More than a year ago, we introduced Path Finder: Version 8. As you can read here, with that version, we started a long overdue process of overhauling the entire application. The PF 8 update added all the new features that were needed to bring Path Finder into modern days of ever-changing macOS. We continue that process with version 8.5. Even though it doesn’t bring the required amount of innovation and changes to justify a significant version bump, it still brings a lot of new fundamental things, which deserves a dedicated blog post. Moreover, since it is not a new major version, we released it for free to our community of over 100k users.
So what is the big news in this version? Continuing our pursuit for better performance, reliability, and modern code base, we replaced outdated StuffIt SDK with our own archiving engine based on system libraries and frameworks already built-in into the system. A huge change like this deserves a few lines of history.
I'm using macs daily for past 4 years, and never heard of this feature. And I was angry yesterday that macOS does not have 'Always Open With' easily accessible.
This shortcut should work for anyone running macOS Mojave, High Sierra, and Sierra, and anything beyond OS 10.12. Here is how you access the shorcut: From Finder, go anywhere where you suspect there are hidden files, such as the the Macintosh HD root directory, or Home folder.
PathFinder makes you a master of file management. Take full control over your file system. Save your time: compare and synchronize folders, view hidden files, use Dual Pane and full keyboard navigation to browse your file system.
MacOS comes built with a number of options to help you view and even copy the full path of any file saved on your machine. If that’s not easy enough for you, you can even create your own Automator service that copies the path of your selected file in a single click.
“We were busy adding new features and capabilities, and we rarely gave any thought about archiving because it was already functioning very well. Our application overhaul process finally came to haunt us and ultimately expel StuffIt SDK this spring, with the introduction of our own archiving engine based on libarchive.”
Path Finder working in Dual Pane View is very helpful. Image credit: Cocoatech.
At the time Path Finder gained the ability to archive/compress and expand/decompress archives, the most used program on macOS for such purposes was StuffIt Expander (used for expanding and bundled with OS installation) and StuffIt Deluxe (which could also handle archiving) from Smith Micro Software. Few others were coming from old MacOS 8/9 and ported to macOS using Carbon framework, but they were not widely used. Most importantly, there wasn’t any library or framework built into the system, which could handle those tasks. Besides offering above mentioned applications, Smith Micro also offered StuffIt SDK, a framework that could handle archiving/expanding task with most widely used archiving and compression formats at the time. Their SDK was a natural choice for Path Finder, which has been using it ever since version 2.0
Years were passing by and StuffIt application and SDK were becoming less and less used, as macOS was getting more and more capabilities and built-in libraries and frameworks expanding the number of tasks Path Finder could do without reaching for the help of 3rd party frameworks. Finally in 2009, macOS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) came with build in libarchive library. That made a huge positive turn regarding archiving and expanding tasks in macOS without reaching for external help. Almost ten years have passed since then, and Path Finder continued using StuffIt SDK for much longer than it was necessary. We were busy adding new features and capabilities, and we rarely gave any thought about archiving because it was already functioning very well. Our application overhaul process finally came to haunt us and ultimately expel StuffIt SDK this spring, with the introduction of our own archiving engine based on libarchive.
All this brings some incredible gains and depending on archive/compression format; the new engine offers up to 30% speed improvement when archiving and even more (in some cases up to 65%) when expanding files. Path Finder can now create ZIP, that is password protected, 7-ZIP, XAR, TAR, PAX and CPIO archives, compressed with various compression formats, such as GZIP, BZIP2, Compress, XZ. Expanding support now includes ZIP, 7-ZIP, XAR, TAR, PAX, CPIO, AR, LHA/LZH, RAR and CAB archives, with various decompression filters, including XZ, LZIP, and LZMA. Worth noting is that due to the new archiving engine, the application bundle size has been reduced from 53 MB to 38.5 MB! Additionally, we didn’t just replace the old archiving engine. We took the opportunity of introducing the new one to also integrate it much better into file operations workflow. Now, archiving and expanding operations are treated as any other file operation (copy/move/delete). This includes queueing, progress bar and finish time estimation, so it is as easy to learn and use them as the rest of Path Finder.
