Are you curious about terminal file managers but overwhelmed by the options? Wondering which one won’t require memorizing 100 keybindings just to copy a file? Well, here’s my list of the five best Linux terminal-based file managers and how they rank against one another.Related These Linux Tools Increased My Command-Line Productivity: Here’s How Get ready to transform your terminal experience.Posts 3 By Haroon Javed Midnight Commander: A graphical app in disguise Midnight Commander, often shortened to mc, is one of the oldest and best-known terminal-based file managers for Linux.
It uses a dual-pane layout, with both panes showing directory listings, which makes it easy to compare directories while performing file operations.In fact, mc offers one of the most intuitive user experiences among terminal file managers—almost comparable to using a graphical tool.You navigate through files and directories using the arrow keys and press Enter to open them.
At the bottom of the screen, a row of clearly labeled actions—Copy, Move, Delete, Rename, and more—is mapped to function keys F1 through F10.These labels never change or disappear, and you can rely on them to perform the corresponding actions.There’s also a menu bar at the top with File, Command, and Options menus.
You can even interact with all interface elements using your mouse.Overall, Midnight Commander is a capable file manager that works best for folks who want a command-line tool without committing to a keyboard-first workflow.It’s approachable, hard to misuse, and easy to understand at a glance.
However, that same predictability becomes a limitation once you grow comfortable with terminal navigation and shortcut-driven tools—making mc feel slower and less flexible than newer alternatives.Here are the download instructions for Midnight Commander.Vifm: For the Vim fans Vifm is a terminal-based file manager that gives you complete keyboard control over your files using Vi/Vim-style keybindings—hence the name.
Like Midnight Commander, it uses a dual-pane layout, but the interface is far more streamlined and stripped of visual clutter or on-screen guidance.You’re expected to know the core Vi-style navigation, or you’ll struggle to move around at all.For reference, you move up and down with k and j, enter folders with l, and go back with h.
Actions like copying or deleting files are triggered through key combinations or short commands, and some keys behave differently depending on whether you’re navigating files or executing commands—similar to Vim’s modal workflow.If you’re looking for an efficient, dual-pane terminal-based file manager that feels predictable and fast, Vifm won’t disappoint.You do need to know the Vi/Vim keybindings—or at least be willing to memorize them—but that’s true for almost all popular terminal-based tools in this category.
Here are the download instructions for Vifm.xplr: Where customizability takes precedence xplr is one of the most customizable terminal file managers, giving you complete control over both the interface and your workflow.At first glance, it looks more like a terminal dashboard than a traditional file manager.
The interface is divided into multiple panels that display relevant information such as a file table, logs, sort and filter options, selected files, and a cheatsheet with keybindings.Navigation is Vim-inspired, with file operations segmented into layers.You press a hotkey to enter a specific “mode,” which contains actions like creating files or copying and pasting.
For example, creating multiple files involves pressing : > c > f.xplr stays in this layer, allowing you to create additional files by simply pressing f—no need to re-enter the sequence every time.This makes repeated actions like renaming or creating multiple files significantly faster.
The main highlight, however, is just how configurable xplr is.Nearly every aspect of the interface—layout, colors, icons, keybindings, data sources, and behavior—is defined using the Lua programming language.You can rearrange panels, resize sections, add entirely new views, or redefine how actions chain together, all by tweaking a configuration file.
All of this makes xplr an excellent option for power users who enjoy building custom workflows and don’t mind investing some time upfront.If you’re looking for a more ready-made experience, however, xplr—especially with its default setup—can feel alien, unintuitive, and technically complex.Here are the download instructions for xplr.
nnn: For the minimalists nnn is a minimalist terminal file manager built around speed and providing a conflict-free user experience.The interface is essentially a single list of files and directories—no dual panes, no previews, and very little visual noise beyond the current path.Navigation is Vim-inspired but non-modal, meaning keys don’t change function based on your current workflow.
You move with j and k (or the arrow keys), enter directories with l, and go back with h.Pressing Enter or l opens files using xdg-open.File operations are intentionally streamlined—you select files with Space, then press p to copy or v to move them immediately.
It also doesn’t force you to memorize keybindings—you can press "?" to view all available shortcuts.You can even use your mouse to interact with visual elements, similar to Midnight Commander.Where nnn really shines, however, is how easily you can pair scripts with keybindings to speed up repetitive tasks.
You can bind a single key to actions like launching a fuzzy file picker, bulk-renaming files, or running custom shell scripts on selected items.Overall, nnn is best suited for people who prioritize keyboard shortcuts, don’t need extra visual cues or context, and want a minimal core they can expand based on their specific needs.Here are the download instructions for nnn.
Yazi: The definition of modern terminal-based file management Yazi is the most modern terminal-based file manager on this list, having launched in 2023.It’s essentially a modernized take on popular tools like lf and Ranger, offering a very similar workflow.By default, it opens in a multi-column cascading layout—known as Miller columns—that shows where you came from, where you are, and what’s inside the selected directory.
This makes it easier to stay oriented as you move through the filesystem.Subscribe for clear terminal file-manager guidance Join the newsletter to access curated comparisons, configuration examples, and hands-on tips about terminal file managers—clear recommendations and practical setup guidance to help you choose and customize the tool that fits your workflow.Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
You can unsubscribe anytime.It blends Vim-style navigation with strong visual feedback, which makes it one of the most approachable keyboard-driven file managers available.Much like nnn, Yazi supports custom keybindings, mouse input, and a built-in cheatsheet accessible by pressing F1, so you don’t have to memorize everything before getting started.
Its Rust codebase also makes Yazi optimized for speed and responsiveness.Directory navigation feels noticeably snappier, and file operations are faster.This is thanks to full asynchronous support, where CPU-based tasks are spread across multiple threads, allowing Yazi to take better advantage of available system resources.
Overall, Yazi is an excellent fit for folks who want power without sacrificing clarity.It delivers a fast, responsive core paired with a clean, intuitive layout.Whether you’re a beginner or a terminal veteran, Yazi strikes an impressive balance between advanced features and ease of use.
Here are the download instructions for Yazi.There you have it—my rankings of the top five terminal-based file managers for Linux.That said, with dozens of options in this category, I’m not claiming that Midnight Commander—ranked fifth on this list—is necessarily a bad tool.
Each file manager excels at certain workflows, and my ranking reflects the ones I found most useful and practical in day-to-day use.
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