Carrots was built for efficient
file management and creative workflows.
Windows Explorer is stuck in the past.
- Click into folders one at a time
- Can't see your project structure
- Need Photoshop for a simple crop
- Need Premiere to trim 5 seconds
- Juggling apps for tasks that should take seconds
Inline dropdown navigation.
Expand folders and see your entire file structure in one scrollable list, like macOS Finder's list view or a layers panel, finally on Windows.
Plus built-in tools: crop images, trim videos, batch rename, and convert files. Not because it replaces Photoshop or Premiere, but because you shouldn't need them for a 10-second job.
Built for creators. Works for everyone.
Photographers, video editors, 3D artists, designers, and anyone tired of clicking through folders. Even if you only use the navigation, you're getting real daily value.
Zero data collection. No internet required. No account. 48 MB download.
Quick navigation and tools.
No data collection. No tracking. No surprises.
Deleted files go to the Windows Recycle Bin, the same safety net Explorer uses, so they can be recovered if you change your mind. On the rare drives where Windows has no Recycle Bin at all, such as network shares or some removable drives, Carrots warns you first and defaults to Cancel. If you never saw that warning, nothing permanent happened.
Undo reverses your last 20 actions while Carrots is open, though it does not cover copies or restore something that was never recoverable in the first place. Every one of these behaviors was verified against an automated test suite of more than 230 tests run on this release.
Built by a solo developer.
I'm a solo developer with no prior professional app development experience. I'm an animator who got frustrated enough to try building something better. Carrots was built using AI-assisted development.
The original idea was simple: "I just want Finder's dropdown navigation on Windows." That's it. One feature to scratch a personal itch. But once that foundation existed, more possibilities kept appearing: batch renaming, image editing, video trimming. Each one made sense because a file browser is the natural place for it.
I built this for me. It solved my problem. If it helps you too, that's the goal. The process went well enough that I decided to offer it to others at a fair price, because I believe in it and think other people feel the same pain. This is an invitation to be part of something that's still being figured out, not a finished commercial product being sold to you. I'm on a mission to build the best file browser I can, and I'd genuinely appreciate your support in doing that. Every subscription funds real development time, and every piece of feedback shapes what gets built next.
Always improving.
Carrots ships updates regularly. Here's what's been added recently:
- Unified media carousel - browse images and videos together with seamless playback
- Video cropping in Edit & Trim with aspect ratio presets and free-form crop
- Quick Preview context menu - delete, rename, rate, tag, or add to editor from thumbnails
- Background processing indicator with circular progress and percentage
- Auto-scroll when dragging files near list edges
- Redesigned A/B Compare with color-coded buttons (A=blue, B=green)
- 7 bug fixes including grid view drag-and-drop and multi-window close behavior
- Scroll-zoom in Quick Preview for detailed image inspection
- Text preview font size control with keyboard shortcuts
- Extended drive tagging to Desktop, Dropbox, Downloads, Documents, and system folders
- Expanded text file format support - XML, HTML, LOG, INI, CFG, YAML
- Smoother Quick Preview interactions and animations throughout
- Grid view drag-and-drop reliability improvements
- Image sequence state preservation during refresh
- Multi-window close behavior fixes
- Marquee selection reliability in grid view
Currently in free beta. Launching soon.
The free beta gives you full access to everything: no credit card and no account required. The beta has a rolling deadline that extends in 30 to 60 day increments as development continues.
When Carrots launches officially, it will include a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate it properly before paying anything. Early access pricing will be $39 per year for 2 seats.
Sign up for launch updates.
Enter your email and we'll let you know when Carrots officially launches.
Early adopters lock in $39/year before the price increases.
Coming soon: $39/year early access for 2 seats (2 devices/machines). Price will increase to $49–$59/year at a future date — early adopters keep their rate permanently. Includes a 30-day free trial on the paid release.
Frequently asked questions.
What is Carrots and how is it different from Windows File Explorer?
Carrots is a file browser for Windows with inline dropdown navigation. You can expand and collapse folders in place so you can see your entire file structure in one scrollable list. No clicking into folders. No drilling into separate windows. No losing your place.
Windows Explorer makes you click into folders one at a time. Carrots lets you see everything at once, like macOS Finder list view or a layers panel, finally on Windows. It also includes Quick Preview and built-in editing tools so you don't need to open multiple apps for simple tasks.
Does Carrots replace Windows File Explorer?
Nope. Carrots works alongside Windows Explorer. You can still use Explorer for system tasks, zip files, and properties. Carrots is designed for browsing, organizing, and editing files faster without the clutter.
Is Carrots free?
Carrots is currently free during the beta period, with no credit card and no account required. The beta has a rolling deadline that extends in 30 to 60 day increments as development continues.
When Carrots moves to its official paid release, it will include a 30-day free trial so you can evaluate it properly before paying anything. Early access pricing will be $39 per year for 2 seats. If you want to stay informed about the launch, sign up for the email list on the download page.
Does Carrots collect any data? Do I need an internet connection?
The Carrots app collects zero data. No internet connection required to use it, everything happens locally on your computer, and your files never leave your machine. Nothing is tracked, stored, or sent anywhere by the app. (This website uses basic visitor analytics. See our Privacy Policy for details at carrots-app.com/privacy.)
How big is Carrots? Will it slow down my computer?
Carrots is 48 MB to download and uses about 200 MB of disk space. It's small, simple, and practically invisible. No bloat. No background processes slowing you down.
What can I do with Carrots?
File Browsing: Inline dropdown navigation, tabs, multi-window, drag and drop, Quick Preview for images, videos, and 3D models.
Organization: Star ratings, color tags, collections, File Hopper, batch rename, folder presets.
Editing and Conversion: Crop and resize images, trim videos, extract audio, batch convert files, export GIFs. All without opening Photoshop, Premiere, or other apps. Simple tasks. No extra software.
What file formats does Carrots support?
- Images: JPG, PNG, WEBP, HEIC, RAW, TIF, BMP, GIF
- Videos: MP4, MOV, WEBM, AVI, MKV
- 3D Models: OBJ, FBX, STL, GLTF, GLB
- Plus: PDFs, code files, audio files, and 50+ formats Windows Explorer can't preview.
Can I edit images and videos in Carrots?
Yes. Carrots includes built-in tools so you don't need Photoshop or Premiere for simple tasks.
- Images: Crop, resize, rotate, flip, batch watermark
- Videos: Trim, export GIFs, extract frames, stitch clips
- Batch conversion: PNG, JPG, WEBP, HEIC, MP4, MOV, WEBM
- Audio extraction: MP3, WAV, AAC, FLAC, OGG
Simple edits. No app switching.
Does Carrots work on Windows 11?
Yes. Carrots works on Windows 10 (version 1809 or later) and Windows 11. System requirements: 4 GB RAM (8 GB recommended), 200 MB disk space, DirectX 11 support.
Can I use Carrots with cloud storage like Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive?
Yes. Carrots integrates with Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, Box, and other cloud services. You can also connect to NAS drives and network computers.
Who is Carrots built for?
Carrots is built for anyone who needs easier file organization without the clutter. Ideal for photographers, video editors, 3D artists, designers, and content creators. Also great for anyone tired of clicking through folders in Windows Explorer.
How do I install Carrots?
Download the installer from carrots-app.com/betadownload, run the .exe file, and follow the prompts. One-click install. No account setup. No hassle.
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