The Q-Dir Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Q-Dir 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.
Q-Dir
The Insider’s Guide
Four-pane Windows file explorer, free for home and business use
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Q-Dir’s own pages.
Made by Software OK · 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 Q-Dir’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Q-Dir’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
2.8
GPA, above 116 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade
Q-Dir, the Quad Directory Explorer, shows up to four folder views in one window, each with tabs and its own address bar. It runs on Windows and can be used as a portable program.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Q-Dir, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It is Windows only and the page lists no paid support.
- 1
Best for four folder views in one Windows window
Q-Dir shows up to four folder views in one window and is free for home and business use.
- 2
It is free
Q-Dir has no paid plan at all. Freeware; the vendor says it is free for company, business and private use.
- 3
It runs on Windows
Windows.
- 4
Four views in one window
Quad-explorer layout with up to 16 tabs in each of the four windows, per the vendor page.
- 5
Saved folder combinations
Favorites store folder combinations; up to 64 combinations can be saved in one favorite.
- 6
Color and highlight filters
Files and folders can be colored by type, and files highlighted by extension.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 116 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
Q-Dir is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Q-Dir at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Windows
- Made by
- Software OK
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for four folder views in one Windows window
Q-Dir shows up to four folder views in one window and is free for home and business use. It is Windows only and the page lists no paid support.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Freeware, below anything the category charges. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free for company, business and private use with no cap. |
| Features | B | Four views in one window, saved folder combinations, colour filters, portable use, export and print. The listing shows no gap. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record. Four panes need a bit of getting used to. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Windows only. Windows only; no Mac, Linux, phone or web version. |
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 Q-Dir is for
- Fits if you compare or copy between several folders at once
- Works for people who want a portable file explorer
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you use a Mac or Linux, as only Windows is listed
- Skip it if you need paid support, since the page lists none
- Watch out: a licence screen appears on first start on each PC
- Too light for archive work, as archives aren't on its feature list
Good to know
Good for
- Windows users who move files between several folders at once
- Running a file manager from a USB stick
Worth knowing
- Windows only; no macOS or Linux version is listed.
- A license screen appears the first time it starts on each PC.
- The page lists no paid support or paid edition.
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
Q-Dir is free to use.
Freeware, below anything the category charges.
Free
$0
Free for private and business use.
The free plan
Freeware; the vendor says it is free for company, business and private use.
Read from softwareok.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: Windows
Four-pane Windows file explorer, free for home and business use. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, file management.
Four views in one window, saved folder combinations, colour filters, portable use, export and print.
- Four views in one window
- Quad-explorer layout with up to 16 tabs in each of the four windows, per the vendor page.
- Saved folder combinations
- Favorites store folder combinations; up to 64 combinations can be saved in one favorite.
- Color and highlight filters
- Files and folders can be colored by type, and files highlighted by extension.
- Portable use
- It does not have to be installed and can run from a USB stick.
- Export and print
- Listings can be exported to XLS, CSV, TXT or HTML and printed.
Where it runs
- Windows
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Q-Dir is made by Software OK.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
116/186
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
Q-Dir's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 116 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 37.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 107 of 186) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Q-Dir has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 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. Q-Dir’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
- 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. Q-Dir 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
Q-Dir 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 Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Q-Dir’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
FreeCommander, Double Commander, XYplorer, Explorer++ and One Commander
The 5 tools Q-Dir is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
FreeCommander
Free plan · from €10 one-time
Dual-pane Windows file manager, free 32-bit and paid 64-bit.
- FreeCommander can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- FreeCommander also covers file compression.
- 3.0GPA
Double Commander
Free
Free open-source dual-pane file manager inspired by Total Commander.
- Only Double Commander lists Linux and macOS apps.
- Double Commander is open source, according to its own site.
- Double Commander also covers file compression.
- 2.4GPA
XYplorer
Free trial · from $34.95 one-time
Portable tabbed file manager for Windows with scripting.
- Q-Dir has a free plan. XYplorer does not, though it has a free trial.
- XYplorer can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.0GPA
Explorer++
Free
Small, portable tabbed file manager for Windows.
- Explorer++ is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
One Commander
Free plan · from $30 one-time
Dual-pane Windows file manager with Miller columns, free for home use.
- One Commander can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
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 Q-Dir free?
Yes. Q-Dir is free to use.
How much does Q-Dir cost?
Q-Dir lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Q-Dir work on?
Q-Dir is available on Windows.
Does Q-Dir have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Q-Dir is listed for Windows.
Does Q-Dir have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Q-Dir is listed for Windows.
Is Q-Dir open source?
Q-Dir is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does Q-Dir work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Who makes Q-Dir?
Q-Dir is made by Software OK.
What are the alternatives to Q-Dir?
The closest alternatives to Q-Dir in our directory are FreeCommander, Double Commander, XYplorer, Explorer++ and One Commander.
How does Q-Dir compare with other desktop utilities?
Q-Dir's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 116 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 37.
Is Q-Dir good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Q-Dir A for value for money. Q-Dir has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Q-Dir?
Q-Dir 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 Q-Dir’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 Software OK'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 Software OK. Prices change, so check softwareok.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
- Q-Dir, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/q-dir
- 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, "Q-Dir: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/q-dir
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/q-dir/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after Q-Dir, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
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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 Q-Dir’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. Q-Dir is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Software OK. Prices and plans change: check softwareok.com before you buy.