But while the Mac Pro will make some creative professionals happy, the machine's $5,999 sticker price may send others looking for alternatives. Truth is, while the Mac Pro now leads the pack, many. Double Commander, ForkLift 3, and Path Finder are probably your best bets out of the 6 options considered. 'It's Open Source, cross platform and free' is the primary reason people pick Double Commander over the competition. This page is powered by a knowledgeable community that helps you make an informed decision. For those of you who are facing similar issues, here we’ve listed some alternatives of Finder: Top 4 Finder Alternatives For Mac Commander One. This is a Mac running software that organizes files for easy access. There are many versions of Commander One depending on your pay. There are differences in features and options from one version to. Double Commander. Total Commander-inspired file manager that features two side-by-side panels.
Back in the days of Windows being the operating system on my computer, I was unsatisfied with the limited capabilities of Windows Explorer. For many years I used Directory Opus. It was (and, I guess, still is) fantastic. So much OS and file bending power coursing under my finder tips and mouse clicks. When I moved to Mac OS X I realised in less than 5 minutes on Finder that I’d need an alternative. It seemed more deficient in features than Windows Explorer.
The best one I could find was Path Finder. It was as good as I was going to get trying to replace Directory Opus on my new Mac, so I ran with it for a few years. I’ve not tried the latest version (v6) because the upgrade price was more than the price of what I have now replaced Path Finder with. My only complaint about Path Finder is that it seemed a bit bloated to have running at times when I didn’t really need all the power it afforded me. What’s more, it seemed a tad harsh to have to dish out $40 for something that in essence was providing the features I felt Apple Finder should come with by default.
Then along came TotalFinder. The current price on this smooth piece of OS gear is $18. Under half of what Path Finder is asking. Perhaps one of the things I missed most from my Windows days was the ability to Cut and Paste files and folders. I know Apple has user file safety reasons in mind, but to me this is (loosely) like the TSA enforcing ridiculous unproven backscatter scans for passenger safety reasons. I want cut and paste, and I’ll decide whether or not its safe to implement such a file manoeuvre. TotalFinder adds this feature to Finder.
Now here’s the big plus. TotalFinder is not a Finder replacement. It is more like a Finder plug-in. It adds its feature-set into Finder. Here’s what it brings to Finder:
- Tabs. Oh yes. Along with Cut and Paste, tabs in Finder is something I simply can’t understand Apple overlooking.
- Dual Mode – Display two Finder windows side-by-side in dual mode.
- Folders on Top – Don’t make me think. Folders should always go first in list view.
- Show System Files – Show me all files on the disk. I’m not afraid to see the cruft.
- Visor – Convenient system-wide Finder always one key-press away.
- Cut & Paste – Use keyboard shortcuts to move files around. Faster than drag & drop.
Mac Better Finder
Okay, so this is not a big addition of features. But it gives me the main things I was using Path Finder for. I decided I could do without the rest of what Path Finder offered. Tabs and Cut & Paste are the main things I use every day.
The bottom line is this: I can’t imagine using Finder without TotalFinder giving it a feature boost. In fact when I use other people’s Macs it feels like Finder is crippled.
If you need all the other features Path Finder brings to your Mac then I’d suggest running with that. However, if all you’re hanging out for is Tabs and Cut & Paste in Finder, then TotalFinder is the best solution I am aware of.
Xtra, Xtra, read all about it…
Since late 2013 I’ve discovered XtraFinder. In terms of functionality it’s very similar to TotalFinder. It’s not as polished, in terms its preference interface, yet it does a great job at boosting Finder to new levels. You can read about it here.
UPDATE: Jan 2013
Pathfinder 6 looks is looking pretty attractive for those wanting a feature rich Finder alternative. Especially for those looking for a Mac equivalent of Directory Opus. In fact, at first glance, I’d say it’s a lot smoother than Directory Opus (but then most Mac apps are smoother looking that Windows equivalents, in my opinion). It’s even starting to look much closer on parr with D.O. in terms of features.
So the final decision on which Finder alternative is best for you will depend on what level of new features you require. Certainly check out both Path Finder and TotalFinder and see which is most to your liking.
Here’s a few features in Path Finder 6
Collect files together into a temporary holding place with the Drop Stack. When you’re ready, copy or move the collected files in a single step.
Work with your files side-by-side in a dual pane view.
Access frequently used files and folders with bookmarks.
Quickly switch between open folders using tabs. Store commonly used groups of tabs as presets.
Deep Control
Path Finder takes care of the heavy lifting, helping you to quickly access and modify your files without the dull busywork. Exert complete control over your files with Path Finder’s extensive time-saving features:
Batch Renaming
Criteria-based File Selection
File Copy Queues
File Tagging
Every Tool For The Job
Path Finder is designed to work with a variety of different workflows. Whether you’re a developer, writer, artist, or just a casual user, Path Finder has you covered.
