broot review
A free, open-source terminal file manager for cross-platform power users.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
broot is a terminal-based file browser for exploring directory trees, finding files, launching commands, and managing items from an interactive command line. It suits solo users and small teams working across Linux, macOS, and Windows who prefer terminal workflows over a conventional graphical file manager. The interface combines navigation, search, previews, file operations, and Git information in one desktop application.
The published model is open source, and a free plan is available. Its feature depth centers on discovery and navigation: users can toggle hidden and Git-ignored files, search with fuzzy matching or regular expressions, and search within file contents. Previews can include supported terminal image previews. Built-in move, copy, delete, and directory-creation operations reduce the need to switch to separate shell commands, while sorting exposes file sizes, dates, permissions, and filesystem usage.
For more involved file work, multiple panels support navigation and copying or moving between locations, and a staging area lets users select files before running commands on them. Git status and branch information appear in the file view, making the browser relevant to repositories as well as ordinary folders. The trade-off is its narrow terminal orientation: people who expect a mouse-first graphical file manager may prefer another option, and there are no AI features. Support is provided through community and documentation channels, so broot is a strong fit for command-line-oriented users who value portability and open-source access, but a weaker choice for GUI-first workflows or teams seeking a broader managed support model.
broot pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Tree browsing with fuzzy, regex, and file-content search
- Linux, macOS, and Windows support
- Panels, staging, previews, and Git status in the terminal
- Where it doesn't
- Terminal interface may not suit GUI-first workflows
- No AI-assisted file features
- Support is centered on community and documentation
broot fact sheet, pricing and score →
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