AnExplorer vs Total Commander (Android)
Total Commander for Android (by Christian Ghisler / Ghisler Software) is the Android port of the iconic Total Commander for Windows — one of the most powerful file managers ever made for PC. The Android version is free, feature-rich, and uses the same dual-pane paradigm the Windows version is famous for. But it shows its age in certain areas, and it lacks support for modern Android form factors.
Background
| AnExplorer | Total Commander | |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | DWorkS | Ghisler Software GmbH |
| Platform origin | Android-first | Windows port |
| Available since | 2011 | ~2012 (Android) |
| Price | Free (Pro upgrade) | Free |
| UI paradigm | Modern flat | Dual-pane classic |
| Play Store | ✅ | ✅ |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | AnExplorer | Total Commander |
|---|---|---|
| Dual-pane interface | ❌ | ✅ |
| FTP client | ✅ | ✅ (plugin) |
| FTP Server | ✅ | ✅ (plugin) |
| SMB / LAN | ✅ | ✅ (plugin) |
| SFTP | ✅ | ✅ (plugin) |
| WebDAV | ✅ | ✅ |
| FTPS | ✅ | ❌ |
| NAS support | ✅ | ✅ (via SMB plugin) |
| USB OTG access | ✅ | ✅ |
| Root file manager | ✅ | ✅ |
| ZIP extract/create | ✅ | ✅ |
| RAR / RAR5 | ✅ | ✅ |
| 7z | ✅ | ✅ (plugin) |
| TAR / TAR.GZ | ✅ | ✅ |
| ISO | ✅ | ✅ |
| CBR / CBZ | ✅ | ❌ |
| APK bundles (APKM/APKS/XAPK) | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cloud: Dropbox | ✅ | ✅ (plugin) |
| Cloud: Google Drive | 🟧 | ✅ (plugin) |
| Cloud: OneDrive | ✅ | ✅ (plugin) |
| Plugin / extension system | ❌ | ✅ (TC plugins) |
| Android TV native | ✅ | ❌ |
| Wear OS | ✅ | ❌ |
| Meta Quest / XR | ✅ | ❌ |
| Device Connect (HTTP browser) | ✅ | ❌ |
| Wi-Fi Share | ✅ | ❌ |
| WhatsApp Manager | ✅ | ❌ |
| Active development (as of 2026) | ✅ | ✅ (slow cadence) |
Total Commander's Plugin System
Total Commander's biggest strength on Android is its plugin architecture \u2014 the same concept from the Windows version. Plugins extend functionality:
- LAN plugin — SMB/CIFS network browsing
- FTP plugin — FTP client
- SFTP plugin — SSH file transfer
- Dropbox plugin — Cloud access
- Google Drive plugin — Cloud access
- 7-Zip plugin — 7z archive support
- HTTP plugin — WebDAV
This is powerful, but it requires manual plugin installation and configuration. Users who are not technical may find it overwhelming. AnExplorer includes FTP, SMB, SFTP, WebDAV, and cloud connections natively without any plugin setup.
Total Commander's Dual-Pane Interface
Total Commander's dual-pane layout is its strongest feature. Both panels can be navigated independently, and you can copy, move, and compare files between them without multi-selecting and navigating. For heavy file organization on a phone, this is faster than any single-pane manager.
If you're a long-time Windows Total Commander user, the Android version will feel familiar immediately and work intuitively for complex batch operations.
AnExplorer's Modern Advantages
Android TV: Total Commander for Android has no Android TV build. AnExplorer works natively on Nvidia Shield, Amazon Fire TV, and Google TV devices.
Wear OS: Total Commander has no watch app. AnExplorer runs on Samsung Galaxy Watch and Pixel Watch for direct watch storage management.
Device Connect: Total Commander has no HTTP server feature. AnExplorer's Device Connect lets you browse your phone storage from any PC browser — no plugins needed on either side.
APKM / APKS / XAPK: Total Commander installs standard .apk files but not bundle formats. AnExplorer handles APKM (APKMirror), APKS (SAI), and XAPK (APKPure) natively.
No plugin setup required: AnExplorer's network protocols (FTP, SFTP, SMB, WebDAV) work out of the box. Total Commander requires manually downloading and configuring separate plugins for most of these.
Who Should Use Total Commander
- Long-time Windows Total Commander users who miss the dual-pane workflow
- Power users comfortable with plugin installation and configuration
- Users who need the widest possible plugin ecosystem for niche protocols
- Users who don't need TV, watch, or XR device support
Who Should Use AnExplorer
- Users across multiple Android form factors (phone + TV, phone + watch, etc.)
- Users who want built-in FTP/SFTP/SMB/WebDAV without plugin setup
- Users who need Device Connect for wireless PC access
- Users who need to install APKM/APKS/XAPK bundles
- Users new to Android power tools who want a modern UI
Verdict
Total Commander is legendary and genuinely powerful. If you're a PC power user who grew up with the Windows version, the Android port will feel right at home. But it's built for one device (phone) and requires plugin installation for basic features that AnExplorer includes natively.
AnExplorer is the better choice for anyone with multiple Android devices or who wants an all-in-one solution without manual configuration.