# cwdio vs fman

> fman is a minimal, keyboard-driven dual-pane manager for Mac, Windows and Linux; cwdio is Windows-only, free in beta, with a synced terminal, journaled transfers and git.

- Canonical: https://cwdio.com/compare/fman/
- Updated: 2026-08-16
- Product: Cwdio File Manager (cwdio) — https://cwdio.com

fman is the minimalist's dual-pane file manager: keyboard-driven, cross-platform, with a Sublime-style
"GoTo" that jumps to folders by frequency and a plugin system for the rest. If you want the same tool on
Mac, Windows and Linux and prefer to build up from a small core, fman is a clean choice. cwdio is Windows-only
and larger by design: an embedded terminal that follows the panel, verified transfers with a journaled
queue, remote servers as folders, git in the list, previews and batch undo — free during the beta, with no
telemetry.

## Side by side

| | cwdio | fman |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Platform | 64-bit Windows 10/11 | Mac, Windows and Linux |
| Licence | Free in beta; Founding Users free forever; one-time tiers at 1.0 | Perpetual licence €39, all future versions; free trial (checked 2026-08-15) |
| Source | Private; binaries and issues public | Closed (plugins are open) |
| Two panels | Yes; per-panel folder tabs, dockable layout | Yes |
| Jump | Ctrl+P go to file; Ctrl+J recent folder by frecency; Ctrl+Shift+P palette | "GoTo on Steroids": Ctrl+P / ⌘P with frequency-based suggestions |
| Built-in terminal | Yes, two-way working-directory sync; SSH shell on SFTP | No |
| Remote | SFTP and FTP/FTPS as folders | Via plugins where available |
| Archives | ZIP, 7z, RAR, tar read (incl. encrypted); ZIP, 7z, tar.gz create | Via plugins where available |
| Transfers | Verified copy, resume, journaled queue that survives a restart, per-file skip/retry | Standard |
| Undo | Ctrl+Z undoes a batch; overwrite stash; delete to Recycle Bin | — |
| Preview | Space Quick Look: images, video, audio, PDF, CSV tables, Markdown, code, diff, hex | Minimal |
| Search | Name and content, honours .gitignore; Everything when installed | Via plugins |
| Git | Status column, changes, branches, history, push/pull | Not built in |
| Plugins | Own platform, no public marketplace; MCP server/client | Plugin system with community plugins |
| Telemetry | None | Not stated |

Rows marked "via plugins" describe fman's model rather than a verified plugin list; fman.io is the authority.

## Where fman is stronger

- **Cross-platform.** The same tool and the same keys on three operating systems.
- **Minimalism.** A small core you extend, rather than a large app you switch parts off in.
- **A plugin ecosystem** written by its community.
- **A single perpetual price** covering every future version.

## Where cwdio is different

- **The terminal follows the panel.** Two-way working-directory sync with several shells and SSH on SFTP.
- **A lot built in**: archives, SFTP/FTP, git, previews, bulk rename, size map, duplicate finder — with no
  plugin to find first.
- **Transfers designed for interruption**, a batch undo, an overwrite stash.
- **Free while in beta**, and free forever for beta users.

## Who should pick which

- Choose **fman** if you need macOS or Linux, or want a minimal core with your own plugins.
- Choose **cwdio** if you are on Windows and want the terminal, the queue, git and the batteries included.

## Switching notes

Ctrl+P is a fuzzy file finder in cwdio; for fman's folder-jumping habit use Ctrl+J. Ctrl+Shift+P is the
palette. F5/F6 copy/move to the other panel, Tab switches, Space previews, Ctrl+` opens the terminal. See
the [shortcut table](/docs/keyboard-shortcuts/) and [the command palette](/features/command-palette-and-keyboard/).

## Last checked

fman facts from fman.io (home and buy pages), read 2026-08-15: "Dual-pane file manager for Mac, Windows and
Linux", "GoTo on Steroids" with Ctrl+P/⌘P, plugin system with community-contributed plugins, licence €39,
"Licenses are perpetual. They also entitle you to use all future fman versions", free trial, 60-day refund.

## Frequently asked questions

**How do fman and cwdio compare on price?** fman sells a perpetual licence for €39 covering all future versions, with a free trial (checked 2026-08-15). cwdio is free during the beta with every feature; beta users keep it free forever, and new users pay one-time at 1.0 (€29 early-bird, then €39).

**Which one runs on macOS or Linux?** fman: Mac, Windows and Linux. cwdio is 64-bit Windows 10/11 only.

**Does cwdio have fman's Ctrl+P GoTo?** It has two chords for the same idea: Ctrl+P fuzzy-finds a file under the current folder, and Ctrl+J jumps to a recent folder ranked by frecency — the zoxide habit. Ctrl+Shift+P is the command palette.

**Do both have plugins?** fman has a plugin system with community-contributed plugins. cwdio has a plugin platform but no public marketplace yet, and instead exposes its tools to external assistants as an MCP server.