Cyberduck vs ForkLift (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Cyberduck grades higher than ForkLift: 3.0 against 2.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 6, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Cyberduck grades higher on the free plan and platforms. ForkLift grades higher on ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Cyberduck
Server and cloud storage browser for Mac and Windows
ForkLift
Dual-pane file manager and file transfer client for macOS
Which one is for you
Pick Cyberduck if
- Fits if you move files to FTP, SFTP or S3 on a Mac or Windows PC
- Works for people who want one free client for several cloud drives
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want remote storage to show up as a disk in Finder or Explorer, because that is Mountain Duck, sold separately
- Not for you if you run Linux, iOS or Android, as the site lists none
- Watch out: free copies show a donation prompt after install and after updates until you register a key
- Watch out: the Mac App Store version is $23.99 and replaces the donation
Pick ForkLift if
- Fits if your files live on servers and cloud drives as much as on your Mac
- Works for web builders who want SFTP and S3 inside the file manager
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you're on Windows or Linux, as it's macOS only, and 4.4 or later needs macOS 14.6
- Not for you if you expect updates for life, since a license covers 1 or 2 years and later versions run in trial mode
- Pricey if it's for the office, because the Single user license is personal use only and Small Business starts at $69.95
- Watch out: Dropbox Smart Sync isn't supported, and the vendor says no API is available for it
How we grade them
| 3.0GPACyberduckVery good | 2.6GPAForkLiftGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AThe direct download is free and a donation of $10 or more removes the prompt, which is under 60% of what this category's cheaper quarter charges. The Mac App Store copy is $23.99. | AA lifetime licence is $19.95 once with a year of updates, or $34.95 with two, both under a year of this category's middle subscription. Family is $29.95 for every Mac at home, and an office of up to 5 Macs starts at $69.95. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree to download and use with no cap listed. The cost is a donation prompt after installing or updating, until you register a key. | CThere's no free version, but it runs in a free trial mode without a licence key, and BinaryNights' pages state no time limit on it. So you can find out if you like it before paying anything. |
| Features | BFTP, SFTP, WebDAV, SMB, S3, Backblaze, Azure and the main cloud drives, with connection profiles and Cryptomator vaults. Mounting remote storage as a disk is the separate Mountain Duck. | BThis is a file manager and a transfer client in one, and both halves are complete: two panes with tabs and Workspaces, SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, S3, Backblaze B2, Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox open at once, one-way or two-way folder sync, archives browsed as folders, remote editing and git status. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. You add each server or account yourself, though the vendor publishes profiles that cut the typing. | BNo store rating is on record, but there's nothing to set up: it's a file manager you install and use, with drag and drop between servers. Workspaces save a layout of tabs and locations so you can load it again later. |
| Platforms and integrations | CMac and Windows desktop apps and a command-line version. The site lists no Linux, iPhone or Android app. | DMac only, one operating system. ForkLift 4.4 and later need macOS 14.6, and earlier ForkLift 4 versions need 12.4 or later. It connects to a long list of servers and cloud drives, but the app itself lives on one system. |
| Best for | moving files to servers and cloud storage on Mac or Windows | local and remote files in one Mac window |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Cyberduck and ForkLift. How we grade
Where they differ
- ForkLift can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Cyberduck also covers file sharing.
- ForkLift also covers file sync.
At a glance
| Cyberduck | ForkLift | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | Free; $10 minimum donation for a registration key | $19.95 one-time (Single user license with 1 year of updates) |
| Free plan | The direct download is free; it shows a donation prompt after installing or updating. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | Free trial mode without a license key; the vendor's pages state no time limit |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | iterate GmbH | BinaryNights LLC |
| Price read from | cyberduck.io | binarynights.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Cyberduck
- Free copies show a donation prompt after install and after updates until a key is registered.
- Mac and Windows only; the site lists no Linux, iOS or Android app.
- Mounting remote storage as a local disk is a separate product, Mountain Duck.
ForkLift
- macOS only. ForkLift 4.4 and later require macOS 14.6; earlier ForkLift 4 versions need macOS 12.4 or later.
