Explorer++ vs Q-Dir (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Explorer++ grades higher than Q-Dir: 3.0 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Explorer++ grades higher on ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
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 Q-Dir if
- Fits if you compare or copy between several folders at once
- Works for people who want a portable file explorer
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you use a Mac or Linux, as only Windows is listed
- Skip it if you need paid support, since the page lists none
- Watch out: a licence screen appears on first start on each PC
- Too light for archive work, as archives aren't on its feature list
How we grade them
| 3.0GPAExplorer++Very good | 2.8GPAQ-DirGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree under GPL-3.0. Nothing to pay, under every price the category charges. | AFreeware, below anything the category charges. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree with no cap, no trial and no paid tier. | AFree for company, business and private use with no cap. |
| Features | BTabbed browsing, preview pane, file operations, search and filter, and a portable build. No gap shown in a file manager's job. | BFour views in one window, saved folder combinations, colour filters, portable use, export and print. The listing shows no gap. |
| Ease of use | BNo rating on record. It looks like Explorer with tabs, with nothing to set up. | CNo rating on record. Four panes need a bit of getting used to. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only, in 32-bit, 64-bit and ARM64 builds. | DWindows only. Windows only; no Mac, Linux, phone or web version. |
| Best for | a small tabbed file manager on Windows | four folder views in one Windows window |
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 Q-Dir. How we grade
Price against what you get
Explorer++ has no paid plan and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Q-Dir has no paid plan and scores 2.0.
Explorer++ scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other desktop utilities on the chart, none scores higher than Explorer++ for less, and none scores higher than Q-Dir for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Explorer++ is open source, according to its own site.
At a glance
| Explorer++ | Q-Dir | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free to download; the source is released under the GPL-3.0 license. | Freeware; the vendor says it is free for company, business and private use. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Windows | ||
| Made by | David Erceg | Software OK |
| Price read from | explorerplusplus.com | softwareok.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 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.
Q-Dir
- Windows only; no macOS or Linux version is listed.
- A license screen appears the first time it starts on each PC.
- The page lists no paid support or paid edition.
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.
Q-Dir
- Four views in one window
- Quad-explorer layout with up to 16 tabs in each of the four windows, per the vendor page.
- Saved folder combinations
- Favorites store folder combinations; up to 64 combinations can be saved in one favorite.
- Color and highlight filters
- Files and folders can be colored by type, and files highlighted by extension.
- Portable use
- It does not have to be installed and can run from a USB stick.
- Export and print
- Listings can be exported to XLS, CSV, TXT or HTML and printed.
Plans
Explorer++
Free$0
Free to download and use; the site accepts donations.
Q-Dir
Free$0
Free for private and business use.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Explorer++ or Q-Dir?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Explorer++ and Q-Dir are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Explorer++ or Q-Dir?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Explorer++ and Q-Dir 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.