Clifm review
A feature-rich terminal file manager for advanced Unix-like system workflows.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Clifm is a command-line file manager for Unix-like terminals, built for advanced command-line users such as programmers, power users, and system administrators. It handles navigation and file operations through shell-like commands instead of a graphical or text-based interface. The feature set covers everyday file management as well as more specialized workflows, including previews, bookmarks, search, filters, tags, selection, archives, symbolic links, trash, and remote filesystems. Clifm runs on Linux, macOS, and Android through Termux.
Its strongest differentiator is the breadth of terminal-native workflow tools in one application. Users can preview files, including images, perform bulk renames and other bulk operations, manage archives and compression, and organize work across up to eight workspaces. Plugins, autosuggestions, syntax highlighting, and fzf integration extend the command-line experience, while Git integration and desktop notifications add useful context for development and system tasks. SSH and rsync support further suit users who manage files across remote systems.
Clifm is free and open source, making it a practical choice for users who want an extensible command-line tool without a commercial plan structure. Its main trade-off is interface and platform scope: there is no GUI or TUI, and Windows is not supported. Users who prefer visual file navigation, dual-pane interaction, or a Windows-compatible file manager should choose an alternative. For Linux, macOS, or Termux users who already work comfortably in a shell and want previews, workspaces, plugins, Git, and remote file operations, Clifm offers a focused command-line approach with substantial workflow depth.
Clifm pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Previews, search, filters, tags, bookmarks, and file selection
- Bulk operations, archives, compression, and remote filesystem management
- Plugins, workspaces, fzf, Git, SSH, and rsync integration
- Where it doesn't
- No graphical or text-based user interface
- Windows is not supported
- Command-line workflows may not suit users seeking visual navigation
Clifm fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update