# Explorer++ review (2026): is it any good? > Small, portable tabbed file manager for Windows Checked Nov 13, 2026 ยท graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA. Explorer++ is a lightweight file manager for Windows with tabs, bookmarks and a preview pane. It runs without installation and its source code is published on GitHub under the GPL-3.0 license. - **Category:** Desktop Utilities - **Made by:** David Erceg - **Website:** https://explorerplusplus.com/ - **Runs on:** Windows - **Who should skip it:** Skip it if you want frequent updates, as the home page shows version 1.4.0 and a 2023 copyright. - **Facts last checked:** Nov 13, 2026 ## Pricing As of Nov 13, 2026, Explorer++ is free to use. - **Pricing model:** Free - **Free plan:** Free to download; the source is released under the GPL-3.0 license. - **Free trial:** None listed. | Plan | Price | What you get | | --- | --- | --- | | Free | $0 | Free to download and use; the site accepts donations. | Read from https://explorerplusplus.com/download on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Explorer++ before buying. ## Key features - **Tabbed browsing:** Open several folders in tabs, and bookmark tabs. - **Portable:** No install is needed; settings can be saved to the registry or to a configuration file. - **Preview pane:** A display window shows a preview of a file as you select it. - **File operations:** Merge and split files, change dates and attributes, and save a directory listing. - **Search and filter:** Search by name and attributes, filter files, and switch between icon, list, detail, thumbnail and tile views. ## Good for - Windows users who want tabs in a small file manager - People who want a file manager they can carry without installing ## Worth knowing - Windows only, with 32-bit, 64-bit and ARM64 builds. - The home page lists version 1.4.0 and a copyright of 2023, so releases are infrequent. - A plugin system is described only as planned or in development on the site's blog. ## ToolGPA grades **GPA: 3.0 out of 4**, graded Nov 13, 2026. Explorer++ is a small, portable tabbed file manager for Windows, free under GPL-3.0. Releases are infrequent, and the plugin system is still described as planned. - **Value for money: A.** Free under GPL-3.0. Nothing to pay, under every price the category charges. - **Free plan and trial: A.** Free with no cap, no trial and no paid tier. - **Features: B.** Tabbed browsing, preview pane, file operations, search and filter, and a portable build. No gap shown in a file manager's job. - **Ease of use: B.** No rating on record. It looks like Explorer with tabs, with nothing to set up. - **Platforms and integrations: D.** Windows only, in 32-bit, 64-bit and ARM64 builds. These are ToolGPA's own grades. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from David Erceg's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. ## Where it stands among desktop utilities - Explorer++'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 platforms and integrations (D, above 0). - Explorer++ 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. The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/utilities ## Keep it, or make your own? **Keep it.** Explorer++ is free, so making your own would save you nothing. 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. - You could not: A file manager working directly on your disk. - You could not: A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page. - You could not: The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job. A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it. **Tags:** Open source, File management ## Alternatives - [Files](https://toolgpa.com/tools/files): Open-source file manager for Windows with tabs and dual pane. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/explorer-vs-files) - [One Commander](https://toolgpa.com/tools/one-commander): Dual-pane Windows file manager with Miller columns, free for home use. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/explorer-vs-one-commander) - [Q-Dir](https://toolgpa.com/tools/q-dir): Four-pane Windows file explorer, free for home and business use. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/explorer-vs-q-dir) - [FreeCommander](https://toolgpa.com/tools/freecommander): Dual-pane Windows file manager, free 32-bit and paid 64-bit. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/explorer-vs-freecommander) - [XYplorer](https://toolgpa.com/tools/xyplorer): Portable tabbed file manager for Windows with scripting. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/explorer-vs-xyplorer) ## Sources The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026: - https://explorerplusplus.com/ - https://explorerplusplus.com/download - https://github.com/derceg/explorerplusplus Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/explorer Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).