Q-Dir vs XYplorer (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Q-Dir grades higher than XYplorer: 2.8 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Q-Dir grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
XYplorer
Portable tabbed file manager for Windows with scripting
Which one is for you
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
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
| 2.8GPAQ-DirGood | 2.4GPAXYplorerFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFreeware, below anything the category charges. | 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 | AFree for company, business and private use with no cap. | CA 30-day trial, fully working with minor limits. No card is mentioned. After it you need a licence. |
| Features | BFour views in one window, saved folder combinations, colour filters, portable use, export and print. The listing shows no gap. | BTabs, dual pane, scripting, search, preview and a portable build. Nothing in the listing is missing from the job. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. Four panes need a bit of getting used to. | CNo rating on record. Scripting, custom columns and tab sets suggest a learning curve. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only. Windows only; no Mac, Linux, phone or web version. | DWindows only, with a 64-bit build and a 32-bit one still offered. No Mac, Linux or phone version. |
| Best for | four folder views in one Windows window | 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: Q-Dir and XYplorer. How we grade
Where they differ
- XYplorer can be bought with a one-time purchase.
At a glance
| Q-Dir | XYplorer | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free trial |
| Starts at | Free | $34.95 per user, one-time, with 1 year of free upgrades |
| Free plan | Freeware; the vendor says it is free for company, business and private use. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 30-day free trial, fully functional with minor limitations |
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Software OK | Cologne Code Company |
| Price read from | softwareok.com | xyplorer.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
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
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.
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
Q-Dir
Free$0
Free for private and business use.
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
Q-Dir
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, Q-Dir or XYplorer?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Q-Dir is free, and XYplorer starts at $34.95 per user, one-time, with 1 year of free upgrades.
Which has a free plan, Q-Dir or XYplorer?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Q-Dir 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.