Alternatives to PCManFM
A lightweight, tabbed GTK file manager from the LXDE desktop project for Linux. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
PCManFM
A lightweight, tabbed GTK file manager from the LXDE desktop project for Linux.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as PCManFM.
PCManFM-Qt
A Qt-based file manager and desktop icon manager, the default file manager of the LXQt desktop.
PCManFM-Qt is the Qt-based counterpart used by LXQt, also handling desktop icons, with a more active repository than the GTK version.
Thunar
The lightweight default file manager of the Xfce desktop environment for Linux.
Thunar is Xfce's lightweight manager with fast startup, a built-in bulk renamer, custom actions and plugins for archives and shares.
Xfe
A fast, lightweight file manager for X on Linux and Unix with Explorer- and Commander-style layouts.
Xfe stays lightweight but adds four layouts including dual-pane, an editor, image viewer, archive tool and connections to Windows shares and SSH.
Caja
The file manager of the MATE desktop, used to browse files and manage the desktop on Linux.
Caja is MATE's actively maintained file manager with an extension interface, best integrated with the MATE desktop.
Nemo
Cinnamon's file manager, a Nautilus fork with more built-in options.
Nemo is Cinnamon's Nautilus fork with dual panes and an extension system, but it pulls in extra dependencies on other desktops.
GNOME Files
The default GNOME desktop file manager, also called Nautilus, for browsing local and network files.
GNOME Files is GNOME's default manager with network browsing and plugins, tightly tied to the GNOME desktop and heavier than PCManFM.
Pantheon Files
The file manager designed for elementary OS and its Pantheon desktop.
Pantheon Files is elementary OS's minimal manager with plugins, Git status integration and a file chooser portal.
nnn
A terminal file manager of about 150 KB that starts instantly, uses under 4 MB of memory and needs almost no configuration.
nnn moves to the terminal at about 150 KB and under 4 MB of memory, useful for very constrained machines but without a graphical interface.
Also worth comparing
These listings name PCManFM as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
COSMIC Files
The Rust-based file manager of System76's COSMIC desktop environment for Linux.
PCManFM is a lightweight tabbed GTK file manager suited to older machines, with fewer advanced features and slow development.
Deepin File Manager
The default file manager of the Deepin desktop environment for Linux.
PCManFM is a lightweight tabbed GTK file manager from LXDE with very low resource use, suited to older hardware, though development is slow.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Index
A multi-platform file manager from KDE's Maui project for Linux desktops and mobile devices.
Krusader
A twin-panel commander-style file manager for KDE Plasma and other Linux and Unix desktops.
Double Commander
A free dual-pane file manager in the Total Commander tradition, running on Linux and macOS too.
Midnight Commander
Two-panel file manager for the terminal, with an editor and remote access.
