Microsoft Windows OS has an in-built File Explorer to manage and transfer files on your system. But with the dramatic change in computer windows, the Explorer remained flawless and lacked the necessary features. Fortunately, some third-party software offers fascinating features that can manage your file faster and more intuitively. With the advancement in document management and online storage, these file managers can replace file explorer as they are secure, straightforward, and user-friendly. In-built file explorer does not have features that can help you manage files and folders.
Best File Manager Software for Windows 2023
Below is a curated list of third-party file managers software for Windows that provides an easy way to organize your files and folders with modern features.
- Total Commander
- Directory Opus
- Xplorer2
- XYplorer
- Q-Dir
1- Total Commander
Total Commander is the most popular file manager that has been around for a long time. The software comes up with a friendly user interface that provides greater compatibility. It is regularly updated with modern technological developments to support multiple cloud storage tools and the latest apps and features included in Windows 10. You can substitute file explorer and transfer a large volume of files using FTP. You can also set a speed limit to prevent another process in the meantime.
The software is compatible with Windows 3.1, 95, 98, ME, NT, 200, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10. The flexibility allows you to use the classic UI and the dual-pane UI layout. It provides various plug-ins to expand its features. The software is a shareware tool that is free, well-designed, uncluttered, but highly powerful. It is equipped with quick, fully-featured, robust utility and great thumbnail and image preview support.
Features
- Uncluttered and straightforward database
- Customizable keywords shortcuts
- Expanding via plug-ins
- Text strings
- Image sorting by size
- Music metadata editing
- Batch remaining
- Archiving tool
- Supports cloud storage
Pricing
Free: free trial for 30 days
Perpetual license: $44 for a lifetime purchase
Benefits
- Highly customizable
- Includes nice extra tools
- Built-in interface
- Plug-ins available
- Time proven
- File compare
- Excellent for large files and set file transfer limits
- Dual and single pane
- Portable and installable versions
Drawbacks
- Not user-friendly for beginners
- A quite plain interface
- Dated look and feel
- Customizable is a bit difficult to apply
2- Directory Opus
Directory Opus is rated high in the best file manager tools for windows. It is your go-to as it is slightly offering a more modern feel. You do not require any prior scripting knowledge to use the software. It has a highly customizable interface that helps to configure each element. Multi-threading feature includes in the tool that can be valuable when doing multiple tasks simultaneously. The software supports all major formats of files like ZIP, 7-zip and RAR. It allows you to transfer files using the FTP client feature and allows batch renaming of files.
The capacities and features are not relatively high, yet it permits you to save exceptionally definite and complex searches to run concurrently. You can edit integrated metadata that helps you to keep macros, while there is also a built-in tool that provides file compression. It shows compatibility with windows vista, XP, 7, 8, 10 and 11. You can customize keyboard shortcuts that you can open using the windows + key. It offers two versions, light and pro, to manage your files. The premium version of the platform is the direct replacement of the windows file explorer.
Features
- Dual pane support
- File preview
- Integrated search
- Folder size
- Archive support (ZIP, RAR, etc.)
- Assignment of comments to files
- Edit metadata
- Flat view
- Batch file moving/copying
- Tagging
- File conversion
- Duplicate file finder
- File synchronization and backup
Pricing
Demo: free trial for 60 days
Light license: $50
Pro license: $90
Pro dual: $129
Pro-five: $249
Benefits
- Best metadata image data preview
- Metadata text preview
- Video preview
- Allows EPS/PDF thumbnail previewer
- Extremely customizable
- Rich extension support using JS
- Dockable widget support
- Manual sorting
Drawbacks
- Expensive
- Limited user support
- Only for windows
- It can be intimidating to novice/inexperienced users
- Restrictive license
- Limited to only two views
3- Xplorer2
Xplorer2 is one of a kind with a Pro version that is the perfect replacement for the file explorer. It is undoubtedly the most modernized file manager that allows the flexibility to select either a ribbon-style UI or a better menu bar. You can use various features such as multi-language support, video documentation, and dual panes. The platform shows compatibility with windows 95, 98, XP, NT, Vista, 2000, 7, 8, 10, and 11.
