Choosing the correct technique to organize your ComfyUI processes, nodes, and models can significantly boost productivity. This tutorial compares three main techniques — ComfyUI Manager (GUI), comfy-cli (command-line tool), and manual setup — to help you determine which is best for your goals and ability level.
ComfyUI Manager is a user-friendly graphical interface that works well with ComfyUI. It enables users to install, update, and organize custom nodes, models, and workflows without writing code or using a terminal. It’s great for creators who wish to easily and clearly manage their ComfyUI setup.
This section compares ComfyUI Manager with comfy-cli and manual configuration to highlight key differences.
Feature or Action | ComfyUI Manager (GUI) | comfy-cli (Terminal) | Manual File Management |
Install custom nodes from GitHub | Yes | Yes | No |
Enable or disable custom nodes | Yes | No | No |
Update all installed nodes | Yes | Yes | No |
Refresh model and workflow list | Yes | No | No |
Manage model folders | Yes | No | No |
Backup and restore nodes or workflows | Yes (in progress) | No | No |
Visual workflow previews | Yes | No | No |
Designed for beginner users | Yes | No | No |
Requires terminal or Python knowledge | No | Yes | Yes |
Best suited for | Artists, hobbyists | Developers | Technical users |
If you want… | Recommended Option |
A visual interface with zero scripting | ComfyUI Manager (GUI) |
A lightweight, scriptable CLI-based tool | comfy-cli |
Total control over files and setup | Manual configuration |
ComfyUI Manager is the most user-friendly and efficient solution for beginners and those who prefer to work visually. It greatly minimizes the requirement for programming and technical configuration.
Check out these additional guides:
