The Nimble Commander Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Nimble Commander 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.
Nimble Commander
The Insider’s Guide
Free dual-pane file manager for macOS, no longer actively maintained
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Nimble Commander’s own pages.
Made by Michael Kazakov · 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 Nimble Commander’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Nimble Commander’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
2.6
GPA, above 69 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade
Nimble Commander is a dual-pane file manager for macOS built around keyboard navigation, with a terminal emulator, archive browsing and remote connections. Its GitHub page says it is no longer actively maintained.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Nimble Commander, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Its own GitHub readme says it is no longer actively maintained.
- 1
Best for a free two-pane file manager on a Mac
Nimble Commander is a free, open-source dual-pane file manager for macOS with a built-in terminal.
- 2
It is free
Nimble Commander has no paid plan at all. Free and open source; the source is released under the GPL-3.0 license.
- 3
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 4
Dual panels with keyboard access
Shortcuts are listed for more than a hundred actions.
- 5
Built-in terminal
A terminal emulator stays in sync with the panels as you navigate.
- 6
Archives and remote servers
Browse archives like folders, and connect to FTP, SFTP and WebDAV servers.
- 7
A 2.6 GPA, above 69 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
Nimble Commander is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Nimble Commander at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- Michael Kazakov
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a free two-pane file manager on a Mac
Nimble Commander is a free, open-source dual-pane file manager for macOS with a built-in terminal. Its own GitHub readme says it is no longer actively maintained.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source under GPL-3.0. Nothing to pay, below any category price. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright with no cap. No cap, no trial and no paid tier. |
| Features | C | Dual panels, built-in terminal, archives and remote servers, viewer and batch rename. The listing's biggest gap is that it is not actively maintained. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record. A keyboard-first two-pane layout takes some learning. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only. Mac only, with no Windows, Linux, phone or web version listed. |
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 Nimble Commander is for
- Fits if you want a free dual-pane manager on a Mac
- Works for people who like a terminal built into the file manager
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want fixes and new macOS support, because the readme says it is no longer actively maintained
- Not for you if you use Windows or Linux, as it is Mac only
- Watch out: the Mac App Store listing is named Files Lite, which may confuse buyers
- Too light for support needs, as there is no help desk on record
Good to know
Good for
- Mac users who want a free two-panel file manager
- System administrators who want a terminal beside file panels
Worth knowing
- The project's GitHub readme says it is no longer actively maintained.
- Runs on macOS only; no Windows or Linux version is listed.
- The Mac App Store listing is named Files Lite, which may confuse buyers.
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
Nimble Commander is free to use.
Nothing to pay, below any category price.
Free
$0
Free to download from the site or the Mac App Store.
The free plan
Free and open source; the source is released under the GPL-3.0 license.
Read from magnumbytes.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
1
Place it runs: macOS
Free dual-pane file manager for macOS, no longer actively maintained. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, keyboard-first, file management.
Dual panels, built-in terminal, archives and remote servers, viewer and batch rename.
- Dual panels with keyboard access
- Shortcuts are listed for more than a hundred actions.
- Built-in terminal
- A terminal emulator stays in sync with the panels as you navigate.
- Archives and remote servers
- Browse archives like folders, and connect to FTP, SFTP and WebDAV servers.
- Viewer and batch rename
- A viewer shows text or hex, including very large files, and Batch Rename supports patterns and counters.
- Search and attributes
- Search by attributes or content, and edit UNIX and BSD flags, file times and ownership.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Nimble Commander is made by Michael Kazakov.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
69/186
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
Nimble Commander's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 69 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 46.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 107 of 186) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Nimble Commander has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 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. Nimble Commander’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 55 of 186
- AFree plan and trialAbove 107 of 186
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 186
- CEase of useAbove 5 of 186
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 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. Nimble Commander 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
Nimble Commander is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could not
- A file manager working directly on your disk.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Nimble Commander’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
Commander One, Marta, Path Finder, ForkLift and fman
The 5 tools Nimble Commander is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Commander One
Free plan · from $29.99 one-time
Dual-panel file manager and FTP client for Mac.
- Nimble Commander is open source, according to its own site.
- Commander One can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Commander One also covers file compression.
- 2.6GPA
Marta
Free
Native macOS file manager with keyboard control and Lua plugins.
- Nimble Commander is open source, according to its own site.
- Marta also covers file compression.
- 2.2GPA
Path Finder
Free trial · from $2.95/mo
Dual-pane file manager for Mac, built as a Finder alternative.
- Nimble Commander has a free plan. Path Finder does not, though it has a free trial.
- Nimble Commander is open source, according to its own site.
- Path Finder also covers file sync.
- 2.6GPA
ForkLift
Free trial · from $19.95 one-time
Dual-pane file manager and file transfer client for macOS.
- Nimble Commander has a free plan. ForkLift does not, though it has a free trial.
- Nimble Commander is open source, according to its own site.
- ForkLift can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.2GPA
fman
Free trial · from €39 one-time
Dual-pane file manager for Mac, Windows and Linux with plugins.
- Nimble Commander has a free plan. fman does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only fman lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Nimble 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
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 Nimble Commander free?
Yes. Nimble Commander is free to use.
How much does Nimble Commander cost?
Nimble Commander lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Nimble Commander work on?
Nimble Commander is available on macOS.
Does Nimble Commander have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Nimble Commander is listed for macOS.
Does Nimble Commander have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Nimble Commander is listed for macOS.
Is Nimble Commander open source?
Yes. Nimble Commander is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes Nimble Commander?
Nimble Commander is made by Michael Kazakov.
What are the alternatives to Nimble Commander?
The closest alternatives to Nimble Commander in our directory are Commander One, Marta, Path Finder, ForkLift and fman.
How does Nimble Commander compare with other desktop utilities?
Nimble Commander's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 69 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 46.
Is Nimble Commander good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Nimble Commander A for value for money. Nimble Commander has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Nimble Commander?
Nimble Commander is free, so making your own would save you nothing. What you could not make: A file manager working directly on your disk.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Nimble Commander’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 Kazakov'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 Kazakov. Prices change, so check magnumbytes.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
- Nimble Commander, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/nimble-commander
- 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, "Nimble Commander: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/nimble-commander
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/nimble-commander/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after Nimble Commander, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 187 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- 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 Nimble Commander’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. Nimble Commander is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Michael Kazakov. Prices and plans change: check magnumbytes.com before you buy.