I long ago switched to XYplorer. With all due respect, those of you saying Windows Explorer is fine don't know what you're really missing. And the other apps you list are just better toys than Explorer.
I'm sure there's nothing even remotely comparable to XY except DOpus. The list of features and capabilities is enormous, and the very approachable scripting language hugely extends those. XY is completely portable and AFAIK makes no system changes.
Compared to what I briefly saw in DOPus, XY scripting is simpler if (maybe) not as theoretically powerful. BUT !! - XY has an unbelievably active dev who updates the program several times a week - for about 15 years now! New features are constantly being added, sensibly and with full regard for usability, and avoiding complications or overload. Every rough edge is smoothed off immediately. DOpus development is glacial by comparison.
The XY user forum is very active and valuable, monitored constantly by the dev, helpful users, and a few really knowledgeable mods*. I continue to find many great scripts from the mods and users, some of which are amazingly sophisticated and well maintained.
My advice to anyone handling large file collections - and certainly to any power user - is simple: IF you don't own DOpus THEN buy XYplorer Pro lifetime. You will never regret it, for the long-term value received.
And I suspect that any time you spend trying to "compare" the two apps will be wasted since it takes so long to really learn each one and see how it holds up over time. XY excels in this. Don't deprive yourself of a file manager at this level, supported at this level.
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* One of whom can be so arrogant and belittling that I quit participating years ago, now just lurk, and privately refer to the app as FileFührer. But that's just my reaction and doesn't reflect on the app, the dev, or the value of the forum.
