Files vs XYplorer (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Files grades higher than XYplorer: 2.8 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 9, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Files grades higher on the free plan and ease of use. XYplorer grades higher on features. They get the same grade on value for money 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
XYplorer
Portable tabbed file manager for Windows with scripting
Which one is for you
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
Pick XYplorer if
- Fits if you want a tabbed, scriptable replacement for File Explorer
- Works for people who carry a configured file manager on a USB drive
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use Mac or Linux, as it is Windows only
- Watch out: the Standard licence includes upgrades for one year only, and Lifetime is $69.95
- Not for you if you want free, since the trial ends after 30 days
- Pricey if you buy for a team, as Mini Site is $995 for up to 50 users
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAFilesGood | 2.4GPAXYplorerFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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. | A$34.95 once, under a year of what this category's middle subscription costs. Upgrades last a year, and Lifetime is $69.95. |
| Free plan and trial | 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. | CA 30-day trial, fully working with minor limits. No card is mentioned. After it you need a licence. |
| Features | 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. | BTabs, dual pane, scripting, search, preview and a portable build. Nothing in the listing is missing from the job. |
| Ease of use | 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. | CNo rating on record. Scripting, custom columns and tab sets suggest a learning curve. |
| Platforms and integrations | 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. | DWindows only, with a 64-bit build and a 32-bit one still offered. No Mac, Linux or phone version. |
| Best for | a File Explorer swap with tabs and dual pane | a tabbed, scriptable file manager on Windows |
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: Files and XYplorer. How we grade
Where they differ
- Files is open source, according to its own site.
- XYplorer can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Files also covers file compression.
At a glance
| Files | XYplorer | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $12.99 one-time purchase (Microsoft Store, US price) | $34.95 per user, one-time, with 1 year of free upgrades |
| Free plan | 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. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 30-day free trial, fully functional with minor limitations |
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Files Community | Cologne Code Company |
| Price read from | apps.microsoft.com | xyplorer.com |
| Checked | Oct 9, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
XYplorer
- Windows only, and the current 64-bit release is 64-bit only; a 32-bit version is still offered.
- The Standard License includes upgrades for one year only; Lifetime is the one with upgrades forever.
- After the 30-day trial a license is required to keep using it.
- Prices are also shown in euros on the page; the dollar figures are the ones recorded here.
Key features
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.
XYplorer
- Tabs and dual pane
- Tabs can be dragged, locked and named, remember their settings across sessions and come in saved tab sets, with an optional second pane.
- Portable
- Needs no installation, leaves the registry alone and can run from an external drive.
- Scripting
- Scripts run out of the box without plugins, and many are shared on the user forum.
- File search and preview
- Includes a file search, a live filter box and a preview with image hover.
- Customizable interface
- Offers a custom toolbar, custom columns, colored tree sections and a breadcrumb bar.
- Small footprint
- The vendor says it uses little RAM, with a 64-bit executable of about 37 MB.
Plans
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.
XYplorer
Standard License Professional$34.95
per user, one-time, with 1 year of free upgrades
Never expires and covers all of the user's computers. Volume discounts apply automatically.
Lifetime License Professional$69.95
per user, one-time, with free upgrades forever
Same as Standard, with upgrades included permanently.
Mini Site Professional$995.00
one-time for up to 50 users, with free upgrades forever
Lifetime site license for companies with up to 50 users; the page suggests a site license from 18 users.
Mini Site Enterprise$3,995.00
one-time for up to 50 users, with free upgrades forever
Adds Enterprise features; a Large Site License covers up to 150 users.
Ways to pay less
Files
No public discounts listed.
XYplorer
- Other savings
25% off upgrade licenses
Owners of a Standard License whose free upgrade year is over can buy a new Standard or Lifetime License at 25% off, $26.20 and $52.45.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Files or XYplorer?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Files starts at $12.99 one-time purchase (Microsoft Store, US price), and XYplorer starts at $34.95 per user, one-time, with 1 year of free upgrades.
Which has a free plan, Files or XYplorer?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Files has a free plan. XYplorer does not, though it has a free trial.
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.