Alternatives to COSMIC Files
The Rust-based file manager of System76's COSMIC desktop environment for Linux. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
COSMIC Files
The Rust-based file manager of System76's COSMIC desktop environment for Linux.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as COSMIC Files.
GNOME Files
The default GNOME desktop file manager, also called Nautilus, for browsing local and network files.
GNOME Files is the GTK-based GNOME default with network browsing and plugins, designed around GNOME instead of COSMIC and without dual panes.
Nemo
Cinnamon's file manager, a Nautilus fork with more built-in options.
Nemo is the GPL-2.0 Cinnamon file manager with dual panes, a type-ahead path bar and extensions, best integrated on Cinnamon.
Thunar
The lightweight default file manager of the Xfce desktop environment for Linux.
Thunar is the lightweight Xfce file manager with a bulk renamer and plugins, but it is single pane and not written in Rust.
Pantheon Files
The file manager designed for elementary OS and its Pantheon desktop.
Pantheon Files is a minimal file manager for elementary OS with Git status integration and a file chooser portal for other apps.
Caja
The file manager of the MATE desktop, used to browse files and manage the desktop on Linux.
Caja is the MATE desktop's file manager with an extension interface, best integrated with MATE rather than COSMIC.
PCManFM-Qt
A Qt-based file manager and desktop icon manager, the default file manager of the LXQt desktop.
PCManFM-Qt is a light Qt file manager from LXQt that also works on its own outside that desktop.
Deepin File Manager
The default file manager of the Deepin desktop environment for Linux.
Deepin File Manager is built for the Deepin desktop and translated into many languages, fitting less naturally on COSMIC.
PCManFM
A lightweight, tabbed GTK file manager from the LXDE desktop project for Linux.
PCManFM is a lightweight tabbed GTK file manager suited to older machines, with fewer advanced features and slow development.
Also worth comparing
These listings name COSMIC Files as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Index
A multi-platform file manager from KDE's Maui project for Linux desktops and mobile devices.
COSMIC Files is a Rust-based file manager for System76's COSMIC desktop, focused on desktop use rather than convergent mobile screens.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Krusader
A twin-panel commander-style file manager for KDE Plasma and other Linux and Unix desktops.
Xfe
A fast, lightweight file manager for X on Linux and Unix with Explorer- and Commander-style layouts.
Konqueror
KDE's combined web browser and file manager, using Qt WebEngine for pages.
TagSpaces
An offline file organizer that adds color-coded tags to files and folders without a database.
