Path Finder is an award-winning file browser and management application for Mac OS X. If you've ever wished Apple's Finder just did feature X or feature Y, Path Finder may be what you've been.
Love it or hate it, Finder is the default file manager for macOS. But there are other choices out there, and this article offers reviews, screenshots and links to download 10 different alternatives.
- Simple File Sharing and Networking: Path Finder 3.2.1 now has a completely brand new and improved Connect to Server feature, which makes connecting to remote servers and computers a snap.
- Path Finder offers the tools you need to access and manage your files quickly, accurately, and completely on OS X. A world-class operating system deserves a world-class file manager. Dive into a familiar interface packed with uncommonly powerful features and make your file system sing with Path Finder.
- Image-Line FL Studio Producer Edition v20.0.5.91 Cracked for macOS Lingki - November 21, 2019 2 FL Studio Crack Mac totally reworks the user interface and adds exciting new features you have been asking for.
- Path Finder's unique selling point is a feature that automatically exits the default Mac file manager when you start the program. Users no longer have to run two file managers simultaneously. Path Finder is the only Finder alternative that can completely replace the macOS standard desktop.
Note: this was initially published back in 2006. It has been updated to be a bit more current for 2020. With that said, several of these are no longer available. However, the ones that remain have mostly been updated to include new features etc.
Did I miss your favourite file manager in this list? By all means please feel free to leave a comment below and I'll update this list (come on – the windows commenters have suggested a lot!)
Name | Cost (USD) | Demo version available | Universal Binary | Stars (out of 5) | Detailed review |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Path Finder | $34.95 | yes (21 days) | yes | ***½ | here |
Disk Order | $22.57 | yes (30 days) | yes | *** | here |
FileBrowse | $25.00 | yes (30 days) | yes | **** | here |
FileRun | $??.?? | no | unknown | n/a | here |
3DOSX | free | n/a | no | ** | here |
RAGE Macintosh Explorer | $15.95 | yes | not yet, but works w/ Rosetta | **½ | here |
Xfolders | free | n/a | yes | **** | here |
muCommander | free | n/a | no | **** | here |
Liquifile | $9.90 | yes (30 days) | yes | **½ | here |
Xfile | $79.00 | no | no | * | here |
Path Finder
Homepage:https://cocoatech.com/
Features in a nutshell:
Thoughts:
Path Finder is by far the most 'popular' alternative to Finder for OS X. It has many, many features that you won't find in Finder (top of the list would be tabs, desktop icon changes and the ‘drop stack'). The Path Finder menu item/button is also a helpful feature (see image below).
It uses more system resources than most of the other File Managers outlined in this article, and isn't above the occasional crash. It does share the same '3 view' option as Finder (list, columns, icons), but the addition of tabs helps make for a far less cluttered desktop.
Being the 2nd most expensive File Manager reviewed, it's a good thing that there's a 21 day fully-functional demo available.
Home behind 1 2. Screenshots:
lots of commands | column view with tabs |
Path Finder menu icon | new desktop ‘right-click' menu |
Path Finder prefs | more Path finder prefs |
changed desktop icons |
Disk Order
Requirements: OSX 10.3 and higher, there is an older version for 10.2 that won't be updated and has fewer features
Download URL:NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Features in a nutshell:
Thoughts:
Disk Order is pretty nice. The built in FTP client is helpful, the built-in preview works well and mix of Mac native and Norton-Commander styles blend really well. Its biggest drawback is that Xfolders is very similar, but free.
Screenshots:
Disk Order default view | Disk Order with FTP |
Disk Order prefs | Disk Order nag screen |
Disk Order Extras | Disk Order Commands |
Disk Order (running a command) |
FileBrowse
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.4.0 and later
Download URL: NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Features in a nutshell:
Thoughts:
FileBrowse strikes me as a ‘love it or hate it' File Manager. It's quite different than the others in this list, as it has far fewer features. But… what it lacks in features, it makes up for by perfecting the the existing ones. Plus, at the (early) version of 1.0.2, who knows what the future may have in store.
Arguably the best ‘feature' of FileBrowse is its unique, minimalist but elegant interface. FileBrowse can show thumbnails for many file types, not only for images. And folder icons even show the items inside, so you don't have to open a folder to see its contents. Keyboard navigation within FileBrowse takes some getting used to. Previewing images at different sizes is a snap, and previewing multimedia (music, movies) is just as easy. Give it a try, but don't blame me if you don't like it.
Screenshots:
FileBrowse is pretty | FileBrowse is pretty 2 |
view the contents of folders | huge preview |
play, preview or open media |
FileRun
Features in a nutshell: NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Thoughts:
I really only included this one because I've been watching this website for updates since Jan of 2006. It was supposed to be available for download in Feb of 2006, and still isn't. It's a shame, because it looks like it could be really great.
Screenshots:
FileRun – doesn't exist, but looks pretty | FileRun |
FileRun again | FileRun LastOne |
3DOSX
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.1 or higher, and an OpenGL hardware accelerated video card (supporting OpenGL 1.2 or higher)
Download URL: NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Features in a nutshell:
Thoughts:
Barely worked for me. A neat concept that was either very poorly executed, or not at all intended for a MacBook Pro and/or Tiger.
Screenshots:
3DOSX is a neat concept | Too bad it doesn't really work (for me) |
3DOSX prefs | 3DOSX apps view |
RAGE Macintosh Explorer
Requirements: OS X, OS 9
Download URL:https://www.ragesw.com/products/explorer/download/
NOTE: this app is no longer supported, although it does still exist.
