo. This has also saved me time.

A few months ago, I did an informal presentation of XY to a small PC user group of mainly older people. They even realized how much of a benefit it would be to them, and these are people who don't use Win Expl much!

jchallgren

Can anyone recommend any other OSX file managers other than Path Finder? I LOVE all its functionality but it's not free! muCommander's the only one I've seen but after test-driving Path Finder I feel like it's ruined me for subpar file managers.

Arvin Bautista

Thanks a lot for the rundown, but...meh. This just means more program bloat for my computer. All I do is open two instances of Explorer and huzzah, dual panes.

OX4

@WebUser: There are 2 things that I get from a 3rd party Explorer replacement - folder bookmarks & copy/move/delete operations that don't freeze the window. After I converted there was no going back. I start up an XPlorer2 session shortly after booting and never close it.

lhoward

You can get the last freeware version of XYplorer here: [www.portablefreeware.com]

joelena

Good list, thanks! I especially appreciate the portable stuff.

Speedmaster

Nah, really don't see any use for these. Explorer, or if this isn't restricted to windows, gnome. I can't stand KDE.

AlexCrafter

I don't use xplorer2 for normal activities; Windows Explorer is fine. I use the more powerful file manager when I want to do more extensive file management, or when I want / need to mess with the "hidden" stuff in Windows Vista (like ../appdata for instance) without having to "unhide" everything in normal Explorer.

jsmorley

I've always found Windows Explorer in XP adequate. It's free, does what I need, it's integrated into the shell, and I don't have to download/pay for it. I understand some people may do a lot of repetitive tasks or something, but for even an average power user, Win Explorer seems fine. Vista's version annoys me, but it may just take some getting used to.

Is there a compelling reason for an average user to want any of these?

WebUser

Free Commander has a portable version also.

Big + for people on the go.

@cartman005,

Yea, I tend to only use the advanced file managers when I am doing cleanup and advanced organizing. For 90% of the time, Windows Explorer is good enough.

monkeyboy

Is Windows Explorer that bad that many people actually use these alternative managers or are they just for when you are doing a lot of organizing and need the extra features? I just can't see myself using these everyday.

cartman005

ExplorerXP Very small and feature packed. Unfortunately not developed any more.

johnsmith1234

@cartman005: I used to think the same thing until I downloaded FreeCommander at work. It improved my workflow so much I don't see how I could go back. And yes, I do have to do a lot of file moving, but I'm also having to work on multiple networked drives. I also have several applications I use daily, and FreeCommander allows you to make hot key very easily. For some reason Launchy and similar programs don't ever work right on my work computer. Then again, I'm a mac user at home and Quicksilver has spoiled me.

bhp

I don't even use file managers. All of my most used folders are pinned to the start menu and opened separately.

anonymii

@cartman005: Most people (but at least I ;-)) like the dual-pane/multi-tab feature. It makes file managing significantly easier (less clicks to accomplisch what you want, more overview). But I guess you don't need something like this if you do not manage you directories/files that much.

Arutha

A file manager (in my case XY) is the first application I install on a new OS. I'm always surprised how many people can work without a proper file manager. For me it would be like a bike without tires.

You have here a list of 5 great file managers, add SpeedCommander and you have the creme de la creme. Try them and realize how big the improvement is compared to Windows Explorer.

alizee

I am quite disappointed that no Linux file managers were included in this. PcmanFM, Thunar, Nautilus or Konqueror all should be up there.

the_boffin

XYplorer rocks. The license options and cost are great. The features and stability are great. It has scripting. And it's _very_ actively developed by a developer who takes pride in his work.

It's really worth at least checking out: [www.xyplorer.com]

scrotty

It's funny that every single one of these is for windows. Nautilus, konqueror, and finder get the job done just fine for me (and apparently everyone else).

strabes

To add to my comment above, $85 for DOpus is insane. Why does it cost so much?

monkeyboy

Rereading my posts above, I realize that I may appear to be a XY fanboy, but also know that I do use Xplorer2 Lite on occasion, as it has some abilities/functions that are unavailable in my other alternatives, and it'd be my backup choice in this poll.

jchallgren

The only area where Explorer fails for me is in sorting. I just want to be able to sort Thumbnails by size or type or date. Also, the memory function doesn't work as well as it should IMO, I have to redo settings on folders all the time.

kala_way

@alaysias:

While DOpus may be great, I cant see myself spending money on something like a file manager.

monkeyboy

I do the following:
1) Minimize all windows.
2) Open two copies of Explorer.
3) Right Click on Taskbar/Tile Windows (horizontally/vertically)

Presto, Dual panes. You can even get tri- and quad-pane with this technique.

