ForkLift vs TeraCopy

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

TeraCopy

• Large or unattended transfers that should not stop at the first error
• Backups and media work where every copy must be verified by checksum
• Windows users who find the built-in copy dialog too limited

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.

TeraCopy

• The free version is not licensed for commercial use and is limited to 2 copy threads.
• Copying to multiple destinations, file list editing, favorite folders and HTML or CSV reports require a paid license.
• TeraCopy 4 needs Windows 10 or 11. The Mac app is a separate, simpler version 1.1 with four hash algorithms, and its page offers a download but no purchase link.
• A license includes free minor updates, with discounted upgrades for major versions; the About page still describes a lifetime license.

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.

TeraCopy

Error recovery

When a file fails to copy, TeraCopy skips it without ending the whole transfer and waits for a network or device to reconnect. Failed or skipped files can be retried afterwards.

File verification

Checks that destination files match the source using 17 checksum algorithms, including CRC32, MD5, SHA1, BLAKE3 and xxHash3, and can generate or validate checksum files.

Explorer integration

Replaces the copy and move functions in Windows Explorer, with an optional confirmation dialog on drag and drop to prevent folders being moved by accident.

Queue, history and file list

Transfers queue to run one after another. The file list doubles as a log of sizes, checksums and errors, and finished tasks are kept for a few days for review.

Locked files and metadata

Copies locked files through an elevated Windows service and Volume Shadow Copy, and lets you choose which metadata to carry over, such as timestamps, streams and permissions.

Paid extras

Pro and Business licenses add copying to several destinations at once, 3 or more copy threads, file list editing with ignore lists, favorite folders and HTML or CSV reports.

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.

TeraCopy

• TeraCopy$0

  Free version with no expiry: verification, checksum files, locked-file copying and Explorer integration, with up to 2 copy threads. Not for commercial use.

• Pro license$34.95

  one-time purchase

  For individuals and freelancers on all their own devices. Adds multiple destinations, 3 or more threads, file list editing, favorite folders and report export.

• Business license$49.95

  one-time purchase

  The paid features licensed for commercial use by teams, companies, government agencies and educational institutions.

• Site license$999

  one-time purchase

  Covers up to 100 users across all of an organization's locations.

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.

TeraCopy

• Other savings

  Volume discounts from 5 licenses

  The purchase page lists discounts of 10% for 5 to 9 licenses, 20% for 10 to 19 and 35% for 20 to 29.

• Other savings

  Bundle with Direct Folders

  TeraCopy and Direct Folders together cost $44.95 for a Pro license or $59.95 for a Business license, against $64.90 and $94.90 when bought separately.

• Other savings

  Lower price when paying with cryptocurrency

  The purchase page lists TeraCopy Pro at $25 when paid in Bitcoin, Lightning or altcoins through CoinPayments, which it describes as a 25% discount.