Far Manager vs Midnight Commander
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Far Manager is a dual-pane, text‑based file manager that runs in the Windows console. It provides extensive keyboard shortcuts, customizable panels, and a rich plugin ecosystem for advanced file operations. The program is free, open‑source, and supports archive handling, FTP, and scripting, making it ideal for developers, sysadmins, and anyone who prefers a fast, keyboard‑driven interface over graphical file explorers.
Midnight Commander (mc) is a text-mode full-screen file manager that runs in a terminal. It provides a two-pane interface, allowing users to copy, move, rename, and edit files quickly without leaving the command line. It supports a wide range of archive formats, virtual file systems, and integrates with common Unix tools, making it ideal for developers, sysadmins, and power users who prefer keyboard-driven workflows.
- Fully keyboard driven for maximum speed
- Extensive plugin ecosystem
- Free and open source
- Handles many archive formats natively
- Runs in any terminal, no GUI required
- Lightweight and fast
- Extensive archive and remote protocol support
- Highly customizable via configuration files
- Windows‑only, no native macOS or Linux version
- Steep learning curve for newcomers
- Limited graphical preview capabilities
- Text‑mode UI may have a learning curve for new users
- Limited mouse support compared to graphical managers
- No native Windows binary; requires Cygwin or WSL
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Far Manager
View all →Alternatives to Midnight Commander
View all →The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataBoth are free, console‑style dual‑pane file managers, but Far Manager is the Windows‑only choice with a richer plugin ecosystem, while Midnight Commander runs on Unix‑like systems and works in any terminal.
Key differences
- •Operating system support: Far Manager is Windows‑only; Midnight Commander runs on Unix‑like platforms (Linux, macOS, etc.).
- •Extensibility: Far Manager offers a plugin API and a large plugin ecosystem; Midnight Commander has no API.
- •Native integration with external editors: Far Manager can launch editors like Vim or Notepad++; Midnight Commander relies on its built‑in editor.
- •Installation model: Far Manager is a standalone Windows desktop app; Midnight Commander runs inside any terminal and needs no GUI.
Pricing & value
Both products are free, offering comparable cost‑benefit.
Ease of use / learning curve
Both have steep learning curves for newcomers due to keyboard‑driven, text‑mode interfaces.
Features & depth
Far Manager provides a robust plugin API, extensive plugin ecosystem, and direct external‑editor integration, which MC lacks.
Integrations & ecosystem
Far Manager supports FTP/SFTP, external editors, and many plugins; MC offers built‑in FTP/SFTP but no plugin ecosystem.
Support
Both rely on community‑driven support (forums, mailing lists, GitHub issues).
Security & privacy
No security or privacy details are specified for either product.
Scalability / deployment
Both are lightweight desktop/terminal apps; no scalability claims are provided.
Choose Far Manager if…
Windows power users or IT pros needing plugin extensibility.
Choose Midnight Commander if…
Unix/Linux developers or sysadmins who prefer a terminal‑only manager.
Common questions
Can I use Far Manager on macOS or Linux?
No, Far Manager is Windows‑only.
Does Midnight Commander support plugins?
No, it does not provide a plugin API.
Both are free—what’s the main reason to pick one over the other?
Choose Far Manager for Windows with extensible plugins; choose Midnight Commander for cross‑platform, terminal‑only environments.