Xerloq

@monkeyboy: DOpus also has a portable version (USB/U3) for an extra ten dollars. I know, it's not free, but it's one powerful application.

I'm not sure about the other file managers, but DOpus also has a feature to customize key shortcuts (e.g., returning the file path to the clipboard), tons of configuration options (maybe too much), and it displays nicely on multiple monitors.

alaysias

@Arvin Bautista: Forklift is the best two-pane manager for OS X. Great archive/FTP/SFTP/S3 support, good editor handling. Its biggest omission is good synchronization, which is coming in the next release.

As someone else said, you can use Quicksilver. Make sure you enable getting Finder selections, allows you to move/copy etc, use [,] comma to stack multiple files into one operation. There is a file tagging plugin that allows you to tag files for better management, and spotlight plugin for better search integration.

@WebUser: I watch people using Explorer for normal tasks; slowly and laboriously, juggling windows around for easy operations. It's OK that a simple operation takes you twice as long (time to think about more important things in life!), but if you care about doing things more simply/faster/powerfully, then an alternative file manager is a must.

iandol

I just repeat my mention for Q-Dir :
free, portable, 4 panels (for Xerloq: only in 1 click) !!
[www.softwareok.com]

frankell

I still don't see what's wrong with Windows Explorer...it does what I want it to do: look at files. I don't need any fancy doo-dads on the side. I just wanna see what's on my new USB drive. That's it.

DMSaruman

@DMSaruman: It's the same as with a sheet of paper and a pencil... there is nothing wrong to use it to write whatever you want, but sometimes it may be handier to use a typewriter or a computer.

For some people time is money, they need a tool to get things done in a reasonable amount of time, in a convenient way which enhances their workflow.

It's like digging a hole with a spoon... There is nothing wrong with it and eventually you may get your work done. Nevertheless I prefer to use a appropriate shovel. It's just so much more fun that way and life is too short to waste your time.

linuss

I think I've tried some of those file managers and wasn't compelled to stick with them. Dir Opus isn't really looking to be all it's cracked up to be. It might have tons of features hidden in it's crevices, but if I can't find them it does me no good. I found the interface a bit cluttered, and clunky. I don't think I'll be keeping it for long, and definitely don't think it's worth the $80 or whatever.

Cubic Explorer's new beta is great though. It's got the features I wanted, and it's interface is smooth and fast. I still might stick with QTTabBar + QTAddressBar + Explorer though.

That Firefox idea with IETab isn't too bad either. I've tinkered a little with that. Not sure I'm going to use it regularly.

The Firefly plugin for ff3 also had some merit, except it has some bugs to work out still. I uninstalled it and the dumb thing left the toolbar which always shows up empty even though I've disabled it.

Now if I could somehow combine ff3 + IETab + QTTabbar + QT Addressbar, now THAT would be something. I might consider even making Firefox my windows shell and run TrayModule for my system tray.

umpitygrumpity

@JonGold: Ultra Explorer has columns. It's nice.

RebeccaAutomedon

Hm, could not find my comment....

dsvarc

I've been using Windows Explorer so far, and do not want to pay for a file manager with some extra feature that I rarely use. However, I have always been looking for an explorer that can password-protect a folder. Is there any free file manager / tools that can do the work?

11th_Dimension

Windows explorer is both limited in expected functionality and not being able to do simple task i need to perform when using windows. Not to mention that if i want to do certain things, need to install bunch of utilities, that are part of i.e. Total commander.

First simple operation that windows explorer is enough stupid for is deleting folder containing many files, of which one is somehow locked... it would stop leaving you to manualy exclude those files ... which is a ral pain...
Try it with you temp folder in your profile situated in documents and settings....

