There is a Windows Explorer and Finder on Mac. Both work and both are free. So if you only want to copy some files and folders from a USB drive, it's enough.
And Microsoft improved the built-in File Explorer many times. It got the ribbon toolbar, can unzip files, access ISOs, and more. Plus, it also looks much better than it used to.
But I started working with the computer back when MS-DOS was THE SYSTEM. My first file manager was Volkov/Norton commander. And I wanted something similar. For me, especially something with a dual-panel environment.
So I have started looking for an alternative file manager. Something more powerful to manage files.
In the past, there used to be only one great alternative: Total Commander (used to be Windows Commander). Unfortunately, not free, shareware. The other options were not so great.
But now, there are several good file managers with great functionality. Scroll down and choose the best one for your needs.