Version 8.5 brings some other improvements as well. Since we’ve already touched file operations, we took the opportunity to improve copy/move/delete engine as well. There are speed improvements across a wide range of different file copying scenario, and the most significant gains come when copying a bunch of files in folder hierarchies on SSD volumes formatted with APFS. In this particular case, file copying can be up to three times (3x) faster, but on average, you will see a 5 – 50% increase in file copying speed. File deletion has also gained some minor speed improvements. See it in action below:
Second to saving time, we wanted to save you space on your Mac in several ways. As mentioned, the application itself is 30% smaller, some new archiving and compression formats sport better compression ratio (like 7-ZIP and LHA/LZH/LZMA). Additionally, we wanted to make files that take up tons of space, easier to find. We have had the Size Browser as a tool for many years, but many people did not know about it and had a hard time finding it. So, we added a button to it right in the toolbar as a default.
Size Browser shows the list of files and folders inside a selected folder ordered by size so you can find the large ones you forgot about and delete or compress them.
One more thing we did to save you time is to add a new “undo” panel in case you mistakenly moved a file or performed any other undoable operation and want to undo it quickly. Again, undoing actions was always possible, but we just made it easier and more apparent. In case you don’t want to be reminded of undoable actions, uncheck “Show undo panel” in Path Finder preferences.
Finally, we want to rest assure you that we listen to users feedback. We are aware of issues, small bugs, and feature requests you send to us, and we take all of them seriously. We are continually working on them to improve Path Finder in general. We are also currently working on a comprehensive Path Finder Manual. If you have pro tips to share, please reach out to [email protected]. We will happily credit your unique contributions. All those activities and difficulties that we are facing in implementation deserve a dedicated blog post, so look for our next blog post in a few weeks. To be sure not to miss it, please sign up for our e-newsletter on our home page and find us on Facebook & Twitter. We hope our loyal users recognize the efforts we consistently put in to make Path Finder the best file management experience for MacOS. Enjoy the Path Finder 8.5 update and keep your eyes peeled for partner offers and more news right around the corner! May you have many productive hours with PF 8.5 coming in your future.
Utilities • Updated on Aug. 12, 2020
Editor’s note: After testing five new file management utilities, we stand by our picks.
The last time we checked, most macOS users have a complex relationship with Finder.
They love it, they hate it!
I think Finder is a great file management utility. It works quite great with the macOS system and offers some features like Continuity. Nevertheless, there are times when this file explorer can let you down. When compared to other file managers, Finder is lagging quite behind.
That’s why most power users recommend using a macOS Finder replacement whenever possible.
Why look for a Finder replacement?
If you use your Mac once in a while, Finder is the satisfactory file manager. Everything would be smooth and you don’t have to pay anything. When you have multiple work projects, a few thousand files and a number of workspaces to manage, however, things start changing.
As a tech reviewer, I end up storing a lot of stuff on the Mac. And macOS Finder has been so bad at helping me keep things organize. Even with the renewed Finder in macOS Mojave, things have not been better. There have been many instances when I swore at Apple for keeping such a naïve file manager.
Now, here are a few reasons why I think everyone needs a Finder replacement.
Apple hasn’t been regular when it comes to updating Finder with features. Compared to even some of the older versions of other file managers, Finder’s lack of features can be a deal-breaker.
Advanced Search is one of the many features we’ve been missing in Finder. Sometimes, it’s tough to find the file/folder that you are looking for.
There is a limit to the viewing options in Finder. It can be a real nightmare when you want to explore a few hundred photos and choose the right ones.
Finder isn’t the best option when you want network storage management. Often, you end up wishing if you had a better solution here.
Finder also lacks (or, performs very badly at) even some of the basic features we need, such as remote connections, Sync or Intuitive Navigation.
If you think you too have faced these problems, tag along.
What to look for in a Finder alternative?
Now, we are going to find some effective Finder replacements. We had a proper criteria in order to find the best alternative for macOS Finder.
