superfile vs Yazi
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A terminal file manager written in Go, with a modern look and a TUI interface.
Open source · MIT
Terminal file manager written in Rust, using asynchronous I/O for speed.
The short answer
Choose superfile if you need…
- People who spend a lot of time in the terminal and want a visual file browser there
- Linux and macOS users, which the README lists as supported systems
- Users who want to customize themes, hotkeys and plugins
- Vim or Neovim users, who can switch to vim-style hotkeys
Choose Yazi if you need…
- People who already spend time in a terminal and want a faster way to browse folders
- Developers who want file previews, Git status, and integration with tools like ripgrep, fd, fzf, and zoxide
- Users who work with remote files and want to try the virtual filesystem feature
- Anyone who wants a customizable file manager with themes and plugins
Side-by-side
| superfile | Yazi | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 24k | 43.2k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | See the README | Download the app |
| Main language | Go | Rust |
| Last code update | 7 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
superfile
superfile is a file manager that runs inside a terminal window, letting you browse, open and manage folders and files with the keyboard. It is built in Go using the Bubble Tea terminal UI framework, and the README describes it as a pretty, modern terminal file manager. It is launched with the command spf.
Yazi
Yazi is a file manager that runs inside a terminal window, so you browse, copy, move, and preview files with the keyboard instead of a graphical window. It is written in Rust and does its input and output work asynchronously, which the project says keeps it responsive. It adds features such as tabs, image and file previews, bulk rename, archive extraction, and a plugin system written in Lua.
Best for
superfile
- People who spend a lot of time in the terminal and want a visual file browser there
- Linux and macOS users, which the README lists as supported systems
- Users who want to customize themes, hotkeys and plugins
- Vim or Neovim users, who can switch to vim-style hotkeys
Yazi
- People who already spend time in a terminal and want a faster way to browse folders
- Developers who want file previews, Git status, and integration with tools like ripgrep, fd, fzf, and zoxide
- Users who work with remote files and want to try the virtual filesystem feature
- Anyone who wants a customizable file manager with themes and plugins
Strengths
superfile
- Installable with a one-line script, Winget, or Scoop according to the README
- Open source under the MIT license with an active project and a large star count
- Configurable through themes, hotkeys and a config file
Yazi
- The README describes asynchronous I/O and multi-threaded CPU work, which supports its speed claims
- Supports many terminals for image preview, including kitty, iTerm2, WezTerm, Ghostty, and Windows Terminal
- Released under the MIT license, which permits free use and modification
Not ideal for
superfile
- Users who want a graphical file manager with windows and mouse-first menus, since this runs in the terminal
- Windows users who need full stability, since the README says Windows support is not fully supported yet
Yazi
- People who prefer a graphical file manager with drag-and-drop-first workflows and no terminal use, since Yazi is terminal-only
- Users who need a stable, unchanging tool, because the README says the project is in heavy development and expects breaking changes
- Users whose terminal does not support an image protocol, who will only get fallback previews unless they install extra tools such as Chafa
Trade-offs
superfile
- The README says Windows support is not fully supported yet
- Hotkeys default to a non-vim layout, so vim users must change the config
- Some setup details and features are only documented on the external website, not in the README
Yazi
- The README says the project is in public beta and expects breaking changes, so updates may require config changes
- Some features, such as image preview on X11 or Wayland and the fallback renderer, depend on separate tools like Überzug++ or Chafa
- The README is truncated here, so detailed setup steps and platform notes must be checked in the official documentation
Getting started
superfile
Install on macOS and Linux (review the script first, as the README suggests)
bash -c "$(curl -sLo- https://superfile.dev/install.sh)"Install on Windows with Winget
winget install --id yorukot.superfileYazi
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/sxyazi/yazi.gitFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between superfile and Yazi?
superfile: A terminal file manager written in Go, with a modern look and a TUI interface. Yazi: Terminal file manager written in Rust, using asynchronous I/O for speed. superfile suits people who spend a lot of time in the terminal and want a visual file browser there, while Yazi suits people who already spend time in a terminal and want a faster way to browse folders.
Are superfile and Yazi free?
superfile: Free and open source. Yazi: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, superfile or Yazi?
superfile is easier to get started with (rated beginner); Yazi is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is superfile or Yazi more popular?
Yazi has more GitHub stars (43.2k) than superfile (24k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to superfile and Yazi?
Other options people compare them with include electerm, Files.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.