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.
This comparison covers both apps in detail — acknowledging Total Commander's legendary status while being honest about where each app falls short.
Background
| AnExplorer | Total Commander | |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | DWorkS | Ghisler Software GmbH |
| Platform origin | Android-first | Windows port |
| Available since | 2011 | ~2012 (Android) |
| Price | Free (Pro upgrade) | Completely free |
| UI paradigm | Modern flat Material | Dual-pane classic |
| Play Store | ✅ | ✅ |
| Development cadence | Regular updates | Slower, steady updates |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | AnExplorer | Total Commander |
|---|---|---|
| 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 / TAR.BZ2 | ✅ | ✅ |
| ISO | ✅ | ✅ |
| CBR / CBZ | ✅ | ❌ |
| APK bundles (APKM/APKS/XAPK) | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cloud: Dropbox | ✅ | ✅ (plugin) |
| Cloud: Google Drive | ✅ | ✅ (plugin) |
| Cloud: OneDrive | ✅ | ✅ (plugin) |
| Cloud: MEGA | ✅ | ✅ (plugin) |
| Cloud: Box | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cloud: pCloud | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cloud: Yandex Disk | ✅ | ❌ |
| Android TV native | ✅ | ❌ |
| Wear OS | ✅ | ❌ |
| Meta Quest / XR | ✅ | ❌ |
| Android Automotive | ✅ | ❌ |
| Device Connect (HTTP browser) | ✅ | ❌ |
| Wi-Fi Share | ✅ | ❌ |
| WhatsApp Manager | ✅ | ❌ |
| Built-in PDF viewer | ✅ | ❌ |
| Built-in text editor | ✅ | ✅ |
| Built-in photo viewer | ✅ | ✅ (basic) |
| Dual-pane interface | ❌ | ✅ |
| Plugin / extension system | ❌ | ✅ (TC plugins) |
| Bookmark/favourite system | ✅ | ✅ |
| Search with content | ✅ | ✅ (powerful regex) |
| Active development (as of 2026) | ✅ | ✅ (slow cadence) |
Total Commander's Plugin System — Legendary but Complex
Total Commander's biggest strength on Android is its plugin architecture — the same concept that made the Windows version a power-user staple for decades. Plugins extend functionality:
- LAN plugin — SMB/CIFS network browsing
- FTP plugin — FTP client with site manager
- SFTP plugin — SSH file transfer
- Dropbox plugin — Cloud access
- Google Drive plugin — Cloud access
- OneDrive plugin — Cloud access
- MEGA plugin — Cloud access
- 7-Zip plugin — 7z archive support
- HTTP plugin — WebDAV connections
- ADB plugin — Access other Android devices via ADB
The strength: Maximum flexibility. You only install what you need. Each plugin is developed independently and can be updated separately. Advanced users can mix and match capabilities precisely.
The weakness: Manual installation required. Each plugin is a separate APK that must be found on the Play Store, installed individually, and configured. For non-technical users, setting up FTP access in Total Commander requires: (1) knowing a plugin exists, (2) finding it on the Play Store, (3) installing it, (4) configuring it within TC. In AnExplorer, you tap Network → FTP → enter server details.
Total Commander's Dual-Pane Interface
Total Commander's dual-pane layout is its strongest feature and the reason Windows veterans use it. 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 genuinely faster than any single-pane manager.
How it works on Android:
- Swipe between panels or use the panel toggle button
- Long-press to select files, then copy/move to the other panel
- Folder history in each panel for quick back-navigation
- Each panel maintains its own location independently
Who benefits:
- Users who regularly copy files between internal storage and SD card
- Users who organise photos/downloads into categorised folder structures
- Developers who copy build outputs to specific deployment folders
- Users migrating data between cloud and local storage
If you're a long-time Windows Total Commander user, the Android version will feel familiar immediately and work intuitively for complex batch operations.
Total Commander's Search Capabilities
Total Commander has exceptionally powerful search functionality:
- Content search within files (find text inside documents)
- Regular expression support for filename patterns
- Search within archives
- Search by file date, size, and attributes
- Duplicate file finder
AnExplorer's search covers filename search and basic filtering but doesn't match Total Commander's regex content search depth.
AnExplorer's Modern Advantages
12 Device Form Factors
Total Commander for Android has no Android TV build, no Wear OS app, no VR version, no Automotive version. AnExplorer works across all 12 Android form factors with purpose-built interfaces for each.
