The fman Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about fman 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.
fman
The Insider’s Guide
Dual-pane file manager for Mac, Windows and Linux with plugins
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from fman’s own pages.
Made by Michael Herrmann · checked Nov 13, 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 fman’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on fman’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 13 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about fman, taken from its own pages and our grades.
A keyboard-first two-pane layout takes learning.
- 1
Best for a plugin-based two-pane file manager on any desktop
The buy pages don't say what the trial limits are, and there is no free tier.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at €39 one-time, perpetual license.
- 3
You can try it first
Free to try; a license is required to use it regularly
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 5
Go to directory
Press Ctrl+P (Command-P on Mac) to jump to a folder; fman remembers frequently used folders and suggests them first.
- 6
Plugins
Install plugins written by others or write your own with the plugin system.
- 7
Dual-pane layout
A two-panel file manager for Mac, Windows and Linux.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 13 of 186
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Your call
It depends on the utility: a converter or a calculator is an afternoon.
fman at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from €39 one-time, perpetual license
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Free to try; a license is required to use it regularly
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Michael Herrmann
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | €39 one-time and perpetual, which is a bit under a year of a typical utility subscription (about $40) and under two. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Free 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. |
| Features | C | Go to directory, plugins, dual pane and keyboard shortcuts, but the listing doesn't show what the trial or the app leaves out. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record. A keyboard-first two-pane layout takes learning. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Mac, Windows and Linux, desktops only. Mac, Windows and Linux desktops only; no phone or web version, no integrations. |
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 fman is for
- Fits if you like to move around folders by typing
- Works for people who want plugins in a file manager
Who it 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
Good to know
Good for
- People who want the same file manager on all three desktop systems
- Keyboard users who jump between folders often
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
€39 one-time
To start
fman is a paid product with a free trial, starting at €39 one-time, perpetual license.
Free 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.
fman license
€39
one-time, perpetual
Use on as many of your computers as you like; includes all future versions.
Trying it first
Free to try; a license is required to use it regularly
Read from fman.io on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Dual-pane file manager for Mac, Windows and Linux with plugins. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, file management.
Go to directory, plugins, dual pane and keyboard shortcuts, but the listing doesn't show what the trial or the app leaves out.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
fman is made by Michael Herrmann.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
13/186
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
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
- CFree plan and trialAbove 8 of 186
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 186
- CEase of useAbove 5 of 186
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 111 of 186
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.
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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Marta, Nimble Commander, Total Commander, Commander One and Double Commander
The 5 tools fman is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Marta
Free
Native macOS file manager with keyboard control and Lua plugins.
- Marta has a free plan. fman does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only fman lists Windows and Linux apps.
- fman can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
Nimble Commander
Free
Free dual-pane file manager for macOS, no longer actively maintained.
- Nimble Commander has a free plan. fman does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only fman lists Windows and Linux apps.
- fman 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.
- Only fman lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Only Total Commander lists an Android app.
- Total Commander also covers file compression.
- 2.4GPA
Commander One
Free plan · from $29.99 one-time
Dual-panel file manager and FTP client for Mac.
- Commander One has a free plan. fman does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only fman lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Commander One also covers file compression.
- 3.0GPA
Double Commander
Free
Free open-source dual-pane file manager inspired by Total Commander.
- Double Commander has a free plan. fman does not, though it has a free trial.
- fman can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Double Commander is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
10
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 fman free?
No, fman is a paid product, but you can try it first. Free to try; a license is required to use it regularly.
How much does fman cost?
fman lists one plan. fman license: €39 one-time, perpetual. Prices were read from fman.io on Nov 13, 2026.
What platforms does fman work on?
fman is available on macOS, Windows and Linux.
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.
Who makes fman?
fman is made by Michael Herrmann.
What are the alternatives to fman?
The closest alternatives to fman in our directory are Marta, Nimble Commander, Total Commander, Commander One and Double Commander.
How does fman compare with other desktop utilities?
fman's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 13 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 21.
Could I make my own version of fman?
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.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from fman’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. 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.
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 Michael Herrmann. Prices change, so check fman.io before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 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.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- fman, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/fman
- 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, "fman: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/fman
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/fman/guide
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See our other guides
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- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Mos Insider's GuideFree Mac menu bar utility for smooth mouse wheel scrolling3.2 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 fman’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. fman is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Michael Herrmann. Prices and plans change: check fman.io before you buy.