Many Windows users stay with the standard applications included in the operating system for their most common tasks, like managing files with the integrated File Explorer. However, there are alternative file managers that can also help you to do the job – and sometimes even better than Windows Explorer! Total Commander is one of them.

First of all, be warned that Total Commander is intended for medium to advanced users, and especially for those who like working mainly via keyboard shortcuts. It's not that Total Commander can't be used with your mouse; it's just that it's optimized to be keyboard-controlled.

Total Commander doesn't have what we could describe as an eye-catching design. In fact, it looks pretty dull. It does, however, support three possible views (Full, Brief and Tree) and also uses a double-pane interface, which seem to be quite a common characteristic among other alternative file managers.

This double pane allows you to perform file management tasks like moving and copying in a much more comfortable way. But Total Commander has other aces up its sleeve. It includes extra integrated applications like an FTP client, a ZIP viewer, a renaming tool, a disk space analyzer and a file synchronizer. Another great tool I found to be especially interesting is one that allows you to control, manage and edit file associations so they're not suddenly messed up by a program that you just installed.

Like we said before, Total Commander is intended to be used mainly with your keyboard. This is why it offers handy shortcuts for common tasks like viewing, editing, copying, moving or deleting files. But if you find it hard to abandon your mouse, don't worry: you can use the icons on the program's toolbar as shortcuts for Notepad, Wordpad and the Control Panel, and also add your own shortcuts to your favorite applications via the Configuration > Button bar menu. In fact, Total Commander has such an exhaustive configuration menu that you'll be able to tweak every single detail of the program.

In all, Total Commander is an excellent application that could almost be described as a professional file manager for the advanced user. If you prefer more simple apps then you’d better stick to Windows Explorer.

Download Total Commander 7.04a in Softonic

freeCommander is an easy-to-use alternative to the standard windows file manager. The program helps you with daily work in Windows. Here you can find all the necessary functions to manage your data stock.

You can take freeCommander anywhere - just copy the installation directory on a CD, USB-Stick or even a floppy disk - and you can even work with this program on a foreign computer.

This is what freeCommander has to offer:

• Dual-panel technology - horizontal and vertical
• Optional tree view for each panel
• Built in file viewer to view files in hex, binary, text or image format
• File viewer inside archives too
• Built in archive handling: ZIP (read, write), CAB (read, write), RAR (read)
• Nested archive handling
• Easy access to system folders, control panel, desktop and start menu
• Copy, move, delete, rename files and folders
• Wipe files
• Create and verify MD5 checksums
• File splitting
• File properties and context menu
• Calculation of folder size
• Folder comparison / synchronization
• Modification of file date and attributes
• Folder / program favorites
• File searching (inside archive too)
• File filters for display
• User defined columns for detailed view

Download freeCommander 2008.06a in Softonic

Windows Explorer is often accused of being too simple. This is why using an alternative file manager is not a bad idea.

Flexkit Express is one of those alternative file managers that enable you to control all folders and files in your hard drive. Besides this basic functionality, the program hides some really nice aces up its sleeve such as a duplicate file finder, a file hash checker and a file analyzer and classifier. This means that apart from browsing the contents of your system, you'll be able to locate duplicate files, see the most frequent file types in your hard drive and check the size of your folders –which I personally found really useful. I also loved the button system to move around the folder hierarchy.

On the downside, the duplicate file tool is not as intuitive as I expected it to be. It does locate duplicate files, bit I'm not that sure about the criteria used by the program, not did I like the way you delete them, which is far from being easy.

Flexkit Express is an great file explorer with some nice extra tools, some of which could be improved.

Download FlexTk Express 1.7.10 in Softonic

AccelMan is a multi-window file manager incorporating a file viewer, GUI console, media player, and bookmarks manager. In AccelMan you are not restricted to an obsolete dual-pane file manager interface – you can open as many managers as you wish and freely organize your environment on the AccelMan desktop.

