Alternatives to GNOME Files
The default GNOME desktop file manager, also called Nautilus, for browsing local and network files. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
GNOME Files
The default GNOME desktop file manager, also called Nautilus, for browsing local and network files.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as GNOME Files.
Nemo
Cinnamon's file manager, a Nautilus fork with more built-in options.
Nemo is a GPL-2.0 fork of Nautilus for Cinnamon that keeps dual panes, the type-ahead path bar and toolbars GNOME Files dropped.
Thunar
The lightweight default file manager of the Xfce desktop environment for Linux.
Thunar is the lightweight Xfce file manager with fast startup, a built-in bulk renamer and custom actions, and it is also single-pane.
Caja
The file manager of the MATE desktop, used to browse files and manage the desktop on Linux.
Caja is the MATE desktop file manager with an extension interface, best integrated with MATE instead of GNOME.
PCManFM
A lightweight, tabbed GTK file manager from the LXDE desktop project for Linux.
PCManFM is a GPL-2.0 tabbed GTK manager from LXDE with very low resource use for older machines, though development is slow.
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-based file manager from LXQt that also manages desktop icons and works outside LXQt.
Pantheon Files
The file manager designed for elementary OS and its Pantheon desktop.
Pantheon Files is the minimal elementary OS file manager with plugin support, Git status integration and a file chooser portal.
COSMIC Files
The Rust-based file manager of System76's COSMIC desktop environment for Linux.
COSMIC Files is a Rust-based file manager built around System76's COSMIC desktop, with its own thumbnailer and applet.
Deepin File Manager
The default file manager of the Deepin desktop environment for Linux.
Deepin File Manager is the default file manager of the Deepin desktop, translated into many languages and less suited to other desktops.
Also worth comparing
These listings name GNOME 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.
GNOME Files is the default GNOME file manager with network browsing and plugins, a more established desktop tool designed around GNOME.
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.
Double Commander
A free dual-pane file manager in the Total Commander tradition, running on Linux and macOS too.
Spacedrive
Cross-device file explorer built on a distributed virtual filesystem.
