After studying both SpaceFM and Thunar in real-world workflows, we found that these two Linux file managers are built for very different kinds of users. One focuses on deep customization with multi-pane control, while the other keeps things fast, clean, and easy to use inside the XFCE environment.

This introduction shares what we learned during our study and explains how each tool performs in daily use, where they shine, and which one fits better for your style of work.

What is SpaceFM?

SpaceFM is a highly customizable, multi-panel file manager designed for Linux users who want greater control over their workspace. It works well across lightweight window managers such as Openbox, Fluxbox, or LXDE, and provides advanced layout flexibility not found in typical single-pane file managers. Its strength lies in giving users a powerful, configurable environment for complex file operations.

Key Features

✔ Multi-Pane Layout
Supports up to four panes in one window, allowing seamless side-by-side file operations.

✔ Detachable Tabs
Tabs can be moved into separate windows, helping users organize large or parallel workflows.

✔ Deep Custom Actions
Allows building custom commands and scripts directly into menus for advanced automation.

✔ Highly Configurable Interface
Toolbars, sidebars, panes, and menu items can be customized in detail to match your workflow.

✔ Plugin & Script Support
Accepts plugins and user scripts to extend functionality beyond default capabilities.

✔ Built-In Terminal Integration
Includes an optional terminal panel to run commands directly inside the file manager.

✔ Independent Desktop Integration
Works smoothly across various Linux DEs and window managers without relying on a specific environment.

What is Thunar?

Thunar is the default file manager for the XFCE desktop, designed to stay fast, clean, and easy to use on any system. It aims to provide a smooth and predictable file-browsing experience with minimal resource usage. Its strength is simplicity, quick performance, and tight integration with the XFCE ecosystem.

Key Features

✔ Lightweight and Fast Interface
Starts quickly, browses folders instantly, and stays responsive even on older hardware.

✔ XFCE Desktop Integration
Uses XFCE’s native icons, shortcuts, trash handling, and MIME associations for a smooth environment experience.

✔ Custom Actions Support
Allows adding custom commands in the context menu for quick tasks without extra tools.

✔ Bulk Renamer (Built-in)
A powerful bulk renaming tool included by default, helping with large file sets.

✔ Plugin Support for Essential Tasks
Works with extensions such as archive handling, shared folders, and media metadata.

✔ GVFS-Based Network Support
Provides reliable access to SMB, SFTP, and FTP shares using GVFS, making remote browsing simple.

✔ Split View via Plugins
Offers a dual-pane experience through extensions, without complicating the main interface.

#1 Key Similarities Between SpaceFM and Thunar

✔ Core File Operations
Both handle copy, move, delete, rename, permissions, and directory navigation reliably, making them suitable as primary file managers.

✔ Custom Actions Support
Each allows you to add your own commands to the context menu, helping automate frequent tasks.

✔ Device & Volume Handling
Both work with udisks/udisks2 to mount and manage USB drives, external disks, or partitions without extra tools.

✔ Light Resource Usage
Neither is heavy; both stay lightweight compared to larger file managers like Dolphin or Nautilus.

✔ GVFS Compatibility
Can integrate with GVFS for network file access such as SMB, FTP, and SFTP, depending on the setup.

✔ Simple, Clean UI Approach
Both avoid overly complex designs and focus on usability, though SpaceFM offers more customization.

#2 Key Differences between SpaceFM and Thunar

2.1 Interface Style

SpaceFM provides a multi-pane interface that can be expanded into two, three, or four panels, each with its own tabs and customizable layout. This design helps users manage several directories side-by-side and build a workspace tailored to complex file operations. Thunar keeps a clean single-pane layout and only adds split view through plugins, maintaining its focus on simplicity and fast navigation.

SpaceFM favors multitasking and layout control, while Thunar emphasizes a clean and straightforward browsing experience.

2.2 Customization Level

SpaceFM lets users modify almost every part of its interface — from panels and toolbars to menus, scripts, and multi-layout profiles — giving heavy control over how the file manager behaves and looks. It supports plugins and event-driven actions that let advanced users automate tasks or extend functionality far beyond defaults. Thunar, on the other hand, provides simple customization through view settings and custom actions but maintains a limited and consistent structure to avoid complexity.

SpaceFM suits users who like to tailor every detail, while Thunar keeps customization minimal and predictable.

2.3 Performance & Speed

Thunar is designed with a lightweight codebase that launches quickly and delivers near-instant folder navigation, making it highly responsive even on older systems. Its minimal interface and tight XFCE integration help it stay efficient with very low memory use. SpaceFM is also light in its default state, but when users enable multiple panes, heavy layouts, or plugins, performance can slow down slightly during large directory operations.