AccelMan is a unique multipurpose application. You can use it as a regular file manager, ACDSee-style image viewer, bookmark management tool, play-list editor, media player, functional GUI console, multi-file processor, SMTP mail client handling file attachments, archiver with support of 15+ formats, PDF and MS Office documents manager, hexadecimal editor and a lot more besides in one seamless, ergonomic environment:

• Search for files using name masks or complex content filters. You can save search results and criteria for future use.
• Rename, copy or move files as groups, applying batch rules.
• View JPEG, GIF, PNG, TIFF and 30 other image formats as thumbnails - individually or in a Slide Show.
• Convert images to and from JPEG, TIFF, GIF, PNG and BMP formats.
• View and manage text, MS Office, PDF, Photoshop and others documents.
• Preview and install True Type fonts.
• View HTML and XML documents.
• Copy fragments of any supported files (including images).
• Quickly navigate through your files and folders using bookmarks and history lists.
• Preview multimedia files (MP3, WAV and others) and generate play-lists.
• Archive and e-mail your files.
• Manage and easily configure files associations.
• Work with the Windows console in a convenient graphical environment.
• Edit binary files in hexadecimal mode and more.

Using AccelMan Interface Schemes you can tailor the AccelMan interface to your current way of working. You can save and reload your interface schemes, adding to the 12 predefined schemes (Images Browser, Film Strip, Norton Commander and others).

Download AccelMan 3.5 in Softonic

Power users often find the standard Windows File Explorer too limited and need a more complete file manager to suit their needs. If you're among them look no further because we've got the right app for you.

Q-Dir is a multi-pane file manager for Windows that makes file management more convenient and above all, far more comfortable for you. Having several windows pointing to different locations on your hard drive makes it much easier to move or copy data from one folder to another, and also makes browsing faster. Q-Dir supports different layouts with 2, 3 o 4 panes and each one of them can be configured separately.

The program doesn't really add any extra function to the ones already featured in Windows Explorer, but there's one special feature I did like: the possibility to show files in different colors according to the file type, such as blue for images, red for music and so on. Plus, this color code is totally customizable.

Q-Dir doesn't require installation and can even been run from a USB stick.

Though it doesn't feature any special tool, Q-Dir is still a more complete file manager with multiple panes and customizable color codes for file types.

Download Q-Dir 3.27 in Softonic

We all know the standard Windows Explorer is a quite limited tool, but we still keep on using it. Why? Well, it's just there and sometimes you don't feel like installing third-party apps when you can use native ones.

But now you can use a better file manager without leaving Windows Explorer aside: the solution is called DMEXBar, an extra toolbar that adds extended functionality to the Windows standard file manager. DMEXBar also includes a series of extra tools that you can choose during the installation process. After installing it, you'll see a new toolbar on any Explorer window from which you'll be able to access a wide range of new tools, plus perform the usual file management tasks in a faster, more convenient way.

On the downside, DMEXBar needs some improvements in design and usability. It really looks like an outdated program, a tool created back in the 80's and never updated again. You can even find icons for floppy disks! (what's that?).

DMEXBar is probably not the nicest toolbar, but it does provide some interesting extra functionality to Windows Explorer.

Download DMEXBar 12 in Softonic

When it comes to managing and organizing the files on your computer, most of us are perfectly content to use the Windows Explorer. In fact, many people don’t even realise there are alternatives to the built-in file manager, which is starting to get a little long in the tooth now (unless you’ve got Vista, which adds some interesting new tools). Once you’ve tried a different file manager, however, it’s often difficult to go back, especially if that file manager is Directory Opus.

From the outset it’s clear to see that Opus is like Windows Explorer on steroids. The default directory layout is very similar to Explorer but with one key difference – it shows two folders in separate tree-view panes (although you can switch to the more conventional single-folder Flat View). This makes moving files around much easier because you can instantly drag and drop files into other folders without having to open and close new windows.

However, the main difference you’ll notice between Directory Opus and its Windows rival lies at the top of the screen, within the programs toolbar and menu options. Upon closer inspection you start to realise this is much more than just a utility for organizing your files into folders.

