fman vs Total Commander (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Total Commander grades higher than fman: 2.8 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 6, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Total Commander grades higher on features, ease of use and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money and the free plan.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
fman
Dual-pane file manager for Mac, Windows and Linux with plugins
Total Commander
Two-pane file manager for Windows with FTP and archive tools
Which one is for you
Pick fman if
- Fits if you like to move around folders by typing
- Works for people who want plugins in a file manager
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a free tool, as regular use needs a licence and there is no free tier
- Pricey if you buy for a team, as businesses need one licence per person
- Watch out: the buy page doesn't say what the trial limits are
- Watch out: the price is in euros and there is a 60-day refund policy
Pick Total Commander if
- Fits if you manage a lot of files on Windows and want two panels instead of Explorer
- Works for people who want FTP, archives and file comparison in one program, paid for once
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you're on a Mac or Linux, as there's no native version and the vendor points you to an emulator or Wine
- Not for you if you want a free file manager on Windows, since the shareware runs 30 days, then it's €42 or delete it
- Tight if you need the key today, because the order page says to allow about 1-2 business days
- Watch out: the price is in euros through an EU payment processor, and your bank may add a 1-2.5% fee
- Skip it if you want it wired into other apps, as no integrations or API are listed
How we grade them
| 2.2GPAfmanFair | 2.8GPATotal CommanderGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B€39 one-time and perpetual, which is a bit under a year of a typical utility subscription (about $40) and under two. | B€42 once per user, plus VAT where charged. That's a one-off under two years of what a paid utility here costs monthly, and one licence covers you on any number of computers with updates free until further notice. |
| Free plan and trial | CFree to try, but a licence is needed for regular use, and the pages don't describe the trial limits or say a card is needed. | CNo free version on Windows. You get a 30-day test period with the full shareware build and no card needed, then you order a licence or delete it. The Android app is freeware, but that isn't the main event. |
| Features | CGo to directory, plugins, dual pane and keyboard shortcuts, but the listing doesn't show what the trial or the app leaves out. | BTwo panels with tabs, packing and unpacking of ZIP, 7ZIP, RAR and TAR, an FTP client with FTPS, compare by content, directory sync, multi-rename and a Quick View panel. The file manager job is covered end to end, and so it is by Directory Opus and ForkLift. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. A keyboard-first two-pane layout takes learning. | BNo store rating on record. Install it and two panels sit side by side, which is the whole idea and easy enough to follow. Buying is the slow part: the order page says to allow about 1-2 business days for the key. |
| Platforms and integrations | CMac, Windows and Linux, desktops only. Mac, Windows and Linux desktops only; no phone or web version, no integrations. | BWindows, plus a freeware app for Android phones and tablets. No native Mac or Linux version at all, the vendor pointing you at an emulator or Wine, and no integrations or API listed. |
| Best for | a plugin-based two-pane file manager on any desktop | two-pane file wrangling 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: fman and Total Commander. How we grade
Where they differ
- Total Commander also covers file compression.
At a glance
| fman | Total Commander | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starts at | €39 one-time, perpetual license | €42 one-time purchase, plus VAT where charged (Windows licence) |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | Free to try; a license is required to use it regularly | 30-day test period with the fully functional shareware version for Windows |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Michael Herrmann | Ghisler Software GmbH |
| Price read from | fman.io | ghisler.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
Worth knowing
fman
- Businesses need one license per person using it.
- The site states a 60-day refund policy; the trial limits are not described on the pages read.
- Price is in euros, and the buy page does not say what the trial limits are.
Total Commander
- The Windows version is shareware: after 30 days you must order a licence (€42 plus VAT where charged) or delete the program.
- There is no native Mac or Linux version. The vendor suggests a Windows emulator on a Mac and says it runs on Linux with Wine.
- The price is set in euros and charged by an EU payment processor; the vendor warns of a possible 1-2.5% processing fee from your bank.
- The registration key is not instant: the order page says to allow about 1-2 business days for delivery.
Key features
fman
- Go to directory
- Press Ctrl+P (Command-P on Mac) to jump to a folder; fman remembers frequently used folders and suggests them first.
- Plugins
- Install plugins written by others or write your own with the plugin system.
- Dual-pane layout
- A two-panel file manager for Mac, Windows and Linux.
- Keyboard shortcuts
- The docs credit keyboard shortcuts for its speed; a shortcut copies or moves files between the two panels.
- Perpetual license
- One license covers all your computers and all future versions, per the buy page, with a 60-day refund policy.
Total Commander
- Two file windows side by side
- Shows two file panels next to each other for copying and moving between folders, with a tabbed interface, history and favorites buttons, thumbnails view and custom columns.
- Archive handling
- Packs and unpacks files, with handling for ZIP, 7ZIP, ARJ, LZH, RAR, UC2, TAR, GZ, CAB and ACE archives and further formats through plugins.
- Built-in FTP client
- Connects to FTP servers with FTPS (encrypted FTP) and HTTP proxy support, and includes a password manager for FTP and plugin connections.
- Compare and synchronize
- Compares files by content in a compare editor and synchronizes directories, including empty ones.
- Multi-rename tool and search
- Renames many files in one operation, and offers an enhanced search function, regular expressions and a quick file filter on Ctrl+S.
- Quick View panel
- A Quick View panel previews the selected file inside the program, including image and video display.
Plans
fman
fman license€39
one-time, perpetual
Use on as many of your computers as you like; includes all future versions.
Total Commander
Total Commander for Android€0
Freeware app for smartphones and tablets running Android 2.2 or newer.
Total Commander for Windows€42
one-time purchase per user, plus VAT where charged
Registration key for the Windows version. One licence covers one person on any number of computers, and updates are free until further notice.
Ways to pay less
fman
No public discounts listed.
Total Commander
- Education
Student and pupil licence for €31.50
Students and pupils pay EUR 31.50 plus VAT, down from EUR 42, after emailing proof of study to get a rebate code. The licence is issued in the student's own name.
- Lifetime license
Licence with no time limit and free updates
Single- and multi-user licences are valid for an unlimited time. The vendor says all updates have been free for registered users since version 1.0, until further notice.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, fman or Total Commander?
As of Nov 13, 2026, fman starts at €39 one-time, perpetual license, and Total Commander starts at €42 one-time purchase, plus VAT where charged (Windows licence).
Which has a free plan, fman or Total Commander?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither fman nor Total Commander has a free plan. Both have a free trial.
Which platforms do fman and Total Commander run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only fman lists macOS and Linux apps and only Total Commander lists an Android app. Both list a Windows app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
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.