Tern Filesvs. Explorer
Tern Files vs. File Explorer
Explorer is part of Windows – and a good starting point. Here is what Tern Files adds, measured on the same test folders and compared feature by feature.
(01)Speed
Measured, not promised.
How it was measured: AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 32 GB RAM, Windows 11, 30 Sep 2026, tools/bench.ps1. Explorer itself cannot be timed without changing its history, so the same folders were read through the Windows shell – the layer Explorer's list is built on. Explorer needs at least that long; its window and view come on top. Not compared: start time and memory, because Explorer always runs as the taskbar and desktop.
(02)Features
Feature by feature.
| Feature | Tern Files | File Explorer (Windows 11) |
|---|---|---|
| Tabs | ||
| Two panes side by side with commander keys (F5/F6) | ||
| Workspaces: whole window sets on one key | ||
| Folder sizes right in the list | only in Properties | |
| Instant search across all drives | own index, milliseconds | Windows Search index; other places are read file by file |
| Search in plain language, by content and amounts | local, on every PC | plain language only on Copilot+ PCs, no amounts |
| Preview | space bar, full window, ← → | preview pane (Alt+P) |
| Find duplicates | ||
| Storage analysis with cleanup suggestions | in Windows Settings › Storage | |
| Batch rename with rules and live preview | only “Name (1), Name (2) …” | |
| Rules that file new files automatically | ||
| AI tidy-up and names by content | on your PC | AI actions hand files to apps or Microsoft 365 Copilot (cloud) |
| Launcher for apps, files and commands (Alt+Space) | Start menu search | |
| Quick switch in Open/Save dialogs of other programs | ||
| Git | status of every file in the list | branch and last commit in the details pane |
| Undo | full history, even after a restart | Ctrl+Z during the session |
| Copy queue, resume after an interruption, verify | pause; no resume after a restart | |
| Colour tags for every file | only file types with metadata (e.g. JPEG, Office) | |
| Compare and sync folders | ||
| Phones and cameras (USB), network, OneDrive status | ||
| Price | 14 days free, then one-time Pro licence; the basics stay free | part of Windows |
✓ built in · ◐ partly · – not built in. File Explorer as of Windows 11 in 2026; Microsoft adds features with updates.
Try it for 14 days.
Everything included, no account, no card. Afterwards Tern Files stays a complete file manager – Pro unlocks the rest once.
Pro: 49 € once · all 1.x updates · up to 3 PCs