Explorer is able to work quicly (using external programs) only with associated files. There is no simple and neat feature of viewing files with F3 in several ways, like in many dual pane clones...

Powerfull renaming of files in your digital images collection (just downloaded form camera), one can only dream of it...

I could write tons of reasons...

The best choice for me is TotalCommander. FreeCommander is not as good, but nice if you need freeware program.

When in Linux, only program close to TCMD with some unique features is Krusader...

dsvarc

Windows explorer is both limited in expected functionality and not being able to do simple task i need to perform when using windows. Not to mention that if i want to do certain things, need to install bunch of utilities, that are part of i.e. Total commander.

First simple operation that windows explorer is enough stupid for, is deleting folder containing many files, of which one is somehow locked... it would stop leaving you to manualy exclude those files ... which is a ral pain...
Try it with you temp folder in your profile situated in documents and settings....

Explorer is able to work quickly (using external programs) only with associated files. There is no simple and neat feature of viewing files with F3 in several ways, like in many dual pane clones...

Powerfull renaming of files in your digital images collection (just downloaded form camera), one can only dream of it...

I could write tons of reasons...

The best choice for me is TotalCommander. FreeCommander is not as good, but nice if you need freeware program.

When in Linux, only program close to TCMD with some unique features is Krusader...

dsvarc

I use xplorer2 exclusively now...can't remember when I last used Windows Explorer. Among other features, the free version of xplorer2 has a handy batch renaming tool that I've used several times.

I still think there are more features that could be implemented, though. For example, it would be nice to be able to color-code folders within xplorer2. I have seen other apps that can do that, but the colors only show up in Windows Explorer and not in xplorer2. It would also be great if they could incorporate something like TeraCopy to speed up file transfers. It would be nice to have all of these features in one file management program.

Maybe some of the others already incorporate some of these features and I am just not aware of it...

eeefresh

Only Total Commander Power Pack. Nothing else.

Anteater

I love Salamander from Altap. Its odd to me that no one else is mentioning it.

AndyFromTucson

Total Commander (and before Windows Commander) since ages. Already used Norton commander with DOS, guess that's why I stick to it. This one is a must after a new installation, and the USB-Version is with me every day. The price is fair, imho the most feature filled and continuously developed file manager, not much eye candy - but hey, it's a file manager... I don't need a mouse to work with it and it has all the features I need every day. Simply great, tried all other alternatives around but always came back to TC.

NetFlexx

I'm sitting out on this vote. I consider myself a power user: I don't kill a lot of time managing files. Therefore Windows Explorer has most of what I need.

(1) Make a directory tree that makes sense.
(2) Give meaningful names to files and save them in the "correct" directory.
(3) ...
(4) Profit!

Posco Grubb

I've always thought Total Commander looks like it hasn't been updated in years. It brings back memories of all those old Windows 3.1 programs. Good program, it's just the UI that I have a hard time looking at.

Gerard Sorme

@pixelwax: It makes no sense for Windows to have a "Yes To All" but not a "No To All." Ridiculous. However, if you hold "Shift" and click "NO", it will default to "No To All." But it should be in the GUI pop-up. That's never made sense to me.

Gerard Sorme

Did I miss the feature round-up of these apps or am I to use the links and ferret those out myself? While synchronization may be my ultimate answer (along with a new 'puter), I have yet to find a such a tool that doesn't slow my current system to a halt, which XPlorer2 did the first time I tried it (2004 or 05, IIRC). Synchro or no...

Do any of these five tools have a No To All option?
The Yes and No options are obvious but why only Yes To All? Making me babysit to click No a million times is highly inefficient not to mention exasperating. Having the option up front to set overwrite parameters (newer, older, larger, smaller, etc.) would be swell. That I'm using WinMerge right now as part of my file management repertoire tells you I'm in a bind.

