Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

GNOME Files (Nautilus) VS SpaceFM

Compare GNOME Files (Nautilus) VS SpaceFM and see what are their differences

GNOME Files (Nautilus) logo GNOME Files (Nautilus)

Files (also known by its former name, Nautilus) is the official file manager for Gnome. It has an emphasis on being intuitive and simple, and follows the Gnome Human Interface Guidelines.

SpaceFM logo SpaceFM

Net Installer. If there are no packages for your distro, you prefer to use a testing branch, or you prefer to build SpaceFM with custom build options, a net installer is available. The installer MUST be run in a terminal.
  • GNOME Files (Nautilus) Landing page
    Landing page //
    2020-02-18
  • SpaceFM Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-22

GNOME Files (Nautilus) features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    GNOME Files offers a clean and intuitive user interface that is easy to navigate, making it accessible for both new and experienced users.
  • Integration with GNOME Desktop
    It integrates seamlessly with the GNOME desktop environment, providing consistent look and feel across applications and enhanced performance.
  • Extensible with Plugins
    GNOME Files supports plugins, which allow users to add custom functionalities and extend the capabilities of the file manager.
  • Frequent Updates and Active Development
    The application benefits from regular updates and active community development, ensuring security patches, new features, and improvements are consistently applied.
  • Search and File Preview
    It includes a powerful search feature and allows users to preview file content without opening applications, improving workflow efficiency.

Possible disadvantages of GNOME Files (Nautilus)

  • Limited Customization Options
    Compared to some other file managers, GNOME Files offers fewer customization options, which might not satisfy advanced users looking to tweak the interface extensively.
  • Resource Usage
    On less powerful hardware, GNOME Files might consume more system resources compared to lighter file managers, potentially affecting overall system performance.
  • Features Depend on GNOME Ecosystem
    Some features and optimizations are tightly integrated with the GNOME ecosystem, which might not perform as well in non-GNOME desktop environments.
  • No Built-in Dual Pane Mode
    Unlike some other file managers, GNOME Files lacks a built-in dual-pane view, which can be less convenient for users who require advanced file management tasks.
  • Minimalist Approach
    The focus on simplicity and minimalism, while appealing to some, might result in the omission of features that power users find necessary for their workflow.

SpaceFM features and specs

  • Highly Customizable
    SpaceFM offers extensive customization options allowing users to tailor the interface and features to their specific needs.
  • Plugin Support
    Users can enhance the functionality of SpaceFM through a wide range of plugins.
  • Tabbed Navigation
    The application supports tabbed browsing, improving the efficiency of file management by allowing multiple directories to be open at once.
  • Device Management
    SpaceFM includes comprehensive device management features, making it easier to mount and manage external storage devices.
  • Multi-panel Layout
    It supports a multi-panel layout that allows users to view and manage files from different directories simultaneously.

Possible disadvantages of SpaceFM

  • Complexity for Beginners
    The extensive customization options and features can be overwhelming for novice users.
  • Interface Design
    Some users may find the interface less modern or visually appealing compared to other file managers.
  • Limited Default Features
    While it can be highly customized, SpaceFM might feel limited out-of-the-box and require plugins for enhanced functionality.
  • Potential for Bugs
    As with any software that supports plugins, there is potential for instability or bugs with certain configurations.

Analysis of SpaceFM

Overall verdict

  • SpaceFM is generally considered a good file manager, especially for users who value flexibility and functionality over simplicity. However, users who prefer a more straightforward or user-friendly interface might opt for alternative file managers.

Why this product is good

  • SpaceFM is a highly customizable and lightweight file manager. It supports multiple panels, extensive configuration options, and plugins, making it suitable for users who prefer a more personalized file management experience. Additionally, its extensibility through scripting appeals to advanced users seeking more control.

Recommended for

  • Advanced users who require extensive customization
  • Linux users seeking efficient file management solutions
  • Users who benefit from multi-panel interfaces
  • Individuals who enjoy creating and using scripts or plugins

GNOME Files (Nautilus) videos

Gnome Files (Nautilus) New Operations Design | For GNOME 3.18

SpaceFM videos

SpaceFM: An Almost Too Customizable GUI File Manager

More videos:

  • Review - SpaceFM Review (File Manager)
  • Review - antiX 13.2 - SpaceFM - SpaceFM tricks

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GNOME Files (Nautilus) and SpaceFM)
File Manager
33 33%
67% 67
FTP Client
27 27%
73% 73
File Management
32 32%
68% 68
File Explorer
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SpaceFM seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

GNOME Files (Nautilus) mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of GNOME Files (Nautilus) yet. Tracking of GNOME Files (Nautilus) recommendations started around Mar 2021.

SpaceFM mentions (2)

  • A couple of upcoming thunar features
    I think you'd also really like SpaceFM which is highly customizable. You can pretty much change any part of it you want -- buttons, menus, status bar, etc. Source: almost 5 years ago
  • One Commander โ€“ a new Windows 10 file browser
    If you want OSS alternatives for Linux, here are some. A few may look old and unpolished, but today pretty much every desktop environment comes with its own file manager. https://www.4pane.co.uk/ https://doublecmd.sourceforge.io/ https://ignorantguru.github.io/spacefm/ http://tuxcmd.sourceforge.net/ http://www.boomerangsworld.de/cms/worker/ http://roland65.free.fr/xfe/. - Source: Hacker News / over 5 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing GNOME Files (Nautilus) and SpaceFM, you can also consider the following products

FTP Synchronizer - Secure and high performance FTP File Sync product

Midnight Commander - GNU Midnight Commander is a visual file manager, licensed under GNU General Public License and...

GNOME Commander - GNOME Commander is a "two-pane" graphical file manager for the GNOME desktop environment.

Krusader - Krusader is an advanced twin panel (commander style) file manager for KDE and other desktops in the *nix world, similar to Midnight or Total Commander.โ€ŽGet your copy of the Krusader .

CLEX - CLEX is a command-line interface-based file manager for managing and editing project files, no matter where they are stored.

Thunar - Thunar is a modern file manager for the Xfce Desktop Environment.