Features in a nutshell:
Thoughts:
As the name suggests, Macintosh Explorer is what might happen if Finder and Windows Explorer had an ugly child. OK not ugly, but not very exciting either. At least it has tabs. It responded quite slowly compared to the other File Managers.
The Filter drawer was the best feature I found. It allows you to create and save filters so with one click you can find the files you're looking for in a given folder.
Screenshots:
Default Macintosh Explorer with preview | Default Macintosh Explorer |
Macintosh Explorer prefs | Macintosh Explorer File list |
Macintosh Explorer Filter drawer | Macintosh Explorer File Info |
Xfolders (now Commander One)
Download URL:https://mac.eltima.com/file-manager.html
Features in a nutshell:
Thoughts:
Xfolders is one of the three reviewed File Managers that I haven't yet removed from my Mac. It's very easy to navigate using just the Keyboard, and all mouse actions are exactly as you'd expect. If you're a fan of the Norton Commander style of File Manager, you'll appreciate the Xfolders layout (though maybe not as much as muCommander).
Compared to all of the other File Managers, Xfolders uses a very small amount of system resources (not as Commander One, it uses more). The ability to completely customize the Toolbar is a nice bonus.
Screenshots:
Default Xfolders view | Xfolders Spotlight add-on |
customize Xfolders toolbar | Xfolders new folder |
Xfolders prefs |
muCommander
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.1 and up
Download URL:https://www.mucommander.com/#download
Features in a nutshell: Sqlpro studio 1 0 411 f.
Thoughts:
muCommander is a Norton Commander-lovers dream come true for OS X. Also, being cross-platform, you can use this File Manager on multiple OS's (if you're that kind of person). Supporting FTP, SFTP and HTTP is great (HTTP is a very neat feature). Smallest system resource footprint of all the tested File Managers.
Screenshots:
Default muCommander view | Use muCommander to download files via http |
muCommander prefs | run a command |
muCommander FTP/SFTP etc setup |
Liquifile
Requirements: OS 10.4 or higher
Download URL:http://www.liquefile.com/ (then click the download link)
Thoughts:
It's neat. I guess. I won't be using it any time soon, but I suppose there are folks out there who might adore this File Manager. Give it a try, it's unique at least.
Screenshots:
use the far right slider to adjust size | some file options |
bubble size and location matters | folder view |
Liquifile prefs |
Xfile
Requirements: OS X, I think.
Download URL:https://rixstep.com/4/0/buy/index.shtml
Features in a nutshell:
Path Finder File Manager For Macos 9 0 27
Thoughts:
Seriously, $95 for a single license and there's no demo/trial? We're supposed to decide if we want to buy this software based on just three screenshots? Get real. I'm not sure that it deserves even one star, but I like the idea of a 40 KB executable.
Screenshots:
Xfile looks pretty nice | uh ok |
delete stuff |
Path Finder is similar to the Finder, but it also puts an Aqua user interface on many powerful Unix tools for operating on files. Path Finder also has a well-designed user interface for viewing and navigating your hard disks.
Features: Photostyler 6 8 5 download free.
- Access frequently-used folders and files: The Shelf gives you quick and easy access to applications, files, and folders.
- New! Fast File Search: Utilizing new Mac OS X searching technology, Path Finder 3 helps you find your files faster and more effectively than before.
- New! Simple File Sharing and Networking: Path Finder 3.2.1 now has a completely brand new and improved Connect to Server feature, which makes connecting to remote servers and computers a snap.
- 'Pause' drag-and-drop operations: Drag some files or folders to the Drop Stack, and drag them out when you need them.
- Action Menu button: access contextual menus from the menu bar
- Document menu button: Superfast access to folders inside of your Documents folder from the menu bar
- Process and Volumes drawer: View currently running applications and mounted volumes in a convenient file browser drawer.
- Improved! Reports: Generate information*filled reports detailing all kinds of esoteric information about your files, directories, fonts, and system.
- Add Icon Previews: Turn an image's icon into a small thumbnail preview for easier file identification
- Label your files and folders: set colors to visually organize your files
- Securely delete files for maximum security
- Open any file with any application: from a menu or from within a file listing
- Connect to computers on your network: just like Apple's Finder
- View invisible files and inside file packages
- Navigate through file paths quickly: the Path Navigator allows you to 'jump up' folder levels in your hard drive quickly.
- Endless customization: Want brushed metal? Want aqua? Sick of Lucida Grande? Want green text on black for your file listings? Path Finder is completely customizable in ways that other file browsers can only dream of.
Path Finder File Manager For Macos 9 0 2016
What's New:
- This window now correctly reflects All windows user preferences as starting point (before you had to start customizing from factory defaults)
- you can again have two windows open with two different types of sorting
- Added a gear button below the Shelf with Hide/Show Shelf and Hide/Show Drop Stack options
- Fixed a one pixel alignment issue that occurred to the Drop Stack when the Bookmarks bar was hidden
- By popular request, we added a preference to make the Shelf blue (click on the new gear wheel button under the Shelf)
- Fixed font size differences in the Shelf contextual menu
- You can now access Sorting Preferences in Column View by clicking on the column header triangle
- Fixed the drawing of the reload button in the status bar
- Fixed an issue where the Tab text color was hard to read when windows were in the background
- Fixed an issue where the preview columns background was inccorect when displaying movie previews
- Fixed the option key to work as Meta
- Fixed the broken Terminal background transparency preference
- Terminal window now matches browser window style
- Fixed an issue with opening text files in the text editor when automatic encoding detection was turned on
- Fixes to the iTunes browser plugin (fixed a burning and isolated crash)
- Updated Taiwan, Japanese, German and Dutch localizations
- Updated the Stuffit engine to the brand new version (version 12)