fman vs Marta (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Marta grades higher than fman: 2.6 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
fman grades higher on platforms. Marta grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
fman
Dual-pane file manager for Mac, Windows and Linux with plugins
Free trial · from €39 one-time
Which one is for you
Pick fman if
- Fits if you like to move around folders by typing
- Works for people who want plugins in a file manager
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a free tool, as regular use needs a licence and there is no free tier
- Pricey if you buy for a team, as businesses need one licence per person
- Watch out: the buy page doesn't say what the trial limits are
- Watch out: the price is in euros and there is a 60-day refund policy
Pick Marta if
- Fits if you want a keyboard-first file manager on a Mac
- Works for people who like scripting their tools in Lua
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want a finished release, since the download page says it is in beta
- Skip it if you use Windows or Linux, as it is Mac only
- Watch out: it needs macOS 11 or later
- Watch out: the site's copyright ends at 2024 and lists no paid support
How we grade them
| 2.2GPAfmanFair | 2.6GPAMartaGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B€39 one-time and perpetual, which is a bit under a year of a typical utility subscription (about $40) and under two. | ANo price on the download page; it asks for Patreon support. |
| Free plan and trial | CFree to try, but a licence is needed for regular use, and the pages don't describe the trial limits or say a card is needed. | AFree with no cap and no trial. No cap, no trial and no paid tier. |
| Features | CGo to directory, plugins, dual pane and keyboard shortcuts, but the listing doesn't show what the trial or the app leaves out. | CArchives as folders, Lua plugin API, built-in terminal and disk usage, but the release is labelled beta. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. A keyboard-first two-pane layout takes learning. | CNo rating on record. Keyboard-driven use and Lua scripting mean a learning curve. |
| Platforms and integrations | CMac, Windows and Linux, desktops only. Mac, Windows and Linux desktops only; no phone or web version, no integrations. | DMac only, macOS 11 or later. Mac only, with no Windows, Linux, phone or web version. |
| Best for | a plugin-based two-pane file manager on any desktop | a keyboard-driven file manager on a Mac |
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: fman and Marta. How we grade
Where they differ
- fman can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Marta also covers file compression.
In commonmacOSFile management
At a glance
| fman | Marta | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free |
| Starts at | €39 one-time, perpetual license | Free |
| Free plan | None | The download page lists no price and invites support on Patreon; the release is labeled beta. |
| Free trial | Free to try; a license is required to use it regularly | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Michael Herrmann | Yan Zhulanow |
| Price read from | fman.io | marta.sh |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
fman
- Businesses need one license per person using it.
- The site states a 60-day refund policy; the trial limits are not described on the pages read.
- Price is in euros, and the buy page does not say what the trial limits are.
Marta
- The download page says Marta is in beta; the latest version listed is 0.8.2.
- Requires macOS 11.0 or later.
- The site shows a 2016 to 2024 copyright and lists no paid support.
Key features
fman
- Go to directory
- Press Ctrl+P (Command-P on Mac) to jump to a folder; fman remembers frequently used folders and suggests them first.
- Plugins
- Install plugins written by others or write your own with the plugin system.
- Dual-pane layout
- A two-panel file manager for Mac, Windows and Linux.
- Keyboard shortcuts
- The docs credit keyboard shortcuts for its speed; a shortcut copies or moves files between the two panels.
- Perpetual license
- One license covers all your computers and all future versions, per the buy page, with a 60-day refund policy.
Marta
- Native macOS app
- Written entirely in Swift, according to the vendor.
- Keyboard and mouse
- Works by keyboard or mouse, with an Actions Panel opened by Command-Shift-P.
- Archives as folders
- Opens and writes ZIP and opens RAR, 7Z, XAR, TAR, ISO, CAB, LZH and more, including nested archives.
- Lua plugin API
- Plugins written in Lua can adapt the app, and configuration uses a dedicated DSL.
- Built-in terminal and disk usage
- A terminal syncs its directory with a file pane, and Analyze Disk Usage shows what takes space.
Plans
fman
fman license€39
one-time, perpetual
Use on as many of your computers as you like; includes all future versions.
Marta
Free$0
Download listed without a price; optional Patreon support.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, fman or Marta?
As of Nov 13, 2026, fman starts at €39 one-time, perpetual license, and Marta is free.
Which has a free plan, fman or Marta?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Marta has a free plan. fman does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do fman and Marta run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only fman lists Windows and Linux apps. 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.