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Does Apple’s basic file browser limit your productivity? The good news is that there’s no shortage of alternatives that you could be using instead. These apps add features like dual-pane browsing, folder sync, expanded remote server functionality, and the sort of endless customization that’s not possible with Finder.
I’ve spent hours downloading and testing out all of the Mac file browsers I could get my hands on. Here are the best of the bunch.
5Best Overall Finder Alternative: Forklift
Forkliftmight just be the most feature-complete Finder alternative on this list. It uses a dual-pane view by default so that you can display two locations at once and copy files between them (you can also switch to a single-pane view). The interface is clean and feels like something that could have been designed by Apple and bundled with macOS, since it compliments the existing macOS design so well.
That said, there’s a clear focus on your data here. The toolbar at the top of the app is thinner than the one found in Finder, and just as customizable using the usual context menus. There’s also a Preview pane that can be toggled on or off to show file information, current activities (like transfers or uploads), and a log.
The app features a few navigation improvements over Finder, including a Windows-style clickable file tree at the top of each pane and a sync button that lets you sync two locations with a click. Many of Finder’s best features carry over, including Preview support, tags, and the ability to open multiple tabs for each pane.
Forklift is a strong choice for anyone who wants to work with remote connections too. The app supports “SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Rackspace Cloudfiles, SMB, AFP, and NFS remote volumes” according to the developers, with an easy-to-use connection manager.
The app is heavily customizable, allowing you to do things like link applications with specific file types for quick editing. There’s a heap of keyboard shortcuts that you can customize, and you can store your favorite paths and locations in the sidebar for quick recall. The app also lets you peek inside archives without having to extract them, a small but significant improvement on Finder’s behavior. My biggest gripe with this one was that the search seemed a bit slow, even after indexing.
Forklift costs $19.95 outright for a single license, with a free trial that you can extend if you need more time (it’salso available on SetApp). There’s a lot of value here for anyone who needs a few more features than what Finder offers, but who doesn’t want to throw that Mac user-friendliness away altogether.
4Best Free Option: Marta
Martais a free Finder replacement that’s supported by backers on Patreon. Though the app is in beta at the time of publishing, it’s already packed with useful features and can vastly speed up local file operations (though it isn’t well-suited to those looking for remote or cloud file management).
The app uses a mandatory dual-pane view, allowing you to easily view and copy or move files between two locations at once. The interface is clean, minimalist, and uncluttered. Some might even describe it as spartan on account of the fact that there’s no toolbar whatsoever, just your data and a focus on file operations.
Marta has been designed with keyboard control in mind, so while you may have to learn a few new shortcuts you will eventually be able to do almost everything without taking your hands off the keyboard. There is a selection of quick access hotkey features at the bottom, and the app lets you do things like start typing to highlight files that fit your query (I wish more apps did this).
The real star of the show is the Actions panel, which you may trigger with the Command+Shift+P keyboard shortcut. This reveals a launcher of sorts where you can start typing the operation you want to perform, highlight it, and hit Return to execute it. So if you start typing “Open Terminal here” the app will autocomplete as you type in a manner that’s probably quicker than reaching for your trackpad or mouse.
There’s a handy “Look up” tool for system-wide (Command+P) and current folder (Command+Option+P) searches. The app also lets you work with archives seamlessly, without having to extract them first. There’s also a Terminal pane that you can toggle on and off, which appears at the bottom of the window.
The biggest drawback to Marta is that customizing the app requires editing a configuration file in plain text. There’s no pretty menu with drop-downs and checkboxes. Changing key binds is pretty easy since you can feel your way around that section, but many of the options will be perplexing to non-power-users. You might find yourself not bothering with the full suite of customization options as a result.
That said, even with this limitation and at this early beta stage, Marta is free, fast, and designed with macOS power users in mind. The focus on quick actions that can be invoked via the keyboard is undoubtedly faster than dealing with Finder, even if it takes some time to get used to. If you love it, consider supporting the project onPatreon.
