Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Vifm VS Nemo

Compare Vifm VS Nemo and see what are their differences

Vifm logo Vifm

Vifm is a ncurses based file manager with vi like keybindings.

Nemo logo Nemo

Nemo is the official file manager for the ...
  • Vifm Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-09
  • Nemo Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-14

Vifm features and specs

  • Efficient Keyboard Navigation
    Vifm is designed to be navigated using the keyboard, which can significantly speed up file management tasks for users who are proficient with keyboard shortcuts.
  • Vim-Like Interface
    For users familiar with Vim, the interface and command structure of Vifm will be intuitive, reducing the learning curve and providing a seamless experience.
  • Customizability
    Vifm offers extensive customization options, allowing users to tailor the file manager to their specific preferences and workflow.
  • Lightweight
    Vifm is relatively light on system resources, making it a good choice for systems with limited resources or users who prefer minimal software.
  • Dual Pane View
    The dual-pane view in Vifm facilitates efficient file operations like moving and copying files between directories.
  • Scriptable
    Vifm supports scripting, which allows for automation of repetitive tasks and integration with other tools.

Possible disadvantages of Vifm

  • Steep Learning Curve
    New users, especially those not familiar with Vim, may find Vifm difficult to learn and use effectively.
  • Limited GUI Features
    Vifm primarily operates in a terminal environment and lacks some of the graphical user interface features found in other file managers.
  • Dependency on Terminal
    As a terminal-based application, Vifm depends on terminal access, which might not be convenient for all users or scenarios.
  • Less Intuitive for Non-Vim Users
    Users who are not familiar with Vim may find the command structure and navigation unintuitive and challenging to adapt to.
  • Documentation
    While functional, the documentation for Vifm can sometimes be insufficient, leading to difficulties in troubleshooting and feature exploration.

Nemo features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Nemo features a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to navigate and manage their files.
  • Customization
    Nemo allows extensive customization through plugins and extensions, giving users the ability to tailor the file manager to their preferences.
  • Integration with Cinnamon
    Nemo is tightly integrated with the Cinnamon desktop environment, providing a seamless experience for Linux Mint users.
  • Performance
    Nemo is known for its fast performance and minimal resource usage, making it suitable for both low-end and high-end systems.
  • File Operations
    Nemo provides a range of robust file operations, including bulk renaming, advanced search features, and efficient handling of large directories.

Possible disadvantages of Nemo

  • Limited Cross-Desktop Compatibility
    Nemo is designed primarily for the Cinnamon desktop environment, which may lead to compatibility issues or lack of integration in other desktop environments.
  • Dependency on Cinnamon Components
    Nemo relies on several components of the Cinnamon desktop, making it less optimal for users who prefer a different desktop environment.
  • Less Frequent Updates
    Compared to some other file managers, Nemo receives updates and new features less frequently, which might limit its development pace.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic interface is easy to use, mastering all of Nemo's advanced features and customizations may require some time and effort.
  • Potential Stability Issues
    New releases of Nemo sometimes come with bugs or stability issues that might not be immediately addressed.

Vifm videos

vifm - The Terminal File Manager For The Vim-Centric User

More videos:

  • Review - Icons And Image Previews In Vifm, Plus Xterm Is Great!
  • Review - vifm - Vi File Manager - Linux TUI

Nemo videos

Finding Nemo 3D movie review

More videos:

  • Review - Pixar Perfect Review #10 - Finding Nemo
  • Review - Finding Nemo - Disneycember

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Vifm and Nemo)
FTP Client
47 47%
53% 53
File Manager
47 47%
53% 53
File Management
56 56%
44% 44
File Explorer
37 37%
63% 63

User comments

Share your experience with using Vifm and Nemo. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Nemo seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 8 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Vifm mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Vifm yet. Tracking of Vifm recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Nemo mentions (8)

  • Is there another file manager that works well with Gnome?
    Nemo worked well with GNOME 3, not sure about GNOME 4x. It is based on a very old version of nautilus. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Using Nemo in Fedora 37
    For me is Nemo. Nemo is the file manager that Linux Mint maintains and uses by default in its desktop environment. It is a fork of Nautilus so is similar and migrating to it is painless. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • How its mtp implemented in nemo?
    I did some research about it and I find that nautilus uses a plugin called gvfs-mtp to get support mtp, so I think maybe that is the problem. I tried to read the code but I dont know to much of programming in C, then I ask myself how is that nemo handles mtp, and tried to search in the source code, I searched here https://github.com/linuxmint/nemo but couldn't find nothing so Im asking here because I dont know to... Source: over 2 years ago
  • What beautiful Linux apps deserve more "marketing attention" for lack of a better term?
    Nemo Cinnamon's file manager, I love how customizable it is, even if it looks worse than Nautilus :(. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Are there alternatives to dolphin?
    Nemo Cinnamon filemanager...afraid no clue how well it works in other DEs. Source: over 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Vifm and Nemo, you can also consider the following products

fman - An unexpected gift. January 07, 2018 by Michael. One of the nice things that happened last week was an fman user writing in to say that 1) fman "is THE BEST SOFTWARE" (sic). And that 2) he would like to send me a $50 tip.

Thunar - Thunar is a modern file manager for the Xfce Desktop Environment.

Midnight Commander - GNU Midnight Commander is a visual file manager, licensed under GNU General Public License and...

Krusader - Krusader is an advanced twin panel (commander style) file manager for KDE and other desktops in the *nix world, similar to Midnight or Total Commander.‎Get your copy of the Krusader .

Double Commander - Double Commander is a cross-platform open source file manager with two panels side by side.

Caja - Caja, the file manager for the MATE desktop