When you first install the application it seems to want to take over your whole system, bombarding you with requests to make it your default image viewer, FTP client and the like. We were first dubious about surrendering all these tasks to one application, but after using Opus for a while we went back and checked all of these default radio buttons. It has enough might to handle a huge range of common tasks including viewing pictures, converting files, playing audio, opening Zip files, batch renaming and searching. All of these tools run quickly and can be accessed from one interface without a great deal of fuss. Another boon is the fact that Opus is infinitely customisable, giving you complete control over the layout and structure of your file manager and its supplementary tools.

In terms of sheer power, this is a real brute of a program and makes Explorer look positively weedy. The sheer scale of options and advanced settings means that Directory Opus can be a little overwhelming at first, but once you’ve learned how to tame the beast by customizing the program to your needs, you’ll be astonished at how much it offers. Since discovering the app, we haven't gone back to Explorer and have subsequently ditched many of the apps we used to use on a regular basis such as WinZip and SmartFTP.

Download Directory Opus 9.1 in Softonic

PowerDesk 6 is an advanced file manager providing more features and functionality than the limited file manager offered in Windows or other file management software. It completely replaces Windows Explorer, giving users a wide array of tools to search, edit, delete, move, sort, view and copy files.

PowerDesk Pro and PowerDesk continue to receive kudos from editors, writers, reviewers and users for years. It has won numerous awards and sparkling reviews from PC Magazine, Windows Magazine, and PC World, to name a few. Find out why the world's best file manager just got better today!

Download PowerDesk 6.0.1.3 in Softonic

If you're bored of Windows Explorer or would like to experiment with something a little different, then NexusFile may be your answer.

NexusFile is a powerful and fast file manager that allows you to browse through the contents of your hard drive with great ease. The vast majority of its functions can be controlled by keyboard shortcuts, which makes it quicker and more convenient than other programs especially Explorer. The program also includes integrated utilities that let you go beyond just file browsing and exploring such as a file extractor for compressed files in ZIP, RAR and ACE and it also allows you to create ZIP files, rename multiple files and directories simultaneously, add a description to your personal files and directories, and much more. The program features a very intuitive interface also can be customized completely, using colour coding to better distinguish the various elements, changing fonts and so on.

This is a neat little alternative to Explorer although it takes some getting used to but if you invest the time, you might find yourself sticking with it.

Download NexusFile 5.02.3196 in Softonic

UltraExplorer is the ultimate File Manager for Microsoft Windows. It's packed with powerful features and handy integrated tools.

The user interface is completely customizable. You can hide or show as many of the featured windows, dock them in other places or let them float as free standing windows. The same is true for the tool bars as well. You can even move buttons from toolbars to other toolbars and assign your own short cuts keys.

Drop Stack Window

Drop blocks of files into the drop stack for quick access later.

Favorites Window

Build a favorites tree with any object you like from the shell. The tree is fully aware of drag and drop and the clipboard.

Command Line Window

Can't give up DOS and a command line? UltraExplorer has a built in command line window that stays synced with the current view of the application.

Filter Window

Too many files to find what you want? Use UltraExplorers Filter window. Create new filter arguments by dragging and dropping objects to the window or using the selected objects in the active listview.

Folders Window

Ultra fast Folder treeview that is positionable anywhere in the application.

History Window

User defined level of previously browsed folder. Objects in this window can be used just as in the treeview or listviews, drag drop and clipboard aware.

Listview Window

A secondary listview window that can be used identical to the fixed listview. Allows for a dual listview display if desired.

Tabbed Folders

Open several folders simultaneously and have them on separate tabs

Task Window

The Task window accepts plug in DLLs to extend UltraExplorer beyond its powerful built in capablilites.

Download UltraExplorer 1.4.4 in Softonic

UFS Explorer is easy-to-use tool that allows you to browse your alternative filesystems and extract files from there. Now it supports user-mode read-only support for Ext2/Ext3 Linux filesystems as well as FAT fs support. It gives you a really efficient way to access your files, located on your disk partitions and disk images (VMWare, RAW) that are not accessible normally.