Can Subversion be used as a desktop file management tool?
As a beginning web developer I do need to look into either SVN and/or better file management that much is obvious. But I'm not sure where to start. Having come off a project in which I had handled upwards of 250,000 unique files, I need something different. For this project I was managing file sets (and their back ups) on my desktop, a dev website, a beta website, and a live website, in addition to print/web documentation. IOW, I never got SVN working and SVN may not be what I hoped it to be anyway: capable of handling all files and applications. Because the Adobe/Quark-produced documentation often shared the same files used to create content for both the website and its web documentation. Needless to say, I was handling over a million files at any one time. Whoa, whoa, whoa, I'm way off-topic here. My bad. I think. [Thus, the buried question that was here now precedes my wayward words.]

pixelwax

At work, when moving files from DEV to TST to PRD and to various incarnations, a multi pane explorer is very useful which is why I'd want more than just a 2 pane one. Unfortunately there's that 6 pane thing but it's just downright ugly.
So now I have a new PC and 2 screens. I can stick the master WinExplorer on one screen and have 3 more explorers on the wide screen and transfer the files that way. I leave them all open on desktop 4 of Dexpot.

pobox90210

Cubic Explorer is definiately the winner. It's free, and has tabs, and a bunch of file selector features.

Nepherim

I'm definitely in the "why bother" camp. Explorer does everything I need.

What I'd really like to see is a way of running XP Explorer on my Vista box.

billbennettnz

@Gerard Sorme: Really?! Sweet. Thanks. And then the smile droops. The time I've needlessly wasted...

pixelwax

Not having file/folder bookmarks with a tree layout is INSANE!

In a web browser it's OK to have a plain list of bookmarks. But a file system DOES have a structure, so it's bookmarks should be displayed the same way!

I do use Total Commander a *lot*, but at the office I'm completely lost and slow without the bookmarks in a tree layout.

Better if it is in an always visible pane, like in Cubic Explorer. It let's me navigate the huge file server instantly!!
[www.cubicreality.com]

dregio

I find Total Commander to be a good all-round solution.
The reason I use an alternative file manager is because I use an alternative (lighter) shell.

I spot someone using TinyXP in those screenshots...

MrJenkins

[www.speedproject.de]

Speedcommander :(

y0himba

@monkeyboy: hehe i hear you, it is expensive. part of that is our currency, but that's another topic. also my company paid for it, so i didn't have to pay a dime.

i'm sure the free file managers are perfect alternatives.

alaysias

I honestly can say that I have not bumped up against the limitations of my operating system's default file manager (Windows Explorer) on countless occasions. I don't see any particular advantage to using an alternate file manager. If you want to have two folders open at the same time, guess what, you can open up two windows, and they're not even stuck together!

Monolith

One of my favorite things about total commander is the fact that I can rename many many files all at one time, using many different commands to control how each one is named. I also enjoy the fact that, unlike Windows Explorer, it doesn't force me to not be able to see file extensions by default. And it has all kinds of other great features as well. It can take some getting used to, but once you use it a while, and get it customized just the way you like it, it is awesome. However, I do still use Windows Explorer occasionally, but only when doing the most simple tasks, because that's about all it can handle effieciently. Like, it can delete 1 file just fine, or move or copy 1 file just fine. Any more than 1 and it acts stupid, takes forever... etc... etc....
Just my two cents.

scerwup

I prefer Xplorer2 because it has multi-tubed dual panes. I'd probably vote for DOpus if it had tabs. I also really like XYPlorer, especially its integrated regex searching, but at work, when I am constantly referenceing a ton of different network folders, nothing beats Xplorer2 and its dual pane with tabs. Also, XYPlorer seems to run slow for me at work when using the network drives.

mrknowitall

Looking over the website, Cubic Explorer looks like it would be terrific -- except it does not support dual directory-browsing panes. According to a forum post by the developer, adding that is the most-common request, so he expects it will be in release 1.0. Looks like 0.80 was made available a year ago, and there's also a 0.90 RC2; hard to say what that means for 1.0...

rlee

Weird. I tried FreeCommander, and it seemed to interfere with 64-bit vista's use of ssl-based webdav drives (e.g., \\sysname@ssl\sharename). Uninstalling it made everything work again.

aj_robins

Directory Opus
The ability to save pre-defined folder display layouts along with FTP view saves me an enormous amount of time otherwise spent juggling between windows and either my FTP program or FireFTP.

Onewalrus

I tried many of named above file manager but I stick with plain windows explorer. A great tip for you that use explorer is to make us of the links in internet explorer.
here's a screenshot how my explorer looks like:

I'd also like to mention a program called Q-Dir
Which I use when I need to organize many files.
Link to Q-Dir

SuperDOS

Xplorer2 does not support rar or 7z archives. Total commander does.

