The Files Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Files in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Files
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source file manager for Windows with tabs and dual pane
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Files’s own pages.
Made by Files Community · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Files’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Files’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
Files is an open-source file manager for Windows, built and maintained by the Files Community as an alternative to File Explorer. It adds tabs, a dual-pane view, a column layout, colored file tags, a preview pane and a command palette, and it shows installed cloud drives in the sidebar. The app is free through the classic installer, while the Microsoft Store version is sold to fund development.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Files, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It's Windows only, remote connections stop at FTP and FTPS with no SFTP, and the FAQ admits memory leaks that build up over long sessions.
- 1
Best for a File Explorer swap with tabs and dual pane
Files is an open-source stand-in for File Explorer with tabs, two panes, colored tags and cloud drives in the sidebar.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $12.99 one-time purchase (Microsoft Store, US price).
- 3
There is a free plan
The app is free through the classic installer, a PowerShell command or the offline packages. The Microsoft Store version is the paid way to get it, sold to support the project.
- 4
It runs on Windows
Windows.
- 5
Tabs and dual pane
Several folders open as tabs in a single window, and the dual-pane view shows and manages two folders side by side.
- 6
Layouts and column view
Folders can be shown in several layouts, including a column layout for moving through different levels of the file system.
- 7
File tags
Files and folders can be organized and sorted with colored tags.
- 8
A 2.8 GPA, above 57 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Files you could make: file compression. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Files at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $12.99 one-time purchase (Microsoft Store, US price)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Windows
- Made by
- Files Community
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a File Explorer swap with tabs and dual pane
Files is an open-source stand-in for File Explorer with tabs, two panes, colored tags and cloud drives in the sidebar. It's free through the classic installer, or $12.99 on the Microsoft Store. It's Windows only, remote connections stop at FTP and FTPS with no SFTP, and the FAQ admits memory leaks that build up over long sessions.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free through the classic installer, a real program you download and run. The Microsoft Store version is $12.99 once, sold to fund development, and that's still under this category's usual one-time price. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The app is free if you install it with the classic installer, a PowerShell command or the offline packages. No trial clock. The project just asks you to think about supporting it on GitHub. |
| Features | C | On the browsing side: tabs, dual pane, a column layout, colored tags, zip and 7zip archives, Git branches and a Command Palette. The listing names two holes, though. Remote connections stop at FTP and FTPS with no SFTP, and the FAQ admits memory use builds up over long sessions. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating is on record, but there's nothing to set up: it's a file manager, so you already know the basics, and the Command Palette puts commands and settings on the keyboard. Just remember the free route is the classic installer, not the Store. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Windows only, a single operating system, and the Store listing wants Windows 10 version 19041.0 or higher. It does list OneDrive, Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox and Box in the sidebar, as long as each one's own client is running, and it works with Git. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Files is for
- Fits if you want tabs, two panes and tags in a file manager at no cost
- Works for people in project folders all day who want Git branches in view
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on a Mac or Linux, as it's Windows only, on Windows 10 version 19041.0 or higher
- Not for you if you connect to servers over SFTP, because only FTP and FTPS are supported
- Not for you if you leave a file manager open for days, since the FAQ admits to memory leaks
- Watch out: cloud drives show in the sidebar only while each service's own client is running
- Watch out: the Store copy costs $12.99, so the free route is the classic installer or a PowerShell command
Good to know
Good for
- Windows users who want tabs, dual pane and tags in a file manager
- Developers who want Git branches visible while browsing project folders
- People who prefer open-source software built in public
Worth knowing
- Windows only; the Microsoft Store listing requires Windows 10 version 19041.0 or higher.
- The Microsoft Store version costs $12.99. The free version is installed with the classic installer or a PowerShell command.
- Remote connections cover FTP and FTPS only; the docs say SFTP is not currently supported.
- The FAQ acknowledges memory leaks that can make memory use build up over long sessions.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$12.99 one-time
To start. There is a free plan too
Files has a free plan. Paid plans start at $12.99 one-time purchase (Microsoft Store, US price).
Free through the classic installer, a real program you download and run.
Classic installer
$0
The free version, in stable and preview branches. The project asks people who install it to consider supporting development on GitHub.
