3 File Managers That Keep Your Life Simple in Windows

A good file manager can save you a lot of time and keep your drives organized. Here are 3 file managers that keep your life simple in Windows.

1. Tabbles

Tabbles is an original concept and quite a useful application for managing your files and folders — it organizes them without having to move or copy them to multiple locations on your drives.

Simple and easy to use interface

When organizing your files, you need a clear, unobstructed overview of your drives or directories.

Even though the drives and folders cannot be viewed collapsed with their subfolders, you can easily explore each directory and get to the files you need to tag.

The Search function is also an important aid for finding files that need to be tagged, moved to different Tabbles categories, or untagged.

Customizable tags

When you create a new tag, also called "tabbles" by the developers of the software, you can choose the appropriate color and name you want the tag to have.

These tags can be names, project titles, events, dates, types of files, and many more, giving you a large variety of options to organize your files into.

If a file or folder belongs to more than one category, it is not a problem with Tabbles — you can assign more than one tag to a specific file.

And of course, when a file is no longer needed in a certain category, it is easy to remove the association with that particular section.

2. Beyond Compare

Beyond Compare is an application that allows users to compare files, folders, archives, or even FTP servers with the help of a clean, tab-based interface.

The program might seem a bit overwhelming at first glance, since there are features and menus everywhere you look, so you will need a few minutes to get used to it.

As soon as you open the app, you are prompted to choose a new session and decide whether you would like to compare folders, text documents, MP3s, pictures, registry entries, versions, or HEX data.

The interface is pretty much the same no matter which option you choose. There are two similar panels, one on the left and one on the right, that let you compare the content on the go.

Just go over to 'Actions' to see more tools, such as the ones for comparing contents, copying or moving to a folder, refreshing the selection, or creating a file compare report.

There's also a synchronize tool — because yes, Beyond Compare can do that too — so you can either update right, left, or both, or just mirror to the right or to the left.

The 'Options' menu has tons of entries, starting with the way information is organized in tabs and ending with folder views and file views, so you may spend some time in here as well.

Last but not least, there is also a dedicated feature to save the working sessions for later editing and, in case you need it, Beyond Compare has a built-in FTP tool and comes equipped with ZIP support.

3. Directory Opus

Directory Opus is a file manager that intends to replace Windows Explorer.

The interface of the software includes a tree view and dual screens, so you can navigate with ease within your computer.

You can cut, copy (e.g. file names, full path names, URLs, MD5 checksums), and paste files, change the viewing mode, calculate folder sizes, and select files (e.g. same extensions, source to destination).

But you can also use a search function, assign keyboard hotkeys, synchronize data, find duplicate files, join or split files, convert, rotate, as well as make thumbnails or a slideshow out of images.

Additionally, you can connect to a network drive, run Command Prompt, open a new lister, edit metadata, set labels, enter file descriptions, create and organize a favorites list and an address book, connect to FTP, create archives and extract content from compressed files, view FTP logs, as well as back up and restore your Directory Opus configuration.

Furthermore, you can completely configure the program preferences when it comes to file display mode, file operations, folder tabs, folder tree, Internet, program launch, layout and styles, photo sharing, toolbars, viewer, ZIP and other archives, and more.

The software uses a low-to-moderate amount of system resources, includes a well-written help file, and didn't freeze or crash during our tests.

All in all, Directory Opus incorporates some simple but powerful options for a file manager and is simple to use even by inexperienced individuals. We highly recommend this tool.

Do leave your comments below and tell us which file manager you use on your PC!