Best dual pane file manager windows

Table of Contents show. Explore Max. Free Commander. Directory Opus. One Commander. Total Commander. Q-Dir — The Quad Explorer. Pros Dual panel interface Simple and neat interface Dark mode available Faster search results The software supports five different languages.

Cons Requires subscription. Pros Free to use software No need for the formal installation Replaces Files Explorer from the default. Cons Lacks on getting updates The search function is not refined. Pros Simple and easy to use interface Effective keyboard shortcuts to ease the work Restore and backup option available. Cons Marketed for tech-savvy users only Irregular updates. Pros Clutter-free interface The software offers both double-pane views as well as single-pane view You can open multiple directories with the software easily Search for files using the search feature.

Cons Expensive software Limited supports for users. Pros Simple interface of the software Backed with advanced features and shortcuts Compatible with most of the Windows OS. Pros It supports multiple plugins The software offers various advanced options Charges no cost for usage Compares files to show the difference.

Pros Dual-Pane view Offers multiple tools for images and videos Highly customizable software. Cons Outdated interface Complex to function. Pros Offers multiple windows to function Windows can have further tabs for ease Free software to use Fully customizable. Cons Sometimes the users witness bugs No option for search.

Pros Check the status of disk space Stats of the usages are also offered by the software The cleanup tool also available Charges no cost for usage. Cons Automatically removes files. Cons Premium account holder can use is after the trial. Pros Offers various features to ease the work The software has a portable version Free to use software with multiple features.

Cons Outdated interface New user can get confused. Some popular alternatives to Windows Explorer are listed in the following content in no particular order. Free Download. It has been released for 25 years; good products will be continued forever. Total Commander adopts a classic design with two vertical panels, making it easy to use. Besides, modern additions like support for cloud storage services are added to it all the time via the update.

Windows Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working? Please Try These 7 Fixes. Some users think Free Commander as the best free file manager for Windows When you install the Themes addon, you are directed to choose your preferred theme. The app packs every feature you need to manage all your files.

You get to access all the partitions and also cloud storage, including Google Drive and OneDrive. Your recent files will always be displayed on the home screen, and you can customize settings to your needs. With multi-tab support, you can work on all your files with much ease. Total Commander is an age-old app that supports all the major file formats. It can read compressed files independently. This tool has some of the most advanced features, including cloud storage support and more.

This software is designed with a classic layout. It supports speedy navigation, adjustable keyboards, and integrated file archiving options. With the tool, you can effortlessly organize and transfer your files and view the progress of the transfer. It also allows you to set the limit of your file transfer, pause in between transfers, and resume the process.

Besides having an archiving tool to create and extract archives in different formats, the app also compares files. It has two vertical panels and supports Windows 10 features. It also provides customizable keyboard shortcuts. Total Commander helps you transfer large file volumes. The background process manager takes care of that.

It can search for text strings in PDF files, sort images by size, and edit music metadata independently. Besides this, you can expand the app with plugins. It also lists your files in a directory in one window to help you manage specific file types from a central place.

Additional features that give Total Commander an edge over Windows File Explorer include the batch rename tool, built-in FTP client, directory sync, separate trees, custom columns, enhanced overwrite dialogs, logging, duplicate file finder, advanced search, favorites, and more. It also supports Unicode and parallel port links.

FreeCommander is another file management app that comes with a dual-pane. It has a smart interface that uses tabs, letting you work with multiple folders. The tree view enables you to organize files effectively. The app also offers thumbnail view inside archives, drag and drop support, wiping of files, linked browsing, and more. FreeCommander supports ZIP archives and works with file paths that are more than characters. You get a structureless view of your folders and files too.

And you can conveniently move, sync, compare, rename, copy, or delete your files or folders. It comes with an intuitive, tabbed interface, icons, and shortcuts you can customize.

It can open a second panel inside a window to access subfolders without minimizing or closing the main folder. It allows you to change the window size or position to horizontal. Its built-in macro function allows you to create custom macros that help to automate repetitive tasks. The horizontal panes have a customizable tree to the left, and tabs will help organize files. Choosing the vertical panels will help you transfer files quickly, though.

This application also lets you stay productive since you have complete control of your folders and files. It also allows you to visualize disk space and folder size.

Furthermore, you can customize your functions with the traditional bar and even execute custom commands. On this list, Directory Opus is the winner. It is designed with a neat interface and two panes for file viewing. Not only can you open multiple directories here, but you can also search your files from multiple directories.

This app features multiple file threading functionalities, tabbed browsing, sorting, filtering, and FTP features as well. Besides being a Windows File Explorer alternative, the app is also a file compressor, FTP client, uploader, and image converter.

It also allows you to edit metadata and save complex search terms as macros. Your duplicate files will be easily located and renamed, and the tree mechanism will help you toggle between all your files effortlessly. Scott L. Macarthur is a marketing consultant and an online author. He is mostly engaged in providing his expertise to startups and SMBs.

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