{
    "product": {
        "slug": "midnight-commander",
        "name": "Midnight Commander",
        "kind": "app",
        "website": "https://midnight-commander.org/",
        "page": "https://listme.name/software/midnight-commander",
        "tagline": "Free dual-pane file manager for the terminal",
        "summary": "Midnight Commander is a free, dual-pane file manager that runs in a text terminal on Linux, macOS and BSD systems. The project describes it as a visual, dual-pane file manager released under the GNU General Public License.",
        "platforms": [
            "linux",
            "macos",
            "cli"
        ],
        "pricing": "open-source",
        "price_note": "Free GNU GPL software installed from package managers",
        "free_to_use": true,
        "open_source": true,
        "license": "GPL",
        "source": "https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc",
        "strengths": [
            "Free GNU GPL software, per the project site",
            "Two panes for copying and comparing files"
        ],
        "limits": [
            "Text-mode interface with a learning curve",
            "No native desktop window"
        ],
        "checked": "2026-10-10",
        "connected_to_publisher": false,
        "overview": "Midnight Commander is a full-screen, text-mode file manager with two panes, which the project describes as a visual dual-pane file manager. It is released under the GNU General Public License and qualifies as free software, according to the project's site.\n\nThe site lists installation through the system package manager on Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Red Hat, FreeBSD and OpenBSD, and through Homebrew or MacPorts on macOS. It suits people who work in a terminal and want two panels for copying and comparing files.",
        "highlights": [
            "Dual-pane layout",
            "Text-mode interface",
            "GNU GPL",
            "Linux, macOS and BSD",
            "Installs from package managers"
        ],
        "json": "https://listme.name/api/v1/products/midnight-commander.json"
    },
    "rankings": [
        {
            "list": "file-managers",
            "name": "File managers",
            "page": "https://listme.name/best/file-managers",
            "rank": 6,
            "of": 10,
            "score": 86,
            "verdict": "A free dual-pane file manager that runs in a terminal on Linux, macOS and BSD under the GNU GPL. It is the only text-mode dual-pane tool in this list, and it has no native desktop window.",
            "best_for": "Terminal users who want two panes for copying files"
        }
    ],
    "alternatives": [
        {
            "slug": "total-commander",
            "name": "Total Commander",
            "score": 92,
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/total-commander"
        },
        {
            "slug": "directory-opus",
            "name": "Directory Opus",
            "score": 90.5,
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/directory-opus"
        },
        {
            "slug": "double-commander",
            "name": "Double Commander",
            "score": 89.5,
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/double-commander"
        },
        {
            "slug": "dolphin",
            "name": "Dolphin",
            "score": 88,
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/dolphin"
        },
        {
            "slug": "xyplorer",
            "name": "XYplorer",
            "score": 87,
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/xyplorer"
        },
        {
            "slug": "files-app",
            "name": "Files",
            "score": 84.5,
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/files-app"
        },
        {
            "slug": "nautilus",
            "name": "Nautilus",
            "score": 82,
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/nautilus"
        },
        {
            "slug": "nemo",
            "name": "Nemo",
            "score": 81.5,
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/nemo"
        },
        {
            "slug": "q-dir",
            "name": "Q-Dir",
            "score": 80.5,
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/q-dir"
        }
    ],
    "links": {
        "page": "https://listme.name/software/midnight-commander",
        "markdown": "https://listme.name/software/midnight-commander.md",
        "badge": "https://listme.name/badge/midnight-commander.svg",
        "alternatives_page": "https://listme.name/alternatives/midnight-commander",
        "alternatives_json": "https://listme.name/api/v1/alternatives/midnight-commander.json"
    },
    "source": "https://listme.name",
    "license": "Free to read and cite with attribution to listme.name.",
    "docs": "https://listme.name/developers"
}