lf (file manager) vs Vifm

Struggling to choose between lf (file manager) and Vifm? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

lf (file manager) is a File Management solution with tags like terminal, file-manager, lightweight, fast, customizable, userfriendly, go-language.

It boasts features such as Native Go bindings for speed, Customizable colors and themes, File previews and thumbnails, Keyboard shortcuts and quick navigation, Plugins and extensibility via Lua, Tabs for managing multiple directories, Built-in text editor and file viewer and pros including Very fast and lightweight, Highly customizable appearance, Powerful keyboard-driven workflow, Good for advanced terminal users, Extensible via plugins, Actively developed and maintained.

On the other hand, Vifm is a File Management product tagged with terminal, vim, keyboard-shortcuts, dual-panel, file-manager.

Its standout features include Dual panel layout for easy file comparisons, Extensive keyboard shortcuts, Vim-like keybindings, Color schemes support, Built-in viewer and editor, and it shines with pros like Lightweight and fast, Highly customizable, Good for power users familiar with Vim.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

lf (file manager)

lf (file manager)

lf is a terminal file manager written in Go. It is lightweight, customizable, and aims to be fast and user-friendly. Some key features are native Go bindings, icons, previews, contextual color themes, plugins, and more.

Categories:
terminal file-manager lightweight fast customizable userfriendly go-language

Lf (file manager) Features

  1. Native Go bindings for speed
  2. Customizable colors and themes
  3. File previews and thumbnails
  4. Keyboard shortcuts and quick navigation
  5. Plugins and extensibility via Lua
  6. Tabs for managing multiple directories
  7. Built-in text editor and file viewer

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Very fast and lightweight

Highly customizable appearance

Powerful keyboard-driven workflow

Good for advanced terminal users

Extensible via plugins

Actively developed and maintained

Cons

Terminal only (no GUI version)

Steep learning curve for beginners

Limited built-in features compared to GUI file managers

Not many graphical file previews

Plugin ecosystem still developing


Vifm

Vifm

Vifm is a lightweight, fast and highly customizable terminal file manager. It features dual panel layout for easy file comparisons, extensive keyboard shortcuts,Vim-like keybindings, color schemes support and built-in viewer and editor.

Categories:
terminal vim keyboard-shortcuts dual-panel file-manager

Vifm Features

  1. Dual panel layout for easy file comparisons
  2. Extensive keyboard shortcuts
  3. Vim-like keybindings
  4. Color schemes support
  5. Built-in viewer and editor

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Lightweight and fast

Highly customizable

Good for power users familiar with Vim

Cons

Steep learning curve for new users

Terminal based so no GUI

Limited features compared to GUI file managers