The file management utility should have an intuitive User Interface. We don’t want to spend hours learning about the process. In short, we love a no-learning-curve scenario.
Customizability should be everywhere, especially when it comes to viewing options. The idea is that you should have the right way to find the right files/folders.
We’d love to have additional features in the package. For instance, Bulk Rename, Sync Support and Network File Management etc. are some great picks.
Dual Pane View is an essential feature if you ask us. Basically, it should be easy to compare multiple files from the single window.
Reliability is something we want but we never talk about. You’re using the app for managing rather important files. So, the program should work without any bugs.
We started looking for the best macOS Finder alternatives with these points in mind. And, we found a few.
The pick — ForkLift
After rigorous testing of some of the popular Finder alternative apps, we think ForkLift deserves the top pick position. ForkLift 3 from BinaryNights is a dual-pane file manager and file transfer client for macOS that packs so many impressive features. Quickwho 5 1 0.
Because it’s a third-party app, it doesn’t completely integrate with macOS. You can keep this app on the dock and access files manually. However, to make it completely replace Finder, you’d have to perform a Terminal command.
Here are a few things that we think make ForkLift the best Finder replacement app today.
Familiar yet Improved UI
ForkLift 3 comes with an interface that feels familiar and improved at the same time. We liked all aspects of this design because it enables quick navigation and previewing options. As you can see, even when we load the dual-pane mode, ForkLift looks compact. It’s incredibly easy to transfer files and other data within the two panes.
I’m someone who loves to organize my files according to multiple criteria. The afore-mentioned simple User Interface allows me to do this quickly while having a Preview option ready at all times.
Multiple Viewing Options
One of the things that I hate the most in Finder is its limited set of viewing options. ForkLift fixes this problem by introducing multiple viewing modes that you can customize. For instance, if you select the Grid viewing mode, you can customize the size of the icons. You cannot do this on Finder, but this feature is quite useful when managing photos, videos, and documents.
Regardless of the viewing option, ForkLift shows you the directory data on top. This enables quick navigation, instead of hopelessly pressing the Back button.
Outright Customizable
Customizability is also something we loved in the ForkLift 3 package. You can practically customize the way ForkLift looks and behaves. For instance, if you need a more focused approach, you can disable Dual Pane View. There is also an option to customize the items on the menu bar and Touch Bar. Just like you do on Finder, ForkLift also lets you decide which data to appear.
The fact is, you may not always use these customization options. However, if you want to improve the way you manage your files/folders, you have plenty of options inside.
Remote Connection
Remote Connections is one of the most notable features in ForkLift. It means you can establish a remote connection with your server, network storage, or services like Google Drive. The cool part is that you’d be able to connect to multiple servers at once. For network managers and even small-time website owners, this feature can be quite beneficial.
We loved how easy it is to set up and manage remote connections. As of now, ForkLift supports many protocols such as SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, Google Drive, SMB, AFP, and NFS.
ForkLift 3 brings an improved way to manage your files, through utilities on steroids. We are talking about a bunch of options like Multi-Rename and Quick Look. Many of such features are available on Finder, but they are so under-developed. So, it’s good to have a fully-fledged utility that works smoothly with a manager app in general.
Another thing I love is that the developer keeps adding new features. I’ve had ForkLift on my Mac for more than a year now, and it has kept listening to demands.
Flaws but not Dealbreakers
There isn’t anything that we hated in ForkLift.
One problem is that ForkLift requires a lot of screen space. For instance, you would have to turn on the full-screen mode if you want a dual-pane screen or the preview board. This can be a bit difficult on Macs with smaller displays. That having said, you can always disable the Dual Pane mode.
Also, it would have been great if the developers included a gallery view. Gallery View has been an impressive feature in Finder since macOS Mojave. We’d have loved to see the same in ForkLift.
These are not any deal-breakers, though. On any day, ForkLift is a superior file manager than Finder is.
Availability & Pricing
ForkLift is currently available for macOS only. If you have a device running macOS 10.11.6 or later, you can run it smoothly.