3Best for Customization: QSpace
Forget dual-pane Finder alternatives,QSpacelets you view up to four locations at once, with an easy drop-down button to toggle between single, dual, and triple pane views (plus column and window-style layouts). The app also has a handy Windows-style navigation view at the top for jumping backward and forwards.
Despite its rather unique approach, QSpace still feels very much like a Mac app. There’s the usual sidebar view on the left for quick access to locations and favorites, plus the familiar Apple-style customizable toolbar at the top of the screen.
The app can handle a wide variety of remote connections, with support for “FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, Aliyun Drive, SMB, NFS, AFP, Amazon S3(and S3 compatible), Aliyun OSS” according to its developer. Some standout additions I noticed were a native “Cut” option for file operations (just like Windows), dedicated Trash and AirDrop buttons in the toolbar, and a task status pane for checking on running operations like transfers and uploads.
Where QSpace really comes alive is its customization. On top of the light and dark modes, the app feels almost infinitely customizable. you may get down to basics by customizing default behaviors like whether hitting the Delete key deletes a file, goes back, or moves to the enclosing folder. (complete with presets for “macOS style” and “Windows-style” defaults).
The app supports colors to accent sidebar items plus custom icons that can be deployed to common folders. you may nominate specific apps to edit files, customize the entire context menu, and set your own hotkeys for common keyboard operations. You can even limit which iCloud apps are visible in the app, so you can disable GarageBand while still seeing Pages documents (for example).
The app costs $29.99 (though discounts happen, it was $13.99 at the time of publishing) for the “Pro” version or 27.99(27.99 (12.99) for a more restricted Mac App Store version. You also get a free 30-day trial with the Pro version, and a three-day refund window (apparently).
2Another Solid Finder Alternative: Commander One
Commander Oneis a dual-pane Finder alternative that does away with Apple’s approach in favor of an interface that has a lot more going on. The app shuns the sidebar in favor of a top-down approach to navigation that displays locations as tabs above each pane.
It feels a bit more “old school” in its approach, and might appeal more to Windows or Linux users who hunger for functionality over minimal interfaces with lots of “wasted” space. For me, it’s more Windows than it is macOS, and it reminds me a bit ofMozilla’s Thunderbird email clientin its utilitarian design.
There is a small toolbar at the top with some handy buttons for toggling hidden files on and off, getting more information about a file, and viewing the transfer queue to check on running operations. Along the bottom of the app are some quick access shortcuts, complete with associated function key triggers.
The app supports “Amazon S3, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Backblaze B2, FTPSFTP, WebDav” and others according to the developers, making it a fine solution for anyone looking to integrate remote volumes and cloud storage services into their file manager. There’s even a built-in encryption manager, for encrypting remote data in situ.
Commander One includes a built-in archive tool for extracting and compressing files, plus you can work with files inside archives without having to unzip them first. This is a big upgrade overthe limited way macOS deals with compressed archives. The app also comes with a built-in process viewer that works just like Activity Monitor.
This Finder alternative is moderately customizable with options for themes, hotkeys, and the ability to set a default editor for files. One thing worth noting is that I did notice a discrepancy between the reported free space in Commander One and Finder (with Commander One reporting I had roughly 100GB less free space).
The app costs $29.99 outright, which is more expensive than some options here and arguably a little more limited but it may be worth it if you love the interface and overall approach. You can download a free trial and evaluate the app for 15 days.
1Other Finder Alternatives
In my tests, I came across a few other Finder alternatives that might be worth your time.Path Finderis arguably the most feature-rich of the bunch, though it costs more than any other option here (at $32.95, with subscription options).
Folders File Manageris a Mac App Store exclusive app that lacks some of the features seen in pricier apps, but costs less than $10.Filesideis a Finder alternative that has both a Mac and Windows option, perhaps ideal for users who frequently use both operating systems. Lastly,SpaceDrivelooks promising but is still in alpha and development appears to have stalled.
If you decide to stick with Apple’s file manager (or use it in conjunction with one of these alternatives), make sure youcustomize Finder for a more efficient workflow.
