The muCommander Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about muCommander 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.
muCommander
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source Java dual-pane file manager for Windows, macOS and Linux
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from muCommander’s own pages.
Made by muCommander project · 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 muCommander’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on muCommander’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
3.0
GPA, above 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade
muCommander is an open-source dual-pane file manager written to run on Java and offered for macOS, Windows and Linux. It has tabs, a credentials manager and a virtual filesystem covering FTP, SFTP, SMB, NFS, Amazon S3 and more.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about muCommander, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It needs Java installed and a two-pane layout to learn.
- 1
Best for a free two-pane file manager written in Java
muCommander is a free, open-source two-pane file manager in Java that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 2
It is free
muCommander has no paid plan at all. Free; released under the GNU GPL v3 license, and donations are invited.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 4
Virtual filesystem
Local volumes, FTP, SFTP, SMB, NFS, HTTP, Amazon S3, Hadoop HDFS and Bonjour.
- 5
Archives
Handles ZIP, RAR, 7z, TAR, GZip, BZip2, ISO/NRG, AR/Deb and LST archives.
- 6
Tabs and bookmarks
Multiple tabs, universal bookmarks and a credentials manager.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 154 of 186
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
muCommander is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
muCommander at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- muCommander project
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for a free two-pane file manager written in Java
muCommander is a free, open-source two-pane file manager in Java that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. It needs Java 11 or later installed and the downloads are 135 to 174 MB.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free under GPL v3, with donations invited. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright with no cap. Free outright with no cap, no trial clock and no paid edition; donations are invited. |
| Features | B | Virtual filesystem, archives, tabs and bookmarks, file operations and customisation. No gap shown in the job. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record. It needs Java installed and a two-pane layout to learn. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows, macOS and Linux, desktops only. |
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 muCommander is for
- Fits if you want the same file manager on three operating systems
- Works for people who already have Java installed
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you don't want Java, as it needs Java 11 or later
- Too light on size for a tidy install, as downloads are 135 to 174 MB
- Watch out: Dropbox and Google Drive support comes with a privacy policy to read first
- Skip it if you want paid support, as none is listed
Good to know
Good for
- Users who want one free file manager across macOS, Windows and Linux
- Java users who want built-in S3 and SFTP access
Worth knowing
- Needs Java 11 or later installed to run.
- Downloads are large, around 135 to 174 MB.
- Dropbox and Google Drive support comes with a privacy policy to read first.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
muCommander is free to use.
Free outright with no cap, no trial clock and no paid edition; donations are invited.
Free
$0
Free to download and use.
The free plan
Free; released under the GNU GPL v3 license, and donations are invited.
Read from mucommander.com 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
Open-source Java dual-pane file manager for Windows, macOS and Linux. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, file management, file compression.
Virtual filesystem, archives, tabs and bookmarks, file operations and customisation.
- Virtual filesystem
- Local volumes, FTP, SFTP, SMB, NFS, HTTP, Amazon S3, Hadoop HDFS and Bonjour.
- Archives
- Handles ZIP, RAR, 7z, TAR, GZip, BZip2, ISO/NRG, AR/Deb and LST archives.
- Tabs and bookmarks
- Multiple tabs, universal bookmarks and a credentials manager.
- File operations
- Copy, move, rename, batch rename, email files and checksum calculation.
- Customizable
- Configurable keyboard shortcuts, toolbars and themes, in many languages.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
muCommander is made by muCommander project.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
154/186
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
muCommander'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).
muCommander 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. muCommander’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 55 of 186
- AFree plan and trialAbove 107 of 186
- BFeaturesAbove 113 of 186
- CEase of useAbove 5 of 186
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 111 of 186
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. muCommander is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
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
muCommander 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. muCommander’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
Double Commander, Commander One, Nimble Commander, Total Commander and Marta
The 5 tools muCommander is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
Double Commander
Free
Free open-source dual-pane file manager inspired by Total Commander.
- 2.4GPA
Commander One
Free plan · from $29.99 one-time
Dual-panel file manager and FTP client for Mac.
- Only muCommander lists Windows and Linux apps.
- muCommander is open source, according to its own site.
- Commander One can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
Nimble Commander
Free
Free dual-pane file manager for macOS, no longer actively maintained.
- Only muCommander lists Windows and Linux apps.
- muCommander also covers file compression.
- 2.8GPA
Total Commander
Free trial · from €42 one-time
Two-pane file manager for Windows with FTP and archive tools.
- muCommander has a free plan. Total Commander does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only muCommander lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Only Total Commander lists an Android app.
- 2.6GPA
Marta
Free
Native macOS file manager with keyboard control and Lua plugins.
- Only muCommander lists Windows and Linux apps.
- muCommander 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
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 muCommander free?
Yes. muCommander is free to use. Free; released under the GNU GPL v3 license, and donations are invited.
How much does muCommander cost?
muCommander lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does muCommander work on?
muCommander is available on macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does muCommander have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. muCommander is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does muCommander have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. muCommander is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is muCommander open source?
Yes. muCommander is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes muCommander?
muCommander is made by muCommander project.
What are the alternatives to muCommander?
The closest alternatives to muCommander in our directory are Double Commander, Commander One, Nimble Commander, Total Commander and Marta.
How does muCommander compare with other desktop utilities?
muCommander's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 27.
Is muCommander good value for money?
ToolGPA grades muCommander A for value for money. muCommander has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of muCommander?
muCommander is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from muCommander’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 muCommander project'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 muCommander project. Prices change, so check mucommander.com 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
- muCommander, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/mucommander
- 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, "muCommander: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/mucommander
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/mucommander/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
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- Just Color Picker Insider's GuideFree portable color picker and editor for Windows and macOS3.2 GPA
- 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 muCommander’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. muCommander is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by muCommander project. Prices and plans change: check mucommander.com before you buy.