head to head · open source
Files vs xplorer
Files has 46,514 GitHub stars, 3,016 forks, 458 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. xplorer has 5,696 stars, 383 forks, 49 open issues and last shipped 5 months ago. Files leads on adoption by 717% (46,514 vs 5,696 stars). Files is written in C# under MIT; xplorer is written in TypeScript under AGPL-3.0. Files has attracted 6% as many forks as stars, xplorer 7%. Files was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 3 topic tags (file-manager, files, fluent-design), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| Files | xplorer | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 47K | ★ 5.7K |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Written in | C# | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-11-06 | 2026-06-25 |
| Forks | ⑂ 3.0K | ⑂ 383 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Files if
- You weight community size — 47K stars and counting
- You want the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches C#
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick xplorer if
- You want the xplorer feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the AGPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and xplorer fits your workflow better
About Files
Files is a modern file manager that helps users organize their files and folders. Our mission with Files is to build the best file manager for Windows, and we’re proud to be building it out in the open so everyone can participate. User feedback helps shape the features we work on, & the bug reports on GitHub help to make Files more reliable. Built and maintained by the open source community, Files features robust multitasking experiences, file tags, deep integrations, and an intuitive design. Installing and running Files Files is a community driven project that depends on your support to grow and improve. Please…
read the full Files overview →
About xplorer
Xplorer A modern, AI powered file manager built with Rust and React. Cross platform. AI integrated. Extensible. One app for all your files. Website Documentation Discussions Why Xplorer? Most file managers haven't changed in decades. Xplorer is a ground up rethink: a Tauri 2 desktop app with a Rust backend for speed and a React frontend for flexibility. It ships with AI chat, Git integration, an extension marketplace, and themeable UI out of the box. Note: This is the next branch a full rewrite using Tauri 2, React 18, and a new extension system. Not yet production ready, but actively developed. Feedback…
read the full xplorer overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Files or xplorer more popular?
Files has 46,514 GitHub stars and xplorer has 5,696. Files has the larger community by that measure.
Are Files and xplorer free?
Both are open source. Files is licensed under MIT and xplorer under AGPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Files and xplorer?
Files is written in C# and xplorer in TypeScript. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, Files or xplorer?
Choose Files if you want the larger community (46,514 stars) or its MIT licence terms. Choose xplorer if its feature set, stack or AGPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.