Android TV and Fire TV
Total Commander has no TV version. It can be sideloaded, but the phone interface is unusable with a TV remote — buttons are too small, dialogs don't respond to D-pad, and text input is impossible without a Bluetooth keyboard. AnExplorer's TV version has purpose-built large focus targets, D-pad-navigable menus, and remote-friendly file operations.
Wear OS
Total Commander has no watch app. AnExplorer runs on Samsung Galaxy Watch and Pixel Watch for direct watch storage management.
VR and XR Headsets
Total Commander has no VR version. AnExplorer is on the Meta Horizon Store and supports Pico 4, HTC Vive XR, and Samsung Galaxy XR with controller and hand-tracking input.
Device Connect
Total Commander has no HTTP server feature. AnExplorer's Device Connect lets you browse your phone storage from any PC browser — open a URL, drag and drop files. No plugins needed on either side, no FTP client installation.
No Plugin Setup Required
AnExplorer's network protocols (FTP, SFTP, SMB, WebDAV) work out of the box immediately after installation. Total Commander requires manually finding, downloading, installing, and configuring separate plugins for most of these. This is the biggest practical difference for users who aren't already familiar with TC's plugin ecosystem.
APKM / APKS / XAPK Bundle Installation
Total Commander installs standard .apk files but not bundle formats. AnExplorer handles APKM (APKMirror), APKS (SAI), and XAPK (APKPure) natively. Modern apps are increasingly distributed as bundles.
FTPS (FTP over TLS)
AnExplorer supports encrypted FTP connections. Total Commander does not offer FTPS even through plugins.
Seven Cloud Services Native
AnExplorer includes seven cloud services without plugin installation: Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, pCloud, MEGA, Yandex Disk. Total Commander requires a separate plugin for each cloud service and doesn't support Box, pCloud, or Yandex Disk at all.
Modern Material Design
AnExplorer follows current Android design guidelines with Material You support. Total Commander's interface is functional but visually dated — it prioritises information density and function over modern aesthetics. For users who care about how their apps look, this matters.
Honest Weaknesses
AnExplorer Weaknesses
- No dual-pane interface (the biggest gap vs Total Commander)
- No plugin/extension system for adding new capabilities
- No regex-powered content search within files
- No scheduled sync
- No file encryption vault
- No AirDrop-style tap-to-share
- Less powerful batch operations than TC's dual-pane workflow
Total Commander Weaknesses
- No Android TV, Wear OS, VR, or Automotive support
- Requires manual plugin installation for basic features (FTP, SMB, SFTP)
- UI is visually dated compared to modern Material Design apps
- No Device Connect or browser-based wireless transfer
- No APKM/APKS/XAPK bundle installation
- No FTPS encrypted connections
- No CBR/CBZ comic archive support
- No Box, pCloud, or Yandex Disk cloud support
- Slower development cadence
- Steeper learning curve for users not familiar with TC paradigm
- No built-in PDF viewer
- No WhatsApp media manager
Pricing Comparison
| AnExplorer | Total Commander | |
|---|---|---|
| App price | Free | Free |
| Plugins | N/A (built-in) | Free (separate installs) |
| Premium | $29.99 Pro (lifetime, all devices) | None needed |
| Total cost for full features | $0–$29.99 | $0 |
Total Commander is completely free with no premium tier — all plugins are free. This is its most compelling advantage over any paid alternative. AnExplorer's free tier includes all network and cloud features; Pro adds advanced capabilities and multi-device support.
Who Should Use Total Commander
- Long-time Windows Total Commander users who miss the dual-pane workflow and keyboard shortcuts
- Power users comfortable with plugin installation and configuration
- Users who need the most powerful search capabilities (regex content search)
- Users who don't need TV, watch, VR, or car device support
- Users who want everything free with no premium tier whatsoever
- Users who prioritise function over visual design
Who Should Use AnExplorer
- Users across multiple Android form factors (phone + TV, phone + watch, phone + VR, etc.)
- Users who want built-in FTP/SFTP/SMB/WebDAV without plugin setup
- Users who need Device Connect for wireless PC browser access
- Users who need to install APKM/APKS/XAPK bundle files
- Users new to Android power tools who want a modern, approachable UI
- Users who need FTPS encrypted connections
- Users who prefer a single app that works everywhere without configuration
- Users who want seven cloud services without individual plugin installation
Verdict
Total Commander is legendary and genuinely powerful. Its plugin ecosystem and dual-pane interface make it one of the most capable file managers for single-device use. If you're a PC power user who grew up with the Windows version, the Android port will feel like 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, anyone who wants zero-configuration network access, or anyone who values modern design alongside functionality.