Path Finder vs Total Commander

Path Finder

• Mac users who find Finder limiting and want two panes
• People who copy and move many files between folders or drives
• Buyers who want to choose between a subscription and a non-renewing license key

Total Commander

• Windows users who manage many files and prefer two panels to Explorer
• People who want FTP, archive handling and file comparison in one program
• Companies that want concurrent-use licences not tied to single computers

Path Finder

• macOS only; the site describes no Windows, Linux or mobile version.
• There is no perpetual license: subscriptions renew monthly or yearly, and license keys run for a fixed 1, 2 or 5 years, after which updates end.
• The homepage says older builds can still be run after a plan expires, while the terms of service grant use only for the term of the subscription or license.
• Subscriptions include 2 activations and more can be bought. A license key covers 3 computers and cannot have activations added.

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.

Path Finder

Dual-pane browsing

A Dual Pane View shows two folders side by side, and files can be copied from one pane to the other with a single click.

Drop Stack

Freezes a drag-and-drop operation by placing the files in a temporary stack, to be copied or moved from there.

Batch rename and advanced selection

Renames files in batches and selects files by name, extension, attributes and more. Hidden files can be viewed and manipulated.

FolderSync

Includes FolderSync, Cocoatech's folder comparison and synchronization tool, for merging, comparing and synchronizing folders.

Size Browser

Browses selected files and folders by size, with Hierarchical Columns and Hierarchical Chart views that show how space is distributed.

Dropbox and iPhone browsing

Links a Dropbox account, and browses files on iOS devices connected by USB and performs file operations on them.

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.

Path Finder

• Monthly Subscription$2.95

  per month, renews automatically

  Renews every month and can be canceled at any time. Includes 2 activations; the vendor suggests it for trying the app for a few months.

• Yearly Subscription$29.95

  per year, renews automatically

  The plan the vendor labels as recommended. Renews every year, can be canceled at any time, and includes 2 activations.

• 1 Year License Key$32.95

  one-time payment for a 1-year term

  A single payment that does not renew. The key is sent by email, covers 3 computers and includes updates released during the term.

• 2 Year License Key$55.95

  one-time payment for a 2-year term

  A license key for two years with no automatic renewal, labeled as saving over 15% compared with buying yearly.

• 5 Year License Key$122.95

  one-time payment for a 5-year term

  A license key for five years with no automatic renewal, labeled as saving over 25% compared with buying yearly.

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.

Path Finder

• Annual discount

  Yearly subscription costs less than monthly

  The Yearly Subscription is $29.95, against $35.40 for twelve payments of the $2.95 Monthly Subscription, a saving of about 15%.

• Other savings

  Multi-year license keys at a discount

  The 2 Year License Key ($55.95) is labeled as saving 15% and the 5 Year License Key ($122.95) as saving 25%, compared with buying a 1 Year License Key each year.

• Other savings

  Volume and site licenses on request

  The terms of service say businesses and organizations can ask about volume and site licenses, and that pricing for multiple licenses or extra activations varies with quantity.

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.