Developers
Hex editor, git and subversion, ACL permissions
Artists
Photoshop and Illustrator file previews, side-by-side image comparison with dual preview panes.
Writers
Built-in text editor, PDF previewing
Related
One of the best and most versatile operating systems around the world is Mac by Apple. It is complex, powerful, intuitive, but far from perfect. If you have worked with Mac computers then you would know what I am talking about. Quality, speed, top class mac cleaning tool facility and capabilities even aesthetics are a complete level apart from competitors. And all of this makes finding alternatives a tough task. Sure, you will find a lot of options and features in Mac that will help you in completing tasks and may even surprise you by their capabilities but there are a lot of third party apps which will provide a lot of options that will enable you to achieve more. So in this article, I am going to share with you, Top 10 Finder alternatives for Mac that you can use. Have a look:
Top 10 Finder Alternatives for Mac
- Path Finder 9
One of the best and number 1 on our list is Path Finder 9. It has been in the market for quite some time and is now trusted software for many users. It comes with double Window navigation which allows you to navigate through your storage facility at twice the speed. You can access hidden files, bookmarks, and what not with a few clicks, making the search simple.
DropStack is a powerful feature that allows you to copy multiple files in one place and then move them to the desired location all at once. It acts like a temporary storage, like a clipboard but for files. You can make the app completely yours by applying customized themes and colors for a more personalized touch. You can also import and export files directly through Dropbox as this app is compatible with the cloud storage facility.
- Forklift 3
Another great app on the list is Forklift 3. It also has a double Window navigation system to move and navigate two folders at the same time. What makes this one different is that it is designed to be very compatible with various networks and interrelated workflow. You can find your files stored remote server easily, embedded cloud storage facility, connect to servers like SMB, FTP and SFTP to manage and delete files easily and without any kind of hassle. So you can not only find files on your local drive but also online across servers.
- Double Commander
If you are a bit into programming and want software that you can customize and change according to your taste then look no further than Double Commander. It is one of the best open source multi platform software that has been designed after taking inspiration from various platforms, even from Windows. You can sort your navigation according to different factors such as time, date, etc., duplicate different windows and search for different files in a single folder. You can also create different tabs that will help you to search for even more files.
- CRAX Commander
Some navigation apps are powerful for local search and provide options for such while others are more helpful in finding files over different servers and locations but this upcoming entry is a bit different than the rest. With CRAX Commander you can go even further. Forget the limits of dual window search navigation, you can open a lot more here. It is compatible to work with FTP, SSH, and even SVN servers. If you are a heavy user then this app is just what you need.
Also Read: How to fix QuickBooks Error 2000
- DCommander
DCommander also offers almost all the features and options what above normal navigation software do. It is compatible with server searching for FTP, SCP and SFTP servers. It allows the user to edit files and even folders directly from the navigation panels, which makes it handier. It helps productivity and smoothens the workflow.
- Commander One V2
If you work with large amounts of data then Commander One V2 can be pretty useful. You can create your own keyboard shortcuts and use them according to your habits or preferences. It would save the time for users to learn new shortcuts plus they can start working straight away as they can decide how the workflow would be. There are also many pre installed themes and other decorative elements that one can enjoy while working with the app.
- Nimble Commander
If you are looking for a professional application that can work even in an enterprise environment then Nimble Commander is the one you should consider. The user interface is quite simple and intuitive for customers to find their way easily around. It supports C++, so if you have learned the language then you will be able to handle the application more easily. The specially designed app is lightweight and doesn’t put much pressure on available resources. You can enjoy a complex workflow easily with multiple tabs opened.
- XtraFinder
Finder For Mac Alternative Download
XtraFinder is an application designed for people who like it simple. It doesn’t have anything flashy and is dedicatedly designed only for the task at hand. You can actually access many options and menus in here faster when compared to other navigation apps. Apart from that you can also find hidden files, folders, hide your desktop files, access marked items directly through a link and what not. XtraFinder is also a great choice when with big data and a large number of files.
- TotalFinder
Another important mac finder alternative on our list is TotalFinder. Unlike other apps on the list that have stood on their own legs to perform the apps, TotalFinder here takes help from the inbuilt Finder application and enhances the experience for you. You can again find dual window navigation for better access and search, tabs for accessing multiple folders, etc.
- FinderPath
Last but not least we have another incredible application that was designed to be powerful yet easy to understand. The user interface is quite simple to navigate and you have many options embedded in simple popup menus. You can find hidden files and folders without having to toil for long periods of time and can even jump directly to paths of the folders and files. You can copy the address of the folder and use it in Finder Path directly to access that folder again without having to go through all the process of finding it.
So these were the top 10 Finder alternatives for Mac that I wanted to share with you. All the apps on the list are designed by very competitive companies so you won’t have to worry about getting less features or quality. Regular updates help fix bugs and other issues, so that users can continue to enjoy using their programs without losing their time and resources.
Hope it helps.
Thanks for reading!