Dropzone vs ForkLift

Dropzone

• Mac users who move, copy and upload files by drag and drop all day
• People who want a temporary shelf for files while switching apps
• Scripters who want to write their own drop actions in Ruby or Python

ForkLift

• Mac users who manage files on servers and cloud storage as well as local disks
• Web developers who want an SFTP and S3 client inside their file manager
• Keeping two folders, local or remote, in sync

Dropzone

• macOS only; Dropzone 5 requires macOS 13 or later.
• Amazon S3 and SFTP uploads, add-on actions, action keyboard shortcuts and unlimited grids are Pro features.
• On the Mac App Store, Pro is a subscription unless you buy the $34.99 lifetime unlock, and Pro features stop when a subscription ends.
• Dropzone 5 Pro is a paid upgrade for Dropzone 4 owners, at up to 50% off with a Dropzone 4 serial number.

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.

Dropzone

Action grid

Dragging a file makes Dropzone appear at the top of the screen; dropping it on an action moves, copies, shares or uploads it. The grid also opens from the menu bar item.

Drop Bar

A temporary holding place for files: drag items on, then drag them off into another app or onto an action. Pro can detach it into a floating window and name its stacks.

Multiple grids

Actions can be arranged in several grids and switched between, with adjustable columns and grid size. Adding unlimited grids and categories is listed as a Pro feature.

Sharing and uploads

Built-in actions send files by AirDrop, upload images to Imgur for a shareable link and shorten URLs with TinyURL. Amazon S3 and SFTP uploading need Pro.

Add-on actions

A library of add-on actions installs from inside the app, and new actions can be written in Ruby or Python. Installing or developing add-ons is listed as a Pro feature.

Keyboard and terminal control

F3 or a custom shortcut opens the grid from any application, and the dz command-line tool runs actions, adds files to Drop Bar and switches grids.

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.

Dropzone

• Dropzone 5 (free)$0

  Free download from aptonic.com or the Mac App Store with the action grid, Drop Bar and built-in actions.

• Dropzone 5 Pro Monthly$4.99

  per month, auto-renewing (US Mac App Store)

  Pro features and all app updates while subscribed, after a 14-day free trial. Pro features stop if the subscription is cancelled.

• Dropzone 5 Pro Yearly$19.99

  per year (US Mac App Store in-app purchase)

  The same Pro subscription billed once a year through the Mac App Store.

• Dropzone 5 Pro Lifetime (App Store)$34.99

  one-time in-app purchase (US Mac App Store)

  Lifetime unlock of the Pro features in the Mac App Store edition.

• Dropzone 5 Pro Lifetime (direct)$35

  one-time purchase, lifetime license

  Lifetime license for the version downloaded from aptonic.com, registered with a serial number.

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.

Dropzone

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime Pro license for $35

  Dropzone 5 Pro is sold as a lifetime license for $35 from aptonic.com, or as a $34.99 lifetime in-app purchase on the Mac App Store.

• Annual discount

  Yearly Pro subscription for $19.99

  On the Mac App Store, Pro costs $4.99 a month or $19.99 a year. Twelve monthly payments would come to $59.88.

• Other savings

  Up to 50% off for Dropzone 4 owners

  Entering a Dropzone 4 serial number on the vendor's upgrade page gives a discount of up to 50% on Dropzone 5 Pro.

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.