Anteater

@Anteater:
I don't use integrated archive supp. I use 7Zip :)

Nxqd3051990

Lol We still meet the top File Manager with no change :)
Xplorer2 have got my vote this time ( Last time XYplorer )

Nxqd3051990

Total Commander is totally worthless if you're using it over a network. It's about 5x slower than Explorer.

superunlikely

Xplorer2 is one of the cleanest, tightest programs I've ever used.

onesix18

They all fail for me ... all I want is actual sort-by-name behavior in Explorer, without folders being sorted separately from files unless I specifically sort by type. UltraExplorer almost works, but the column view preference to not sort folders first doesn't behave in a reliable way.

orcacss

My personal favourite is Altap Salamander (previously known as Servant Salamander). Classical two-pane file manager, that is almost on par with Total Commander, but looks prettier and is more configurable.

See for yourself ....

Vorkronor

Using Total Commander for years, have never seen the network slowness mentioned a few posts previous.

5h17h34d

tried a few others, but I liked FreeCommander the best.

What I really like (that i didn't find in any other free versions) is the live filtering. Type into the box at the bottom and it automatically filters the file list to show only matching files. Its something thats been on websites for years now, so i've really missed it in windows.

If you use Find & Run Robot as your app launcher then you can set freecommander as an alternate file manager, and the two then work really well together. (to finish it off, add in a custom launch command for locate32 and prism web apps and you everything is tied together great by FARR)

soul_grind

I'm still a fan of plain old Windows Explorer. It can do what I need 99% of the time. The 1% situation where I might need another file manager is when I want to do mass file-renaming. But that's not very often. If I had to go 3rd party, I'd go with FreeCommander. I don't want to deal with shareware nonsense for something like a file manager.

Captain Bringdown

I second ForkLift on the Mac - it's quite nice.

As for Windows, I've used most of these and I always wind up going back to Speedcommander - it has the best combination of speed, looks, and usability. Directory Opus is my second choice but it requires a ton of modification to work well as a dual-pane manager & overall the learning curve is huge. Total Commander was nice for awhile but the configuration is like something out of the stone age.

Rhywun

of COURSE I chose total commander.

ouzoWTF

i'm using xplorer2 myself, but muCommander is worth mentioning (cross-platform, also works on the web)

yathosho

@soul_grind You should write an article about that stuff :-)

ravipinto

The best things about Total Commander for me are:

- fully keyboard-only usable: you can do anything very quick without needing the mouse

- lifetime license: pay once, get all newer versions FOR FREE!! Most other Shareware titles want you to pay on every new major version again. I even saw someone releasing every little change as a new minor version to quickly reach a new major and have all customers pay again. But this was for an uninstaller, not for a file manager.

- tabbed panes: manage different directories on each side, copy one file to many directories in the blink of an eye

- archive handling: open archives of many different types just like any other directory

- integrated FTP management: who needs FileZilla or SmartFTP when Total Commander already has a very complete FTP implementation

mbirth

I want the functions of Lotus Magellan for DOS, which had build-in viewers so you could have the file listing in the left pane and a preview of the file on the right. Then you could cursor down the file list and see each file.

Also, Magellan would list all files on the disk alphabetically, regardless of directory. Great for weeding out duplicates.

Will any of these (or some other file manager) do this?

KRS

DOpus is my choice for a lot of reasons:
1) the best duplicate search I've seen. DOpus can search your network and all of your drives in the background and make sure that all of the files are either up to date, archived properly or even erased except for the primary.
2) The best batch rename I've seen. DOpus can easily rename thousands of items in about six different stock iterative options or in your custom one. It makes tracking pictures way easier than anything I've seen.
3) The best layout and view options. DOpus has the most effective memory for different folder set ups globally or locally that I've seen or used.
4) Effective macros. For light backing up of my computers, for updating content on my laptop and syncing it with my storage, DOpus allowed me to make effective macros to do these regular tasks.

