Explorer++ vs Files (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Explorer++ grades higher than Files: 3.0 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 9, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Explorer++ grades higher on features. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Files
Open-source file manager for Windows with tabs and dual pane
Free plan · from $12.99 one-time
Which one is for you
Pick Explorer++ if
- Fits if you want tabs in a Windows file manager without much else
- Works for people who carry tools on a USB stick
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want frequent updates, as the home page shows version 1.4.0 and a 2023 copyright
- Not for you if you want plugins, since that system is only described as planned
- Watch out: it is Windows only
- Too light for dual-pane work, as it is a single-pane tabbed manager
Pick Files if
- Fits if you want tabs, two panes and tags in a file manager at no cost
- Works for people in project folders all day who want Git branches in view
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you're on a Mac or Linux, as it's Windows only, on Windows 10 version 19041.0 or higher
- Not for you if you connect to servers over SFTP, because only FTP and FTPS are supported
- Not for you if you leave a file manager open for days, since the FAQ admits to memory leaks
- Watch out: cloud drives show in the sidebar only while each service's own client is running
- Watch out: the Store copy costs $12.99, so the free route is the classic installer or a PowerShell command
How we grade them
| 3.0GPAExplorer++Very good | 2.8GPAFilesGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree under GPL-3.0. Nothing to pay, under every price the category charges. | AFree through the classic installer, a real program you download and run. The Microsoft Store version is $12.99 once, sold to fund development, and that's still under this category's usual one-time price. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree with no cap, no trial and no paid tier. | 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 | BTabbed browsing, preview pane, file operations, search and filter, and a portable build. No gap shown in a file manager's job. | COn the browsing side: tabs, dual pane, a column layout, colored tags, zip and 7zip archives, Git branches and a Command Palette. The listing names two holes, though. Remote connections stop at FTP and FTPS with no SFTP, and the FAQ admits memory use builds up over long sessions. |
| Ease of use | BNo rating on record. It looks like Explorer with tabs, with nothing to set up. | BNo store rating is on record, but there's nothing to set up: it's a file manager, so you already know the basics, and the Command Palette puts commands and settings on the keyboard. Just remember the free route is the classic installer, not the Store. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only, in 32-bit, 64-bit and ARM64 builds. | DWindows only, a single operating system, 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 | a small tabbed file manager on Windows | 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: Explorer++ and Files. How we grade
Where they differ
- Files also covers file compression.
In commonFree planWindowsOpen sourceFile management
At a glance
| Explorer++ | Files | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $12.99 one-time purchase (Microsoft Store, US price) |
| Free plan | Free to download; the source is released under the GPL-3.0 license. | 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 | None listed | None listed |
| Windows | ||
| Made by | David Erceg | Files Community |
| Price read from | explorerplusplus.com | apps.microsoft.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Explorer++
- Windows only, with 32-bit, 64-bit and ARM64 builds.
- The home page lists version 1.4.0 and a copyright of 2023, so releases are infrequent.
- A plugin system is described only as planned or in development on the site's blog.
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
Explorer++
- Tabbed browsing
- Open several folders in tabs, and bookmark tabs.
- Portable
- No install is needed; settings can be saved to the registry or to a configuration file.
- Preview pane
- A display window shows a preview of a file as you select it.
- File operations
- Merge and split files, change dates and attributes, and save a directory listing.
- Search and filter
- Search by name and attributes, filter files, and switch between icon, list, detail, thumbnail and tile views.
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
Explorer++
Free$0
Free to download and use; the site accepts donations.
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.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Explorer++ or Files?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Explorer++ is free, and Files starts at $12.99 one-time purchase (Microsoft Store, US price).
Which has a free plan, Explorer++ or Files?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Explorer++ and Files have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.