Directory Opus vs Files
We give Directory Opus a 2.6 GPA and Files a 3.0, out of 4.0. Directory Opus grades higher on features. Files grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Directory Opus
Highly configurable file manager that replaces Windows Explorer
Files
Open-source file manager for Windows with tabs and dual pane
How we grade them
| 2.6GPADirectory OpusGood | 3.0GPAFilesVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BA Single licence is $89 AUD once, in Australian dollars, with one year of free updates. That's dear for a pay-once utility, though you keep your version forever and home users get a free personal laptop licence. Later updates are an optional $25 AUD a year. | AFree through the classic installer. The Microsoft Store version is $12.99 once, and the download page calls buying it there the best way to support development. Even paid, that's cheap for a file manager. |
| Free plan and trial | CNo free version. You get 30 days free, or 60 if you register by email, and the listing doesn't mention a card. Take the full 60, because the vendor's licensing FAQ says there are no refunds after purchase. | AThe app is free if you install it with the classic installer, a PowerShell command or the offline packages. No trial clock. The project just asks you to think about supporting it on GitHub. |
| Features | ASingle or dual file displays with trees and tabs, a copy queue, batch renaming, FTP, Zip, 7Zip and RAR archives, a duplicate finder, folder synchronization, and tags, labels and star ratings. A scripting interface adds your own commands. For managing files, nothing's missing. | BTabs, dual pane, a column layout, coloured tags, zip and 7zip archives, and Git branches you can switch from inside the app. Solid. But remote connections stop at FTP and FTPS, with no SFTP, and the FAQ admits memory use can build up over long sessions. |
| Ease of use | BNo rating is on record to go by, so a B. It can step in for Explorer, so the basics sit where you'd expect. The depth is the hard part: toolbars, menus, hotkeys and more than 600 colors and fonts can all be changed, and that's a lot to find your way around. | BNo store rating on record, so a B is as high as we go. It's a file manager, so you already know the basics, and the Command Palette puts commands and settings on the keyboard. The free route is the classic installer, not the Store. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only, on x64 versions of Windows 7, 8, 10 and 11. ARM isn't currently supported. Its searches can use Everything and Windows Search, and that's all it's listed as connecting to. | DWindows only, and the Store listing wants Windows 10 version 19041.0 or higher. It does list OneDrive, Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox and Box in the sidebar, as long as each one's own client is running, and it works with Git. |
| Best for | replacing Windows Explorer with something you can rework | a File Explorer swap with tabs and dual pane |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Directory Opus and Files. How we grade
Where they differ
- Directory Opus starts at $89 AUD one-time for a Single licence (Australian dollars). Files starts at $12.99 one-time purchase (Microsoft Store, US price).
- Files has a free plan. Directory Opus does not, though it has a free trial.
- Directory Opus can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Files is open source, according to its own site.
At a glance
| Directory Opus | Files | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free plan |
| Starts at | $89 AUD one-time for a Single licence (Australian dollars) | $12.99 one-time purchase (Microsoft Store, US price) |
| Free plan | None | The app is free through the classic installer, a PowerShell command or the offline packages. The Microsoft Store version is the paid way to get it, sold to support the project. |
| Free trial | Free for 30 days, or 60 days after registering by email; the 60-day trial also enables Advanced FTP | None listed |
| Windows | ||
| Made by | GP Software | Files Community |
| Price read from | gpsoft.com.au | apps.microsoft.com |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Directory Opus
- Windows users who want a more configurable replacement for Explorer
- People who organize large file collections with tags, labels and ratings
- Users who customize and script their tools heavily
Files
- Windows users who want tabs, dual pane and tags in a file manager
- Developers who want Git branches visible while browsing project folders
- People who prefer open-source software built in public
Worth knowing
Directory Opus
- Windows only: it is supported on x64 versions of Windows 7, 8, 10 and 11, and ARM is not currently supported.
- Prices are in Australian dollars. Updates are free for one year; after that they need a renewal from $25 AUD a year, though the installed version keeps working.
