Alternatives to lf
A fast terminal file manager in the ranger style, as a single binary with no runtime dependencies. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
lf
A fast terminal file manager in the ranger style, as a single binary with no runtime dependencies.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as lf.
Joshuto
A ranger-like terminal file manager written in Rust with Miller-column navigation.
Joshuto offers the same ranger-style Miller-column navigation in Rust with optional fzf and zoxide integration, but has no Windows build and needs a recent Rust toolchain to compile.
Vifm
A terminal file manager with a curses interface and Vim-like keybindings.
Vifm uses Vim keybindings and commands for file management with a curses interface, runs on Windows and Linux, and is listed as not open source.
clifm
A shell-like terminal file manager that works directly on the command line, without menus or panes.
clifm works inside the shell prompt with typed commands instead of visual panes, supports plugins, and is Linux only under the GPL-2.0 license.
Also worth comparing
These listings name lf as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
tere
Move between directories with an interactive terminal browser.
lf is a full terminal file manager with vi keybindings and asynchronous IO, handling file operations through shell commands, though previews need external programs you configure.
Walk
A minimal terminal file navigator that replaces cd and ls for browsing directories.
lf is a full ranger-style file manager with vi keys and shell-command extensions, so moving to it adds file operations along with more configuration for previews.
zoxide
Learns the directories you actually use, so changing to one takes a few letters instead of a full path.
lf replaces jumping with a ranger-style terminal file manager using vi keys, which also browses and acts on files, but it does not learn your frequently used directories.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
fzf
A fuzzy filter for any list: files, command history, processes, branches, anything you can pipe into it.
eza
A replacement for ls with colours, icons, a tree view and Git status in the listing.
LSD
List files with icons, colors and tree views.
Television
Search files and other data through a terminal fuzzy finder.
