If you're a solo user on Windows looking for a modern file management experience, choose Files. Its sleek WinUI 3 interface with tabs and dual panes provides a fresh alternative to the traditional File Explorer, along with features like tagging and column views. However, it's Windows-only and can have some rough edges in preview builds, so if you need extensive cross-platform support or advanced features like scripting and FTP, this may not be the best fit.
On the other hand, if you identify as a Windows power user and prefer a suite of useful utilities, go with Microsoft PowerToys. This tool offers a variety of features that enhance productivity, especially for keyboard-driven workflows, like fancy window tiling and a fast launcher. However, since it's more of a collection than a single-focused app, if you want something dedicated, it might not meet your needs. PowerToys is also exclusive to Windows, so if you're on a different platform, you'll need to look elsewhere.