- A license includes updates for 1 or 2 years. Later versions run in trial mode until a new license is bought, though covered versions keep working.
- The Single user license is for personal use; office use on up to 5 Macs needs the Small Business license, from $69.95.
- Dropbox Smart Sync is not supported; the vendor says no API is available for it.
Key features
Cyberduck
- Many storage types
- Connects to FTP, SFTP, WebDAV and SMB servers, plus Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, Azure, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box and OneDrive.
- Connection profiles
- The vendor publishes connection profiles for popular hosting and storage providers so setup needs fewer manual settings.
- SFTP key support
- SFTP supports public key and two-factor authentication, and it can read settings from an existing OpenSSH configuration.
- Cryptomator vaults
- Creates client-side encrypted vaults that are interoperable with Cryptomator, for use on any server or cloud storage.
- Share links and versions
- For services such as Nextcloud and ownCloud, creates share links and lets you view and revert earlier file versions.
- Command-line companion
- A command-line version and the separate Mountain Duck app, which mounts remote storage as a disk, are listed on the site.
ForkLift
- Two panes, tabs and workspaces
- Shows two file panes side by side with tabs in each, and Workspaces save a layout of open tabs and locations to load again later.
- Remote connections
- Connects to SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, SMB, AFP and NFS, with several servers open at once and drag and drop between them.
- Folder sync
- Compares a local or remote source and target folder to find matching, modified, new and deleted files, then synchronizes them one-way or two-way. A sync can be saved as a favorite.
- Preview and remote editing
- A preview panel plays audio and video and shows images and PDFs. Text files can be edited in place, and remote files open in your preferred editor and upload on save.
- Archive management
- Browses local and remote archives as if they were ordinary folders, including Quick Look, search and filter.
- Git, Terminal and command line tools
- Shows the git status of files with add, commit, push and pull, opens a Terminal, iTerm, Warp or Ghostty window at the current path, and runs command line tools by shortcut.
Plans
Cyberduck
Direct download$0
Free to download and use. A donation prompt appears after installing or updating.
Contributor$10
minimum donation, paid once
A donation of at least $10 gets a personal registration key that turns off the donation prompt.
Mac App Store$23.99
one-time purchase
The store version for Mac, sold in place of a donation. Requires macOS 10.13 or later.
ForkLift
Single user (1 year of updates)$19.95
one-time purchase, lifetime license
For personal use on your Mac. Versions released during the year of updates can be used indefinitely.
Family (1 year of updates)$29.95
one-time purchase, lifetime license
Install on all Macs in your household, with one year of free updates.
Single user (2 years of updates)$34.95
one-time purchase, lifetime license
The personal license with two years of free updates in place of one.
Family (2 years of updates)$49.95
one-time purchase, lifetime license
Install on all Macs in your household, with two years of free updates.
Small Business (1 year of updates)$69.95
one-time purchase, lifetime license
Install on up to 5 Macs in the office, with one year of free updates.
Small Business (2 years of updates)$119.95
one-time purchase, lifetime license
Install on up to 5 Macs in the office, with two years of free updates.
Ways to pay less
Cyberduck
No public discounts listed.
ForkLift
- Lifetime license
Lifetime license with 1 or 2 years of updates
Every license is a lifetime license: the versions released during its 1- or 2-year update period can be used indefinitely, for as long as they stay compatible with your macOS.
- Education
Educational discount on request
Students, teachers and lecturers can ask for an educational discount by emailing support from an educational address or with proof of eligibility. The amount is not published.
- Other savings
100 bonus days for existing customers
Owners of an earlier ForkLift license get 100 extra days of free updates on a new license when they enter their old key in the store.
- Other savings
Second year of updates at a lower price
A Single user license with 2 years of updates costs $34.95, against $39.90 for two licenses with 1 year each.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Cyberduck or ForkLift?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Cyberduck starts at Free; $10 minimum donation for a registration key, and ForkLift starts at $19.95 one-time (Single user license with 1 year of updates).
Which has a free plan, Cyberduck or ForkLift?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Cyberduck has a free plan. ForkLift does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do Cyberduck and ForkLift run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Cyberduck lists a Windows app. Both list a macOS app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.