Compare software

clifm vs lf: catalog facts
clifm	lf
Free Free and open source.	Free Free and open source under the MIT licence.
Linux, Command line	Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line
Works inside the shell prompt with no full-screen interface Plugin support	A single static binary with no runtime dependencies and near-instant startup Asynchronous IO, so a slow directory never freezes the interface
Command-driven approach takes time to learn No visual panes, unlike ranger or nnn	No tabs or windows by design; you use your terminal multiplexer instead No built-in pager or editor
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: GPL-2.0	License: MIT
No account needed	No account needed
Works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 21, 2026

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