fman review (2026): is it worth €39?
Dual-pane file manager for Mac, Windows and Linux with plugins
Black Friday: is there a fman sale?
fman report card
Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for a plugin-based two-pane file manager on any desktop
fman is a two-pane file manager for Mac, Windows and Linux with a go-to-directory box and plugins, at €39 one-time. The buy pages don't say what the trial limits are, and there is no free tier.
Who fman is for
- Fits if you like to move around folders by typing
- Works for people who want plugins in a file manager
Who fman is not for
- Skip it if you want a free tool, as regular use needs a licence and there is no free tier
- Pricey if you buy for a team, as businesses need one licence per person
- Watch out: the buy page doesn't say what the trial limits are
- Watch out: the price is in euros and there is a 60-day refund policy
Why fman gets a 2.2
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- BValue for money€39 one-time and perpetual, which is a bit under a year of a typical utility subscription (about $40) and under two.
- CFree plan and trialFree to try, but a licence is needed for regular use, and the pages don't describe the trial limits or say a card is needed.
- CFeaturesGo to directory, plugins, dual pane and keyboard shortcuts, but the listing doesn't show what the trial or the app leaves out.
- CEase of useNo rating on record. A keyboard-first two-pane layout takes learning.
- CPlatforms and integrationsMac, Windows and Linux, desktops only. Mac, Windows and Linux desktops only; no phone or web version, no integrations.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Michael Herrmann's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
Make fman? Put this grade on your site
Paste this where you want the badge. It links here and follows the grade if it changes. About badges
<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/fman#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/fman.svg" alt="fman: 2.2 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where fman stands among desktop utilities
fman's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 13 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 21.
It stands best on value for money (B, above 28 of 186) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 187 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. fman’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 28 of 186, level with 26
- CFree plan and trialAbove 8 of 186, level with 66
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 186, level with 110
- CEase of useAbove 5 of 186, level with 72
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 111 of 186, level with 60
Keep fman, or make your own?
Your call
It depends on the utility: a converter or a calculator is an afternoon.
fman sits between: not beyond making, and not a weekend's work either. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. At $43.57, paid once, it costs less than the weekend it would take to replace, which is the argument for keeping it.
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.
What this rests on. fman’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 fman?
fman is a dual-pane file manager for Mac, Windows and Linux built around a keyboard shortcut for jumping to folders and a plugin system. It can be tried for free, and a one-time license is needed for regular use.
Worth knowing
- Businesses need one license per person using it.
- The site states a 60-day refund policy; the trial limits are not described on the pages read.
- Price is in euros, and the buy page does not say what the trial limits are.
Key features
- Go to directory
- Press Ctrl+P (Command-P on Mac) to jump to a folder; fman remembers frequently used folders and suggests them first.
- Plugins
- Install plugins written by others or write your own with the plugin system.
- Dual-pane layout
- A two-panel file manager for Mac, Windows and Linux.
- Keyboard shortcuts
- The docs credit keyboard shortcuts for its speed; a shortcut copies or moves files between the two panels.
- Perpetual license
- One license covers all your computers and all future versions, per the buy page, with a 60-day refund policy.
fman pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, fman is a paid product with a free trial, starting at €39 one-time, perpetual license.
- Starts at
- €39 one-time, perpetual license
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- Free to try; a license is required to use it regularly
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| fman license | €39one-time, perpetual | Use on as many of your computers as you like; includes all future versions. |
Read from fman.io on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with fman before you buy.
fman alternatives
- fman vs Marta
Free
- fman vs Total Commander
Free trial · from €42 one-time
- fman vs Commander One
Free plan · from $29.99 one-time
Common questions
Does fman have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. fman is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does fman have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. fman is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is fman open source?
fman is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.