Marta vs muCommander (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, muCommander grades higher than Marta: 3.0 against 2.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
muCommander grades higher on features and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
muCommander
Open-source Java dual-pane file manager for Windows, macOS and Linux
Which one is for you
Pick Marta if
- Fits if you want a keyboard-first file manager on a Mac
- Works for people who like scripting their tools in Lua
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want a finished release, since the download page says it is in beta
- Skip it if you use Windows or Linux, as it is Mac only
- Watch out: it needs macOS 11 or later
- Watch out: the site's copyright ends at 2024 and lists no paid support
Pick muCommander if
- Fits if you want the same file manager on three operating systems
- Works for people who already have Java installed
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you don't want Java, as it needs Java 11 or later
- Too light on size for a tidy install, as downloads are 135 to 174 MB
- Watch out: Dropbox and Google Drive support comes with a privacy policy to read first
- Skip it if you want paid support, as none is listed
How we grade them
| 2.6GPAMartaGood | 3.0GPAmuCommanderVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | ANo price on the download page; it asks for Patreon support. | AFree under GPL v3, with donations invited. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree with no cap and no trial. No cap, no trial and no paid tier. | AFree outright with no cap. Free outright with no cap, no trial clock and no paid edition; donations are invited. |
| Features | CArchives as folders, Lua plugin API, built-in terminal and disk usage, but the release is labelled beta. | BVirtual filesystem, archives, tabs and bookmarks, file operations and customisation. No gap shown in the job. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. Keyboard-driven use and Lua scripting mean a learning curve. | CNo rating on record. It needs Java installed and a two-pane layout to learn. |
| Platforms and integrations | DMac only, macOS 11 or later. Mac only, with no Windows, Linux, phone or web version. | CWindows, macOS and Linux, desktops only. |
| Best for | a keyboard-driven file manager on a Mac | a free two-pane file manager written in Java |
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: Marta and muCommander. How we grade
Price against what you get
Marta has no paid plan and scores 1.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. muCommander has no paid plan and scores 2.3.
muCommander scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other desktop utilities on the chart, none scores higher than Marta for less, and none scores higher than muCommander 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
- muCommander is open source, according to its own site.
At a glance
| Marta | muCommander | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | The download page lists no price and invites support on Patreon; the release is labeled beta. | Free; released under the GNU GPL v3 license, and donations are invited. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Yan Zhulanow | muCommander project |
| Price read from | marta.sh | mucommander.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Marta
- The download page says Marta is in beta; the latest version listed is 0.8.2.
- Requires macOS 11.0 or later.
- The site shows a 2016 to 2024 copyright and lists no paid support.
muCommander
- Needs Java 11 or later installed to run.
- Downloads are large, around 135 to 174 MB.
- Dropbox and Google Drive support comes with a privacy policy to read first.
Key features
Marta
- Native macOS app
- Written entirely in Swift, according to the vendor.
- Keyboard and mouse
- Works by keyboard or mouse, with an Actions Panel opened by Command-Shift-P.
- Archives as folders
- Opens and writes ZIP and opens RAR, 7Z, XAR, TAR, ISO, CAB, LZH and more, including nested archives.
- Lua plugin API
- Plugins written in Lua can adapt the app, and configuration uses a dedicated DSL.
- Built-in terminal and disk usage
- A terminal syncs its directory with a file pane, and Analyze Disk Usage shows what takes space.
muCommander
- Virtual filesystem
- Local volumes, FTP, SFTP, SMB, NFS, HTTP, Amazon S3, Hadoop HDFS and Bonjour.
- Archives
- Handles ZIP, RAR, 7z, TAR, GZip, BZip2, ISO/NRG, AR/Deb and LST archives.
- Tabs and bookmarks
- Multiple tabs, universal bookmarks and a credentials manager.
- File operations
- Copy, move, rename, batch rename, email files and checksum calculation.
- Customizable
- Configurable keyboard shortcuts, toolbars and themes, in many languages.
Plans
Marta
Free$0
Download listed without a price; optional Patreon support.
muCommander
Free$0
Free to download and use.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Marta or muCommander?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Marta and muCommander are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Marta or muCommander?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Marta and muCommander have a free plan.
Which platforms do Marta and muCommander run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only muCommander lists Windows and Linux apps. Both list a macOS 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.