Key features of the program:

• Read-only access to Linux Reiser/Ext2/Ext3 filesystems
• Read-only access to BSD UFS/UFS2 filesystems
• Read-only basic access to MacOS X HFS+/HFSX and byte-swapped UFS/UFS2
• Read-only access to FAT12/FAT16/FAT32 with LFN
• Explorer-like filesystem browsing
• File search support
• Files recovery/extraction (for files larger then 16k - available after registration)
• Preserve file modification dates
• 3 file views: 'Large icons', 'Small icons' and 'Details'
• Folder/object group extraction
• Hard-disk auto-detection
• Partitions auto-detection basing on DOS/BSD/MacOS partitioning
• Supports Apple Mac OS-style hard disk partitioning
• Partitions probing: detect correct filesystem if partition label is invalid
• Smart filesystem caching
• Symlinks browsing, object properties and other utility features
• Hardware changes re-scan; opened devices management
• Files extraction from disk images! Supports VMWare 3,4,5 hard disk image files, RAW disk image files, both RAW and 'chunked' Apple MacOS disk image files (.DMG) with ZLIB compression support

Download UFS Explorer 3.7 in Softonic

WinNavigator can be considered as an alternative to Windows Explorer or Norton Commander. Besides the usual file management tools(copy/move/delete etc), it contains a built-in viewer for 9 of the most-popular graphic formats, and 11 sound/music format, as well as video clips ( Microsoft AVI). In addition, it supports all compressed files like zip, arj, rar etc (showing them as regular folders), has the SysInfo panel, internet dialer, clipboard viewer, calculator, audio CD player, and resource explorer. As a bonus, the program contains two simple games (tetris-like one, and Life).

Download WinNavigator 1.96 in Softonic

XYplorer is a simple to use file manager which replaces Windows Explorer with several enhanced functions and interface improvements.

Whatsmore, it's completely portable so you can put it on a USB stick and use it wherever you want and whenever you need it. The biggest advantage this program has over Windows Explorer is undoubtabley the Move and Copy dialogues. XYplorer allows you to configure hotkeys to carry out the most common copying and moving operations that you require meaning less mouse movements and faster management of your files and folders. XYplorer also removes the need for multiple folder windows along your taskbar because it employs the use of tabbed file management much in the same way as Firefox does with internet browsing. These tabs are fully customizable too - you can drag them around, rename them, hide them, lock them and much much more. This tabbed feature does give XYplorer a distinct browser style feel especially the featuring of an address bar which accepts not just folders, but also files, URLs, and search terms. This latter function can save hours of time searching through files by allowing you to search directly in XYplorer - without any need to use Windows search tool - simply by placing a "?" between the location and search pattern.

A truly impressive replacement for Windows Explorer - once you've used it you may never go back.

Download XYplorer 7.50.0000 in Softonic

muCommander is a lightweight, cross-platform file manager featuring a Norton Commander style interface and running on any operating system with Java support (Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, *BSD, Solaris...).

Here's a non-exhaustive list of what you'll find:

• Virtual file system with local volumes, FTP, SFTP, SMB, NFS, HTTP and Bonjour support
• Quickly copy, move, rename files, create directories, email files...
• Browse, create and uncompress ZIP, TAR, GZip, BZip2, ISO/NRG, AR/Deb and LST archives
• Universal bookmarks and credentials manager
• Multiple windows support
• Full keyboard access
• Highly configurable

Download muCommander 0.8.2 in Softonic

A43 File Management Utility is an interesting alternative to Windows Explorer. It has an integrated text editor with unlimited size and also features dynamic highlighting for the web.

It also features:

Integrated zip/unzip features. Simply drag-n-drop files or click a button. You can also turn your zip archives into self-extracting archives the same way.

Integrated file search to quickly locate and jump to those lost files.

Integrated quick launch area for fast access to the programs you use the most.

Favorite buttons to quickly open those often used folders.

Dual-pane view for those that demand speed in file management.

It also requires no installation, no data is written to the system registry. A43's configuration information is saved in a local .ini file. so you can keep it on your pen/jump drive and take it wherever you go.

Download A43 File Management Utility 2.51 in Softonic

Xplorer2 is a file and information manager that adheres to the philosophy "efficiency through simplicity". Without reinventing the wheel, it integrates the best features of Windows' shell architecture in a small, resource efficient package that's instantly familiar to work with. But look a little closer and you'll discover a whole new world under the surface that offers power, precision and flexibility, and will boost your everyday productivity no end!