It is a PIA to learn though, and the fact that I've only gotten to page 45 of the manual leads me to believe that by page 75 I'll be in control of communication satellites or something. Different panes, panes or tabs, vertical or horizontal, different tab/pane set ups for pictures and for other files, honestly, I sometimes think that DOpus can do too much...

gcfw

@Captain Bringdown: That last 1%? Easily handled via Bulk Rename Utility :)

pjarchrn

Total Commander is definitely FTW.

dep

I tried a couple of these but really couldn't see the point, windows explorer does most things well enough. If there's something it doesn't do I just fall back to DOS and batch scripts.

decays

If you just need one file, in one folder, then sure, Windows Explorer is good enough. It's great.

But more often than not, I find myself sorting through dozens, if not hundreds of files, and needed more than one folder open at a time. I'm backing up photos to external drives, syncing web pages.

Besides, with the dual-pane, tabbed interface of Xplorer2, I can open SIX (or more) folders with one click. They're all there, ready for my use. (It remembers which folder were in each tab from the previous use.)

Since I found it (used to be called 2xExplorer, I think) a few years ago, I haven't lived without it.

saintseminole

Some extra comments about Total Commander:

- It's not a month-long demo. If you don't pay for it, there's a nag screen when you execute it, which is easy to bypass just by typing a single key, but after that it shares the exact same features as the paid version.

I did pay for my copy (because this app is worth every penny), but any user who doesn't want to pay will obtain the exact same functionality I have.

- Total Commander also has a portable version. You download the USB installer, select a Total Commander installation folder, and it creates a fully functioning portable copy on your thumb drive with the exact same configuration, including all your plugins. You can even uncheck which plugins you don't want during the installation.

- AFAIK it's the only file manager out of those listed here that can display the content of Linux partitions (using the right plugin). This is an incredibly useful feature for me, since I dual boot Ubuntu and XP.

sagematt

I've tried all the file managers listed over the last year and Directory Opus is the King IMO. With the other file managers I always found some quirk that irked me to no end. D.Opus is the only one that completely meet all my needs. Too bad it's not freeware... it's a great utility.

lunaticprophet

I don't see a lot of need to use Windows Explorer. I know where my files are, so mostly I use DOMercury or if I'm using somneone else's machine, Windows+R. It also provide nice directory structure navigation.

Mandar Vaze

I keep trying out all kinds of different file managers, but I keep coming back to Total Commander, with it's plugins it is so flexible and versatile, so I can and have replaced a lot of programs with Total Commander.

A resounding vote for Total Commander!

Alinda

Another vote for Total Commander here, kickass program.
Anywhere from the mass rename to FTP support, simple interface, plugin support. It's in fact the first thing I install on my PC when I reinstall.

Track

from all the Xplorer² fans: What makes it better than DOpus besides having a free version?
I used both apps extensively and can't find a single reason to pay for Xplorer² while I'm a paying DOpus User since 8.01

Christoph Wagner

xplorer2's GUI is way better than Total Commander not to mention easier to use!

ckit

DO is a TOY and not a TOOL. It's for people who have too much time and want to play around... and it's absurdly expensive.

It reminds me of the Apple fanboys and their iPhone.

alizee

@ckit: Try viewing archive files with xplorer2. TC treats them like folders, no matter if it's RAR, 7Z or ZIP.

Anteater

@SuperDOS: Whenever you click on any of those links in the Windows Explorer's Link Toolbar, it opens a NEW Explorer Window... That's no good!!

dregio

@Vorkronor

Altap Salamander is prettier, but no tabs. Still love Total Commander.

abhijeet

Can TC users list the plugins you use ?
I really love to see it :)

Nxqd3051990

@dregio: Well I don't mind having new windows opened, but if you want to jump between the folders/drives use the favorites toolbar (ctrl+i).

SuperDOS

Anyone heard about NexusFile? It's free and does most of the stuff the paid explorer replacements do

szc333

alizee: Expensive? I sent an polite email and got 50% off.
and a toy? Why? Cause it's faster, more reliable and has more useful features?

Christoph Wagner

Total Commander .. hands down winner. Used the free version for ages but decided to support the developers because I couldn't live without it .. it takes some time to get used to but that is time very well spent.

dublinjames

Powerdesk pro. I've been using this for years and would be lost without it. Has all the features.

YachneFlamingo