Thunar delivers faster and more consistent speed, while SpaceFM remains quick but can slow under complex configurations.

2.4 Desktop Integration

SpaceFM operates independently of any desktop environment, making it a flexible choice for users running lightweight setups such as Openbox, LXDE, Fluxbox, or tiling window managers. It does not rely on environment-specific services, so it behaves consistently across different Linux configurations. Thunar is tightly integrated with XFCE, using its icon themes, shortcuts, file handling, and trash system, which gives XFCE users a smoother experience with minimal setup required.

SpaceFM fits diverse environments with ease, while Thunar delivers the best experience specifically within XFCE.

2.5 Network Browsing

Thunar uses GVFS to provide smooth and straightforward access to network locations such as SMB shares, FTP servers, and SFTP connections. This integration allows users to open remote paths directly as if they were local folders, with minimal configuration. SpaceFM can also handle network protocols, but it depends more heavily on user configuration and may require additional steps or scripts to achieve the same seamless experience.

Thunar offers easier and more reliable network browsing, while SpaceFM requires extra setup for similar functionality.

2.6 Bulk Renaming

Thunar includes a built-in bulk renamer that provides a dedicated window for pattern-based changes, numbering, case adjustments, and text replacements across large groups of files. It is designed for quick batch edits without needing extra tools. SpaceFM can rename multiple files, but it does not offer a specialized bulk-renaming interface with the same level of structure or convenience, relying instead on simpler rename actions or custom scripts.

Thunar delivers a more polished and efficient bulk-renaming experience, while SpaceFM handles it in a more basic way.

#3 Features SpaceFM Has that Thunar Does Not

✔ True Multi-Pane Interface (Up to 4 Panes)
SpaceFM supports multiple panels in one window, each with its own tabs — something Thunar does not provide natively.

✔ Detachable Tabs & Windows
Tabs can be moved into separate windows or rearranged freely, enabling highly flexible workspaces.

✔ Layout Profiles
Users can save entire panel layouts, toolbar arrangements, and workspace configurations for later use.

✔ Deep Interface Customization
Menus, toolbars, sidebars, and panels can be modified extensively, allowing full personalization beyond what Thunar offers.

✔ Built-In Terminal Panel
SpaceFM embeds a terminal inside the file manager, allowing commands to run without switching windows.

✔ Advanced Device Manager Controls
Provides detailed control over mount options, labels, and device handling — more configurable than Thunar’s simple volume tools.

✔ Event Trigger System
Users can attach automated actions to file events or system events (e.g., on open, on mount). Thunar does not support event-driven automation.

✔ Socket-Based Remote Control
Allows external scripts and tools to send commands directly to SpaceFM, useful for advanced workflows.

✔ Plugin Framework with Deep Extensions
Supports plugins that modify actions, panels, menus, and workflows in a much deeper way compared to Thunar’s limited plugin ecosystem.

✔ Customization of Context Menus at a Granular Level
Users can add, edit, or reorder almost every menu item, including submenus, which is far more flexible than Thunar’s minimal menu customization.

✔ Multiple Sidebars (Devices, Bookmarks, Custom Lists)
Allows additional side panels with custom views, not just the default single sidebar.

✔ Action Scripts with Parameters
SpaceFM actions can accept variables and parameters, allowing dynamic scripting from within the file manager.

✔ Operation Logs for Transfers
Copy/move operations can show detailed logs and progress information for troubleshooting — absent in Thunar.

✔ Custom File Properties Extensions
Users can attach custom metadata fields or actions to specific file types, offering more control than Thunar’s simpler property dialogs.

✔ Remote Workflow Automation
Combination of socket control, event triggers, and scripting gives SpaceFM unique automation power.

✔ Independence from Desktop Environment
SpaceFM behaves consistently across Openbox, LXDE, Fluxbox, and tiling window managers without relying on XFCE services.

#4 Use Case Summary

SpaceFM fits users who need a highly flexible, multi-pane workspace for complex file operations. Its deep customization, built-in terminal, scripting options, and layout profiles make it ideal for developers, power-users, sysadmins, and anyone working with large directory structures or repetitive automation tasks. It suits lightweight window managers such as Openbox, Fluxbox, LXDE, or tiling setups where independence from a desktop environment is important.

Thunar fits users who want a clean, fast, and dependable file manager that stays easy to use. Its tight integration with XFCE, low resource usage, strong bulk renamer, and smooth network browsing make it perfect for everyday desktop users, older hardware, minimalistic workflows, and anyone who values speed and simplicity over advanced features.

Choose SpaceFM if you prefer deep control, multi-pane navigation, and advanced scripting.
Choose Thunar if you want a fast, stable, and straightforward file manager that works perfectly inside XFCE.