All the shell goodies from windows explorer — none of the hassle! Plus all the features you would expect from a powerful tabbed dual-pane file manager, including Omni-Finder, a find files module that simply outclasses all known search tools. Don't take our word for it, seeing is believing!

Shell namespace explorer

Xplorer2 will browse and manage all your folders including virtual ones folders like zipfolders, webfolders, even FTP, as long as these services are available in your system. If you extend your shell namespace with new folder types, Xplorer2 will read them too, in a familiar tree/view window format.

Tabbed dual-pane interface

Can't decide between dual pane and tabbed browsing? No worries, Xplorer2 does them all. The traditional dual-pane format, handy for comparisons and file transfers, is augmented so that each pane can hold more than one folder. Hopping from one folder to another is just a tab click away.

Instant preview of files

Xplorer2 can preview most text, graphics, audio/video, and html & office documents — and does so in nearly all folder types including zipfolders etc. Wherever it finds file-like content it offers file-like access!

Browsing flexibility

You can browse your content in most useful view modes supported by explorer, including thumbnails. Within large folders you will appreciate the organization capabilities offered by arranging in groups and multi-way sort. Xplorer2 will remember your favorite mode for each folder.

Download Xplorer2 1.7.1.4 Beta in Softonic

Frigate3 is a handy file manager with built-in file viewers (DBF, RTF, HTML, DOC, Excel), handy utilities (TreeNotes, StartUp Manager, Calculator, SmartPad, and Directory Size Manager) and a wealth of other options that make managing and browsing through files easy.

As a full-functional, advanced modern file manager, Frigate3 comes with network support, FTP file management (include SFTP and FTPS protocols) and various file compression and encryption options (zip, arj, rar, jar, ace, ha, lha, zoo, limit and hyper). The manager is equipped with a program-sorting feature that lets computer users quickly and easily make sense of media files stored on HDDs as well as external drives. In addition, the multithreaded program engine handles any number of concurrent file operations, such as copying, downloading, moving, searching, extracting, compressing and uploading files.

Other handy features of the file manager are folder comparison and size management systems, an advanced search system, built-in MP3 tag and text editors and other cool features. Another advantage of Frigate3 is that it comes with full install/uninstall support and can be used by anybody. Using the file manager is intuitive and requires no special knowledge.

The new version of the file manager comes with additional options that:

• Simplify writing (recording) files onto CDs
• Allow use of regular expressions within the Search system
• Give users the ability to view image files as thumbnails
• Utilize a new slide show option

Download Frigate Standard 3.34 in Softonic

CubicExplorer is a file manager/browser software. It's designed to be easy to use yet powerful to handle multiple directorys at the same time. It uses tabbed browsing and has a build-in text editor which has highlighters for many different file types.

Features of the program:

• Tabbed browsing
• Bookmarks
• Text editor
• File search
• Thumbnails
• Free disk space labels
• Empty recycle bin button

Download CubicExplorer 0.80 in Softonic

DualXplorer is a file manager with two lists for file operations, preview & editing of files, network operations, FTP client & server, compression tools, hex editor, and file & directory syncronization.

Download DualXplorer 0.866 in Softonic

Handy File Tool (HFT) is a very fast and simple file manager. It has some internal utilities such as Renamer, Replacer and Finder. HFT has utilities necessary for webmasters, programmers and anybody who is concerned with computers. Imagine that you need to process hundreds of files. It would take you many hours to do this manually.

With HFT you can solve these problems with one mouse click. You can even process files from several directories or even disks simultaneously, using Basket a clipboard for files.

HFT has two-panel interface calls to mind the popular Norton Commander, but here you have the Basket, a clipboard for files. You can even process files from several directories or even disks simultaneously (see Basket drive in the help menu of the program).

The suite's main tools, Finder, Replacer, and Renamer, help you make quick work of file searching, text replacement, and bulk renaming across a range of file formats and attributes.

Download Handy File Tool (HFT) 1.04 in Softonic