While you can try ForkLift for free, the single-user license costs $29.95. There are dedicated plans for family, business, and educational purposes as well.
If you are a student, you can get a discount on that too.
By the way, ForkLift is available on Setapp, the excellent app-subscription service.
The Verdict
Pros
Excellent User Interface
Customizable Design
Remote Connection support
Powerful Utilities inside
Familiar UI
Cons
Needs a lot of Screen Real Estate
Lacks Gallery View
We stick to our opinion: ForkLift is the best macOS Finder replacement you can find today. It packs so many features to compensate for the shortcomings of Finder. We found it easy to navigate, access, and manage files using ForkLift 3. As we said, the UI is pretty simple, and you may not like it if you are looking for something so grand.
We also noticed that ForkLift could help you make your Mac spacious. Because it comes with cool features like Multi-Rename and Remote Connection manager, you don’t need dedicated apps for such needs. This also means that we can recommend ForkLift as the ultimate Finder replacement for regular users and network administrators alike.
Upgrade pick — Path Finder
Path Finder 9 is another two-pane file manager for macOS. While it’s an excellent Finder replacement, the app can do more than replace Finder. It becomes a more advanced way to manage files and folders on your Mac. It also packs so many options that make it our Upgrade Pick.
Full warning, though: Path Finder has not kept things that simple. You may need some time to get started with this tool and attain the best level of productivity. For me, the extra time I put into understanding Path Finder 9 has helped me increase my file management productivity like never before.
Are you wondering what made us choose Path Finder 9 as the upgrade pick?
Advanced User Interface
Because Path Finder 9 has been made for professional users, the User Interface is advanced. It provides the best level of control over how things work inside this file manager. Even when we narrow things down to a simple section, say View, you can choose between a variety of modes. For instance, it lets you reposition the sidebar and control what appears on the sidebar.
Sure, you may need more time to get used to the UI of Path Finder 9. However, once you have set up the UI as per your needs, it’s the start of constant productivity.
Modular System
Path Finder 9 brings one of the most effective modular systems to the file manager. This means you have an option to choose which features you want on your Mac. For instance, if you want to add Git support, you can bring the module into Path Finder 9. There is a wide variety of modules, including Hex, Attributes, Clear Flow, Drop Stack, Processes, etc.
I love this feature because you can make a simple file manager out of Path Finder 9 if you want to. On the other hand, if I need a feature-packed tool, it’s there too.
Made for Professionals
We choose programs as upgrade picks if they are made for professionals. In this case, Path Finder 9 truly fits that description. There are a few reasons why we think this. First, there is an endless amount of settings that you can manage. Second, all these features work towards providing a file manager that suits your needs. On top of all these, Path Finder 9 doesn’t consume many system resources, either.
We think Path Finder 9 is the perfect solution for professionals, including those who have to manage multiple destinations.
Please keep in mind that we are listing the most important aspects here. The full feature list of Path Finder 9 will be quite huge, and we can’t accommodate it here.
Flaws but not Dealbreakers
Here are a few aspects where we’d like to see some improvement.
Probably the biggest issue with Path Finder 9 is the screen real estate requirement itself. It requires a considerable amount of screen space, even to show the primary sections. So, if you add multiple modules like Cover Flow, the UI becomes very messy in no time.
We also think it’s an overkill for some semi-advanced users. Path Finder 9 is not a Finder replacement that you can use out of the box.
Despite these issues, we don’t have to think twice before recommending Path Finder 9 to those who need a truly upgraded Finder replacement app.
Availability and Pricing
Path Finder 9 is available for macOS, and it supports macOS Catalina as well.
Coming to the pricing, Path Finder 9 offers a free trial of 60 days.
Once the trial is over, you can purchase the tool by paying $36, which seems affordable enough. You can get it via Setapp, too, if you’d rather pay a subscription for many apps.