- Advanced FTP and USB Export are optional add-ons, and the default 30-day evaluation does not enable Advanced FTP.
- The vendor's licensing FAQ says there are no refunds after purchase and suggests evaluating for up to 60 days first.
Files
- Windows only; the Microsoft Store listing requires Windows 10 version 19041.0 or higher.
- The Microsoft Store version costs $12.99. The free version is installed with the classic installer or a PowerShell command.
- Remote connections cover FTP and FTPS only; the docs say SFTP is not currently supported.
- The FAQ acknowledges memory leaks that can make memory use build up over long sessions.
Key features
Directory Opus
- Explorer replacement with dual panes
- An Explorer Replacement mode takes over from Windows Explorer, with single or dual file displays, folder trees and tabs for keeping several folders open.
- Copy queue and batch rename
- Queues multiple file copies and renames files in batches, including keyboard macros for building rename operations.
- FTP and archive support
- Works with FTP sites and archive formats such as Zip, 7Zip and RAR. Advanced FTP is an optional add-on to the licence.
- Search, duplicates and synchronize
- Built-in tools find files, locate duplicates and synchronize folders, and searches can use indexed engines such as Windows Search and Everything.
- Labels, tags and metadata
- Color-codes files and assigns status icons, star ratings, tags and descriptions, with an integrated viewer and a metadata editor.
- Customization and scripting
- Toolbars, menus, hotkeys, themes and more than 600 colors and fonts can be changed, and a scripting interface adds custom commands and dialogs.
Files
- Tabs and dual pane
- Several folders open as tabs in a single window, and the dual-pane view shows and manages two folders side by side.
- Layouts and column view
- Folders can be shown in several layouts, including a column layout for moving through different levels of the file system.
- File tags
- Files and folders can be organized and sorted with colored tags.
- Cloud drives in the sidebar
- Detects installed cloud clients such as OneDrive, Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox and Box and lists their drives in the sidebar. The provider's own client must be running.
- Archives and FTP
- Creates and extracts archives including zip and 7zip, and connects to FTP and FTPS servers from the address bar. SFTP is not supported.
- Git integration and Command Palette
- Creates and switches Git branches and syncs changes from within the app. The Command Palette gives keyboard access to commands and settings, and key bindings can be remapped.
Plans
Directory Opus
Single$89 AUD
one-time purchase; later updates $25 AUD / year (optional)
Install on one computer, plus a free personal laptop licence for home users. Includes one year of free updates and forum support.
Dual$129 AUD
one-time purchase; later updates $40 AUD / year (optional)
Install on two computers at one location, plus the free personal laptop licence. Includes one year of free updates.
Five$249 AUD
one-time purchase; later updates $75 AUD / year (optional)
Install on five computers at one location, plus the free personal laptop licence. Includes one year of free updates.
GOLP volume licenceCustom
Volume licences for businesses starting at 11 seats, with discounts that increase with quantity. Arranged by email with sales.
Files
Classic installer$0
The free version, in stable and preview branches. The project asks people who install it to consider supporting development on GitHub.
Microsoft Store$12.99
one-time purchase (US Microsoft Store price)
The stable release bought and updated through the Microsoft Store. The download page calls this the best way to support development.
Ways to pay less
Directory Opus
- Lifetime license
Perpetual licence
A licence lets you keep using the version you have forever. Only installing later releases depends on the annual upgrade subscription, which never renews automatically.
- Other savings
Free personal laptop licence
Standard licences bought for home use include one free personal laptop licence on top of the installs purchased. It does not apply to business licences.
- Other savings
Discounts for multi-year renewals
Upgrade subscriptions can be renewed up to three years ahead, and the vendor says discounts are offered for renewing for more than one year.
- Other savings
Volume pricing from 11 seats
The GP Software Open Licence Plan gives small businesses and corporations cascading discounts on 11 or more seats, arranged by email.
Files
No public discounts listed.
