Thunar review

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Thunar is a free, open-source desktop file manager from the Xfce Development Team. It is intended primarily for Xfce users and also suits people on other Linux desktop environments who want a focused tool for everyday file and folder management. Its core workspace covers local navigation, side-pane shortcuts for devices, places, and network locations, configurable icon and detailed-list views, recursive search, removable-media mounting and ejecting, and a tabbed interface.

Its Linux desktop integration is a central strength. Through GVFS, Thunar can access remote filesystems, with integrations including Samba, SFTP, and AFP. The side pane brings devices, places, and network locations into the navigation model, while removable-media controls support mounting and ejecting from the file manager. Optional integrations with Xarchiver, File Roller, Ark, and Engrampa extend archive creation and extraction without changing Thunar’s focused file-management role.

Thunar’s feature set is practical rather than broad. The Archive Plugin adds archive creation and extraction, while the bulk renaming plugin handles batch file changes; optional plugins can also add custom actions, media-tag support, Samba sharing, and version-control actions. Choose Thunar if you want a lightweight Linux file manager with search, remote filesystem access, removable-media controls, and an extensible plugin model. Consider another file manager if you need a platform-neutral product or prefer these archive and renaming functions to be built into the core experience.

Thunar pros and cons

• Where it wins
  • Recursive search and configurable icon or detailed-list views
  • Remote filesystem access through GVFS, including SFTP and Samba
  • Bulk renaming and archive tools available through plugins
• Where it doesn't
  • Designed for Linux rather than cross-platform use
  • Bulk renaming and archive actions require separate plugins
  • Remote filesystem access depends on GVFS packages from the distribution

Thunar fact sheet, pricing and score →

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update