The Verdict
Pros
Advanced User Interface
Modular System
Professional-friendly features
Completely customizable
Cons
A complex UI
Requires more space
We understand that Path Finder 9 is not for every macOS user. Many of its features are unnecessary for everyday Mac customers. That having said, we’d recommend Path Finder if you are a professional looking for an adequate Finder replacement. And, this tool makes such a promising offer to boost your file management productivity like never before.
The competition
XtraFinder
XtraFinder is a great choice if you don’t want to move away from the native Finder interface on macOS completely. This app brings the most wanted features into the Finder interface so that you have a nice overall experience. Compared to our top or upgrade picks, XtraFinder does not have many features. Still, it gets the job done when it comes to smoother navigation.
Probably the best feature in the XtraFinder package is dual-pane UI, which works in addition to tabs. You can also control which elements appear where to create a convenient design. Some of the features we loved are Copying Queue and Menu Commands. The entire app feels like someone took an effort to fix everything that was wrong with Finder in the first place.
The problem is that XtraFinder has a complicated installation process. It also costs you $4.99, which is okay, and there is a 60-day trial you can check out.
Commander One
Commander One is another popular Finder replacement you can try on macOS. Technically speaking, this is available for free, and you can use Commander One without any concerns. By default, the app opens up in a two-pane interface. You can easily navigate between spaces, and the file management process is also better than we expected.
You are also getting some advanced features like Remote Drive support here. It offers support for Google Drive, Amazon S3, and OneDrive, among others. By the way, all these features are available in the Pro version only. If you are willing to pay, Commander One would also let you mount external devices like your Android phone and browse content.
We’d recommend Commander One if you are looking for something free. Nevertheless, you always have an option to upgrade.
fman
If you ask us, fman is the simplest dual-pane Finder replacement you can find. Unlike the apps we covered above, fman does not have many advanced features in the package. On the bright side, it’s available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. In case you are interested, you can bring in some extra plug-ins for additional features in the file manager.
We loved the UI of fman from one perspective. The one problem while shifting from Windows to Mac is that you would double-click files to open them. Well, in fman, you can still do that and open files. However, it would be great to have some better navigation buttons in the system. Despite all these, we would suggest only minimalists go for fman.
You can try out fman for free, but regular use requires a license that costs 18 Euros. We think this is an excellent option for those who love minimalism.
Macos Path Finder Alternative
FilePane
FilePane is a little different from the other file managers we’ve listed here. It’s a drag-and-drop file manager that you can consider as a minimal alternative to Finder. Once you get used to the system, however, FilePane can become a productivity booster in no time. After the setup, FilePane becomes a place that helps you to handle files/folders more efficiently.
Macos Catalina Path Finder
Whenever you select and drag a file/folder, FilePane shows you a drop-zone, where you can drop the file. In the next step, you can choose a variety of options like Moving, Copying, Creating a New Folder, Sending Files via AirDrop, and even creating a ZIP file. But, we should tell you again that getting used to FilePane requires some time. And, it can only be an addition to Finder, not a full-fledged replacement.
The standard license of FilePane costs $6.99, which is almost the same amount you spend on a good coffee. You can check out the free version for some time, though.
Nimble Commander Pro
Nimble Commander Pro is another file management app that feels like Finder on steroids. However, it comes with a lot more features that developers, network administrators, and other IT professionals love. At the core of the app is a dual-pane file manager that gets the job done on any day. In addition to managing your files using multiple panes, you get FTP and web connectivity as well.
Macbook Path Finder
As we move inside the package, we can find options for bulk renaming and external tool support. It also has the same amount of customization that we have seen on other file management apps. You can choose the desired keyboard shortcuts and viewing options as you please. You can also make use of advanced searching options.
Nimble Commander Pro is essentially a free tool, but many of its features are available only on its Pro version. This Pro version costs $24.99, though.
The final words
Macos Get Path From Finder
We believe our top pick — ForkLift — would be the most recommended Finder replacement for macOS devices. However, if you need an upgrade to something professional and rich in features, you can consider Path Finder.
We hope this guide helps you choose the best Finder alternative for your needs. Make sure that you select a product that meets your requirements. Switching back and forth between Finder and third-party managers will only deteriorate your productivity.