Double Commander review (2026): is it any good?
Free open-source dual-pane file manager inspired by Total Commander
Double Commander report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for a free two-pane file manager on any desktop
Double Commander is a free two-pane file manager in the Total Commander mould, on Windows, Linux and Mac. The two-pane layout takes learning if you're used to Finder or Explorer.
Who Double Commander is for
- Fits if you move files between folders all day
- Works for people who already know Total Commander keys
Who Double Commander is not for
- Not for you if you want something that looks like Finder or Explorer, since the layout is different
- Watch out: Linux builds come in GTK2, Qt5 and Qt6, and you pick one
- Skip it if you want paid support, as the site lists none
- Too light for cloud-drive browsing, as only remote connections are listed
Why Double Commander gets a 3.0
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree under GPL-2.0. It costs nothing, under the $1.45 mark the category's cheapest quarter is 60% of.
- AFree plan and trialFree outright with no cap and no paid edition.
- BFeaturesTwo panels, archives as folders, built-in viewer and editor, plug-ins and remote connections. No gap shown in a file manager's job.
- CEase of useNo rating on record. The two-pane interface needs some learning, and Linux users must pick a GTK2, Qt5 or Qt6 build.
- CPlatforms and integrationsWindows, Linux and Mac, desktops only. No phone or web version.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Double Commander author's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/double-commander#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/double-commander.svg" alt="Double Commander: 3.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Double Commander stands among desktop utilities
Double Commander's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 27.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 107 of 186) and worst on ease of use (C, above 5).
Double Commander has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 187 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Double Commander’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 55 of 186, level with 131
- AFree plan and trialAbove 107 of 186, level with 79
- BFeaturesAbove 113 of 186, level with 72
- CEase of useAbove 5 of 186, level with 72
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 111 of 186, level with 60
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 desktop utilities. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
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
Keep Double Commander, or make your own?
Keep it
Double Commander is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade.
What you could make
- File compression: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A file manager working directly on your disk.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Double Commander’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is Double Commander?
Double Commander is a free, open-source file manager with two panels side by side or one above the other. It runs on Windows, Linux and macOS and supports Total Commander plug-in types.
Worth knowing
- The two-panel interface differs from Finder or Explorer and takes some learning.
- Linux builds come in GTK2, Qt5 and Qt6 variants, so users must pick one.
- The vendor site lists no paid support or paid edition.
Key features
- Two-panel layout
- Panels sit side by side or one above the other, with a tabbed interface and custom columns.
- Archives as folders
- Archives are handled like subdirectories. The site lists ZIP, TAR, GZ, BZ2, XZ, LZMA, 7Z, RPM, CPIO, DEB, RAR and ZIPX.
- Built-in viewer and editor
- F3 opens a viewer for text, binary or hex, and F4 opens an internal text editor with syntax highlighting.
- Plug-in support
- Total Commander WCX, WDX, WFX and WLX plug-ins are supported.
- Remote connections
- FTP, FTPS, FTPES, SSH+SCP and SFTP are supported, with a multi-rename tool and full-text file search.
Double Commander pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Double Commander is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- Free; the source is released under the GPL-2.0 license.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Free to download and use. |
Read from doublecmd.sourceforge.io on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Double Commander before you buy.
Double Commander alternatives
- Double Commander vs Total Commander
Free trial · from €42 one-time
- Double Commander vs FreeCommander
Free plan · from €10 one-time
- Double Commander vs Commander One
Free plan · from $29.99 one-time
- Double Commander vs XYplorer
Free trial · from $34.95 one-time
Common questions
Does Double Commander have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Double Commander is listed for Windows, Linux and macOS.
Does Double Commander have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Double Commander is listed for Windows, Linux and macOS.
Is Double Commander open source?
Yes. Double Commander is open source, according to its own site.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.