It provides a fast search option and various functions that can be very productive when dealing with files. Additionally, it permits simple expansion of tabs and subdirectories, empowering mass renaming of records. You can also use colour coding to arrange documents on your PC.
Features
- Dual panes and folder tabs
- Clean, minimalistic, customizable UI
- Seamless handling of virtual folders
- Preview documents, images, music, etc.
- Filtering duplicate files
- Folder comparison and synchronization
- Execute text commands
- Advance NFT support
- Robust file system
- Colour coding with Unicode and text encoding aware
- Exporting file data
Pricing
Demo: 21 days free trial
Buy pro: $29.95
Buy ultimate: $49.95
Benefits
- Portability
- No installation required
- Optimized performance
- Includes normal installer
- Customer support
- Simple hard links
- Breadcrumbs (even in XP)
- Selected file recall
- Double click level-up
- Utilitarian and Minimalistic
- Favourite list
Drawbacks
- Stagnating rate of development
- Un-evolved
- Distracting prompts
4- XYplorer
XYplorer is the best-paid file manager that supports various windows versions. You can use it as a tabbed file manager that you can use on your PC. The platform has highly profound and extensive functionalities. You can customize the interface with many capabilities in the menu bar. Duplicating documents is a lot simpler because of the optional double window. Besides, the software has a directory panel for getting to record file folders and is streamlined with powerful file backup features.
You can use FTP and other network drives using it. You can also automate repeatable tasks to enhance easiness. It shows compatibility with windows XP, Vista, 8, 8.1, 10, 11, Server 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2019. XYplorer does not affect your RAM because it is lightweight software. It has multiple features that support Zip support and offers synchronization that supports FTP and other networks. Like a portion of the recently referred file managers, it helps a single tick-see of pictures, videos, docs, and sound. Furthermore, the platform is continually chipping away on adding more features.
Features
- Tabbing
- Folder size
- Dual pane support
- Tagging
- Duplicate file finder
- Custom menus
- It prevents accidental moves to the folder tree
- Batch rename files
- Batch processing
- File tagging
- Flat view
Pricing
Free trial: 30-day free trial
Standard pro license: $39.95 per user
Lifetime Pro license: $79.95 per user
Benefits
- Extremely configurable
- Very reliable and portable
- Lifetime license available
- Frequent and regular updates
- Numerous filtering/sorting/highlights methods
- Scriptable
- Thumbnail view
- Logs plenty of actions for undo/redo
- Extensible metadata
Drawbacks
- No working high-dpi support
- Sometimes unresponsive
- No themes and plug-in support
- It does not support windows libraries
5- Q-Dir
Q-Dir is another file manager that is featured packed for windows. The best recommendation is to search for a simple, lightweight, duplicative and improved version. It is developer friendly that is pronounced in windows 11. The name Q-Dir is Quad Explorer, which provides four file panes with tabs in one window instead of a dual-pane, making file management more suitable. You can use the tool to control drives, folders and system storage. The advantage of the app is that it is free of cost and easy to use.
It is the best software for users who spend most of their time moving files daily. The platform shows compatibility with windows 7, 8.1, 10, 11, and windows servers 2012, 2019, and 2022. You can select a file to drag and drop and approach Q-view. The main thing about the app is that it picks up native icons of Windows 11. In addition, the interface is user-friendly with the HQ screen, and you can use the screen magnifier to maximize the screen icons. Installing it to run from the desktop or any memory storage device is unnecessary.
Features
- Customizable
- Preview filter settings
- Drag n drop
- File management in 4-windows with tabs
- Folder size with extra information
- Colo filter for files and folders
- The classic and modern address bar
- Directory structure with visible tree branches
- Print when you see in explorer views
- Based on the MS windows OS file manager
- Full Unicode support
Pricing
Free: Freeware
Benefits
- Highly manageable with four windows
- Portable
- It does not affect RAM
- Use multiple tabs in every window
- Highly customizable
- Allows you to use your favourite feature
Drawbacks
- Sometimes shows bugs
- No search