Microsoft Store
$12.99
one-time purchase (US Microsoft Store price)
The stable release bought and updated through the Microsoft Store. The download page calls this the best way to support development.
The free plan
The app is free through the classic installer, a PowerShell command or the offline packages. The Microsoft Store version is the paid way to get it, sold to support the project.
Read from apps.microsoft.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Windows
Open-source file manager for Windows with tabs and dual pane. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, file management, file compression.
Remote connections stop at FTP and FTPS with no SFTP, and the FAQ admits memory use builds up over long sessions.
- Tabs and dual pane
- Several folders open as tabs in a single window, and the dual-pane view shows and manages two folders side by side.
- Layouts and column view
- Folders can be shown in several layouts, including a column layout for moving through different levels of the file system.
- File tags
- Files and folders can be organized and sorted with colored tags.
- Cloud drives in the sidebar
- Detects installed cloud clients such as OneDrive, Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox and Box and lists their drives in the sidebar. The provider's own client must be running.
- Archives and FTP
- Creates and extracts archives including zip and 7zip, and connects to FTP and FTPS servers from the address bar. SFTP is not supported.
- Git integration and Command Palette
- Creates and switches Git branches and syncs changes from within the app. The Command Palette gives keyboard access to commands and settings, and key bindings can be remapped.
Where it runs
- Windows
What it works with
- OneDrive
- Google Drive
- iCloud
- Dropbox
- Git
- QuickLook
- PowerToys Peek
- Listary
Files is made by Files Community.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
57/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
Files's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 49 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Files’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- AFree plan and trialAbove 49 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- BEase of useAbove 33 of 94
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 94
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Files you could make: file compression. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It costs $12.99, paid once. Files is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could make
- File compression: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A file manager working directly on your disk.
- A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, OneDrive, Google Drive and iCloud among them.
What this rests on. Files’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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Directory Opus, Total Commander, ForkLift and Path Finder
The 4 tools Files is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Directory Opus
Free trial · from $89 one-time
Highly configurable file manager that replaces Windows Explorer.
- Files has a free plan. Directory Opus does not, though it has a free trial.
- Files is open source, according to its own site.
- Directory Opus can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
Total Commander
Free trial · from €42 one-time
Two-pane file manager for Windows with FTP and archive tools.
- Files has a free plan. Total Commander does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Total Commander lists an Android app.
- Files is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
ForkLift
Free trial · from $19.95 one-time
Dual-pane file manager and file transfer client for macOS.
- Files has a free plan. ForkLift does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Files lists a Windows app.
- Only ForkLift lists a macOS app.
- 2.2GPA
Path Finder
Free trial · from $2.95/mo
Dual-pane file manager for Mac, built as a Finder alternative.
- Files has a free plan. Path Finder does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Files lists a Windows app.
- Only Path Finder lists a macOS app.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Files free?
Files has a free plan. The app is free through the classic installer, a PowerShell command or the offline packages.
How much does Files cost?
Files lists 2 plans. Classic installer: $0.
What platforms does Files work on?
Files is available on Windows.
Does Files have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Files is listed for Windows.
Does Files have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Files is listed for Windows.
Is Files open source?
Yes. Files is open source, according to its own site.
What does Files integrate with?
Files's listing names OneDrive, Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox, Git, QuickLook, PowerToys Peek and Listary.
Who makes Files?
Files is made by Files Community.
What are the alternatives to Files?
The closest alternatives to Files in our directory are Directory Opus, Total Commander, ForkLift and Path Finder.
How does Files compare with other desktop utilities?
Files's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
Could I make my own version of Files?
The plain part of Files you could make: file compression. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Files’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from the Files Community's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-26.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Files Community. Prices change, so check files.community before you buy.
- files.community/
- files.community/download
- apps.microsoft.com/detail/9nghp3dx8hdx?hl=en-US&gl=US
- files.community/docs/getting-started/install
- files.community/docs/getting-started/faq
- files.community/docs/getting-started/overview
- files.community/docs/features/cloud-drives
- files.community/docs/features/ftp
- files.community/docs/features/integrations
- github.com/files-community/Files
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Files, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/files
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Files: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/files
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/files/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after Files, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 95 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- 7-Zip Insider's GuideFree, open-source file archiver with the 7z format3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Files’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Files is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Files Community. Prices and plans change: check files.community before you buy.